Watch Yo Mouth

Sooo they lied. Told us...sticks and stone may break my bones but words will never hurt.

Negative words have a far greater reach and impact than we can even imagine. Think about it. You still remember those ill words thrown at you in middle school. They stung like sharp needles then and still have residue, hence you remember it. Most likely can recall the exact moment they were told to you. Those nasty mean words.

Many of us have formulated our identify from those words. Held strong to those lies and told ourselves that they really didn't bother us. Yet they did. They clung tight. Anchored in and began to root. Though we experienced some smiles, endearing moments, and positivity, those negative words stuck around. Residue floating to the top giving everything a soar taste. Polluting our wells. Once it's in, it's hard to get out.

Now they are the first to leap off the tip of our tongue.  We sling stones and quick jabs before any words are released from anyone's mouth. Get'em before they get me. We justify. Continuing the hurt caused upon us long ago. Far reached. Far traveled. Gossiping. Negative words. Complaining. Judging. Criticizing. The impact heartfelt and carried. Polluting our wells. Once it's in, it's hard to get out.

The cycle. Polluting our wells. Once it's in, it's hard to get out.

Absolutely it does matter what you say. Your words have dunamis power. They bring forth the potential and actual to collide and spark. They beget after their own kind. Yet when we are lacking on the positive, negative comes and eats away at the bit of reserve we have. Anchoring in. Polluting our wells. Once it's in, it's hard to get out.

It impacts all humanity alike. Mothers, fathers, aunts, daughters, brothers, cousins, young, old. We all have carried its sting.  No one person is more susceptible to its spew and impact. We have all done it and been impacted by it. Some words cut deeper than others. Polluting our wells. Once it's in, it's hard to get out.

We gotta do better. Much better. Be anxious for nothing. React in control. Focus on our locus. Change our vocabulary. Speak life. With intent. To deposit seeds to swell forth light. And life.

Recognize our own trauma and pain. Be at resolve with self. Words have sooo much power. Be picky about the ones you use.

What You Think You Know About Love...Unknow that Ish...

I'm bound to turn heads with this one. Nothing new. I welcome the slow head turn side-eye with a slight eye roll. Yep that look. You don't know nothing about Love. Nah you really don't.

It ain't what you think it is. Move beyond those faltering flutters. Get to the core of what you learned of Love. Those images that saturated the white board of your brain--misrepresented in movies. Misunderstood by adults. Told you that we stayed because of Love. No matter what the stay endured. Told you it was Love. Well. That ain't Love. What you thought you knew.

The mere concept of Love permeates beyond words. It's essence is only captured by this mixture of thoughts, actions, emotions and clunky words merged on crowded streets with a sweetness seeping through the rotting meat. It's so strong you question it only to arrive at the determination that it simply can't be what it simply is. Sounds so confusing yet its clarity cuts through the darkest night pouring bright light. Its extraordinary yet humble and meek. It's boundless and immeasurable. Soft yet firm. Tried and Truth.

We struggle to understand and embody Love because it requires us to embrace our humanness with out regard to its form. Meaning we must leave our natural perceptions of self and others to say my conditions are broken. Because it is my conditions are that inhibiting Love.

Conditions equal every separating power from the Truth creating blatant lies to further the impact of negative words. We all have them. We all created them. We all further them. We say we are ready for Love yet our conditions have us purposely breaking the mirror so our reflection can only be seen in distorted slivers. Conveniently the parts that reflect our invalid conditions.We tell ourselves we have arrived to the understanding and capacity of Love only to be the bottle cap when we are truly required to be the bucket. Pure kindness and generosity fortifies the fibers of that bucket. Giving it form to hold yet leverage to overflow, share, create, repeat.

Love yet exists. It starts within. You connecting to self. Being perfect in imperfection. Happy in incompleteness. Full when empty. Satisfied when you can't see. The full picture. Or even the stair. The next step. Kneeling to the Creator God to learn more about you the created in order to further your destiny's greatest gift. Love.

Love never fails. It never ends or fades.
Love endures with patience and serenity.
Love is kind and thoughtful.
It is not jealous or envious.
Love does not brag and it is not proud or arrogant.
It is not rude or self-seeking.
It is not provoked nor overly sensitive and easily angered.
It does not take into account a wrong endured.
It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the Truth.
Love bears all things regardless of what comes.
Believes the best in all things.
Remains steadfast during difficult times.
Endures without weakening.

I have yet arrived at the fullness of Love. And I don't think I ever will. Yet I welcome it. With every mountaintop and valley experience I welcome it. To know it. Feel it. Create it. Marvel in its sight. Linger in its prism of beauty. To say with full conviction I love you without limits.

Speak

Yesterday I spoke. Yesterday it flowed brazen with confidence. Poignant and free. Determined to be heard. Didn't matter who listened. It wanted my attention.

That's the power of it. Truth. Sure it wants to connect to the receiver, like any message does. Yet it merely wants to be spoken. To be heard by you first. Are you listening?

Truth is not predicated on the feelings or actions of others. It will stand regardless. It's really more so about you. You are the receiver. The message is for you. Only heard if you speak.

The hesitation to speak stems from fear. Wanting to hold hostage your pruning. Your healing. Your growth. Your change. Fear knows the power of Truth. Understands how forced silence traps ambition and keeps potential dormant. Locked in space. Unable to move. Unable to be planted. Unable to grow. Root. Sprout seeds. Seeds needed to be carried away by the wind to land in rich ground. Truth has that power when it's spoken. It must be spoken. Speak it to believe it and then believe that which you speak. Your Truth. It is intended to be free. Live open. And the great thing about your Truth, it makes life worth living for.

It's imperative not to confuse your Truth with current rubbish filtrating the airwaves. You're not a garbage can. Stop collecting the trash. It buries Truth. Makes it had to breath. Though Truth never dies, it can be challenging to revive from under the lies. When disconnected from you, your center is misaligned. Stagnant. Rotting in place. Free your Truth. Free you.

Your Truth continuous heals you. Makes room for vulnerability which is necessary for growth.

I spoke my Truth again today. Today it stood open, naked and unashamed. I repeated it a couple of times. Rolled the words on my tongue. The heavy lift felt light as it gained strength from my parted lips. Warmed my heart. Pricked my spirit. My Truth really set me free.

Don't be afraid to speak.
The only person who needs to listen is YOU.