Allah has given some of you preference over others in provision. So, those given preference are not willing to pass on their provision to their slaves, so that they become equal in it: Do they, then, reject the blessing of Allah?
- Quran 16 : 71
What you mean you ain’t heard? I come highly recommended
Everybody my friend even if they been offended
They ain’t really got a choice, it’s an obvious decision
You tryna make a come up in my city, it’s a given
Plus a nigga famous, plus I got a vision
Not to mention having bars like a motherfucking prison
- Drake, “Man of the Year”
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
―Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"
”People only treat you one way, that’s the way you allow them.”
- Anonymous
— Entitled : Having a right to certain benefits or privileges.
15. #LifeIntoExistence : Entitled
— Flashback —
”Entitled.”
That’s how my mentor described me
After my first year at university.
He told me that he was nervous.
Afraid I would have folded
In a predominantly white space.
At that point
He had guided me
Until my senior year of high school
And we had lost touch
During my first year at college.
So, we were both surprised
When we were reunited
To work at Upward Bound that summer
- The same space where he’d discovered me.
”I’m very proud of you.
You walk as if you are entitled.
As if you belong anywhere.
Never lose that.”
And I never have …
— Monday —
There is a very specific reason
Why I chose the local community college
To take my Teacher Certification Exam
Dear reader …
I’ll share that
With you later …
Let’s start at the beginning …
I wake up in the morning
Feeling extremely confident
For the exam.
Last school year,
I had taken
A five week course
And I knew I would excel …
Actually, I enter everything
Knowing I will do very well.
Once I arrive at the college
I see the young man
Who works at the local dollar store
He is always so friendly
And I felt comfortable asking him
For information on obtaining
A parking permit …
He does not have this information …
”I don’t have this information.
But I can ask my coach.”
”What sport do you play?”
”I wrestle.”
God’s signs are clear …
I must only pay attention.
The coach shows me their wrestling schedule
And I tell him I’ll be at their next home match
He asks me where I wrestled
And I tell him …
He asks me if I know his assistant coach
And I tell him we wrestled together.
Planting seeds …
This will make much more sense
When I explain everything in a few weeks …
… At the exam …
Whenever I go to any exam or interview
I always plan where I will celebrate afterwards
This time, I planned to go to Crumbl Cookies
When I enter the registration table
I have a conversation with the woman
Who is preparing before me
We talk about the exam
And she tells me that she’s
A bit worried
And also a bit frustrated
Because she has to work afterwards …
I felt moved to ask her …
”Where do you work?”
She’s a bit shy
— And slightly embarrassed —
As she says …
”Crumbl Cookies.”
God’s signs are clear …
I must only pay attention.
— Setting The Tone —
When I am not in school
I don’t expect the students
To do the work I leave behind
For the substitute teacher …
But I do expect my room to be immaculate …
That standard does not change.
Reread : 18. #Forbearance : Parenting Other People's Children
On Wednesday
One of my previous students
Sells me one of his hoodies that he makes …
He offers to negotiate.
I ask him of price.
”It’s sixty dollars, Mister.”
I give him seventy-five.
Why would I do that?
Very often
We sell ourselves short
I want to instill in him
That he is worth every dollar
— And more —
For what he has in store.
Don’t negotiate your value.
— Regulated Nervous System —
Today, another student
Wanted to fight me …
He thought because he had power
He would be able to overwhelm me …
Kids these days …
The kids can be so arrogant
That it makes them ignorant.
I am 32 years old
— Turning 33 on Monday —
Do you honestly think
I would accept a fight with someone
— Who is half my age —
Without being prepared?
I studied him every time
He hit the punching bag
In my classroom …
Wide, square stance.
Heavily relies on hooks.
Flat footed.
His looking for the knockout punch
Will easily bait him in for a counter hook.
He also leaves his body open.
Moreover, the students want to fight
But they are out of shape.
I hope our light sparring
Will convince them
To take their health more seriously.
We fought for five minutes in the first round.
He was tired and needed to take a 15 minute break.
Below is the video for the second round.
He was interested in learning
So, I talked to him and pointed out his mistakes.
So, how did I beat him?
These kids are still learning
How to regulate their nervous systems.
They are extremely reactive
And I only needed to overstimulate
His nervous system to tire him.
Georges St. Pierre describes it beautifully here.
Allow me to insert a life lesson here …
That’s why I meditate and pray.
That’s why I cut toxic relationships.
That’s why I don’t watch the news.
That’s why I read self-help and positive books.
That’s why I am rarely around negativity.
That’s why I am always so calm.
What triggers you controls you.
This was a light sparring match.
I threw a lot of faints
My punches came from unpredictable angles
I changed my stance
And I was constantly changing
Where I would hit him.
He was overstimulated.
That’s why he tired.
Imagine if it were a real fight …
Imagine what you allow to control your life …
Imagine what you have allowed to trigger you …
— I know I’ve been missing —
I took a few days to think
Because I am in the process of writing
And open letter to a good friend.
I rarely respond to criticism on social media
Because it does not support me
In hitting the number I envision …
”Winners focus on winning …”
But I do value his character
So, my next post is a public response …
Written with deep love and compassion.
Reread this post if you must.
I will refer to it in the next post …
I’ll most likely complete it
While hanging with my girls in Rhode Island.
So, until next time lovely reader.
Remember, dream big.
And be aware of what you allow.
Live with intention.
— K.S. Fort
————————
The goal this year is to document as many memories as possible.
This is the series to the next book, “#LifeIntoExistence : Tabula Rasa”. This book will be available towards the end of October.
For those interested in books written in the past, feel free to read the Google Documents at this link.
Lastly, for those who want to support my journey financially (please remember, I do have a fur baby), purchase the Kindle books at this link.
Enjoy the journey and live with intention …
Full Sparring Video From Last Match :