He's no thug, he's no gangsta, he's a lyrical artist lighting up the shadows of darkness

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. (born March 13, 1972), better known by his stage name Common, is a hip hop artist.

“I woke up with the sunshine.
A sunshine I had never seen.
There was light at the end of it.
Reminded me to forever dream.
I was dreaming I walked into the White House.
With love on my sleeve.
And love for each and every one of you.
Reminding you to believe.
These are the words of a believer achiever.
Leader of the globe, feed the souls of those in need.
I bleed the blood of the struggle.
Walking over troubled puddles.
The hustle is in my chest.
No hustle no progress.
Extremities of life in this process.
The birth of a son.
The death of another.
With love I caress both mothers.
And told ‘em whose in control is the one that’s above is.
I walk where money talks and love stutters.
The body language of a nation.
Going though changes.
The young become dangerous.
Spent into anger.
Anger gets sent through the chamber.
It’s tough when your own look like strangers.
We are the sons of gangsters and stone rangers.
If he could how would Ernie Barnes paint us?
Look at the picture.
It’s hard not to blame us.
But time forgives in the shy where the young die often.
Do they end up in a coffin because we haven’t taught them?
Is it what we talkin’, we really ain't walking.
Dudes, hustlers, paid.
How much did it cost them?
I find myself on the same corner that we lost them.
Real talkin’ in their ear like a walkman.
My thoughts been around the corner to the world.
So when I see them I see my baby girl.
The Lord lives among us.
The youngest hunger, recover.
Means to get it by anyways necessary under pressure.
Children feeling lesser with the spill upon the dresser.
Killer, willer aggressors.
Destiny’s children, survivors, soldiers.
In front of buildings their eyes look older.
It’s hard to see blessings in a violent culture.
Face against rappings.
Sirens holsters – that ‘aint the way that Langston Hughes wrote us.
So controllers on the shoulders of Moses.
And Noah.
We go from being precious to Oprah.
Cultivated to overcome.
Ever since we came over.
Seize the day in the way that you can see the determined.
The soul that keeps burning.
Shorty’s know to keep learning.
Lessons in my life are like stripes that we earning.
I took Grant’s advice that Christ is returning.
Like a thief in the night.
I write for beacons of light.
For those of us in dark alleys and park valleys.
Street hits spark valleys of the conscience.
Conquerors of a contest .
Even the unseen know that God watches.
For one King’s dream he was able to Barack us.
One King’s dream he was able to Barack us.
One King’s dream he was able to Barack us."

Take a moment for these words to resonate. To enter your soul. One line or two.

PEACE, LOVE, and GOD BLESS

Whoa, whoa, whoa feelings!!

Have you ever asked yourself who you really are? Well, we’ve been taking different assessments in my program. These assessments are suppose to help us understand our being. The goal is to get to the true essence of our soul and to fully understand what makes us happy, sad, upset, frustrated, annoyed, mad, angry, AND why we feel what we feel. You know, that annoying root of the true feeling.

For example take this water cooler conversation I had with a colleague:

“They’re just rude!”

Ok, but how are they rude?

“They don’t acknowledge me when I walk in the office! That’s rude!”

When they don’t acknowledge you when you walk in the office how does that make you feel?

“It''s not about what I feel it’s just that THAT is rude behavior! Don’t you think?”

Maybe they’re in an intense conversation.

“Well maybe, but they should at least say hi.”

If they said hi to you would you still think they are rude?

“Well, not really. I just feel they ignore me.”

So you feel ignored when people don’t acknowledge you?

“Yes.” (ding! ding! ding!! I wanted to say this sooooo bad)

If they acknowledged you and said hi to you would you still consider them rude?

“Well, not too much.”

What else would make the situation better?

“Just saying hi and include me in their conversation.”

The conversation continued, but ultimately my colleague had a need that was not being fulfilled. She dismissed her feelings and pointed the finger at the other two people for her own discomfort.

How many times does this happen to us in our everyday life? How many times do we blame others for our unhappiness or our discomfort? I’m not immune and have done this myself.

I remember being so unhappy with life and blaming others for my unhappiness. I was notorious for saying, “If only (name) would be more (adjective) towards me, my life would be so much better.”

I was allowing my future to be controlled by others. This isn’t the case anymore. Thank God!! The assessments have really opened my eyes to who I really am BUT most importantly I understand the root of my feelings. Roots that go waaaaaayyy back to when I was young. I can’t do anything about the past, but I can do something about the “RIGHT NOW” and take control of my being by acknowledging my feelings and understanding where does it stem from.

This is not an easy process. It takes commitment to being honest with yourself, lots of reflection, and so much more prayer.

I pray everyday to God to guide me along this journey. I’m grateful to Him for allowing me to feel the peace in my heart. This is the feeling I strive for everyday in my life.

PEACE, LOVE and GOD BLESS!!