| Author | Message | ||
     Watastar Regular Poster Username: Watastar Post Number: 26 Registered: 07-2004 Rating: N/A |
When I pasted this, the italics and bold/underlining prints did not come out with it, but I still hope that you can receive the message I inteded to put out with it. "Our Words and Actions" [Latrice Martin/Beautifulwaterstar (2003)] Have you ever just stopped to think about how powerful words can be? Have you ever thought to yourself that your words could serve as a womb or a tomb; granting either life or death? How many of you out there would turn their noses up and walk straight past a person in rags on the streets who smelled of urine and liquor? Have you ever thought that with the slightest shift in your life that it could very well be you? And if it were, how would you feel? How would you feel to have people walk past you as if you were not even there? **You are a student majoring in journalism, studying in a city @3,000 miles from where you live. You are there to complete this course and tomorrow is your last day of the class.** Let's say that on your way to the library, you actually stopped and took the time to talk to that person. In talking to (we'll just say "him") him, you recognize that this person is quite intelligent and as you continue to talk to him, he tells you of how his whole life (which once seemed so beautiful) went downhill when he lost his wife and children in a fire 8 years ago.. It turns out that he was out of town on a business trip and had just talked to his wife that very night, but later on that night, something went wrong with the waterheater in the utility room and caused the whole house to go up in flames, killing everyone; his wife(the love of his life), his 13 year old son (he was just 'Superman' to his son), his 5 year old daughter (surely Daddy's Girl and looked just like him), and his newborn daughter (truly his lil' angel).. When he lost everything he loved, he lost himself, he literally lost it. The guilt, the anger, the pain, the confusion, the lonliness just took over his life! 3 emotional breakdowns and still each time, the death he so desparately prayed for was not granted. Things got so bad, until feeling that he had nothing to lose, he figured,"What could be lower than rock bottom? I might as well get my kicks while I'm down here." He started smoking crack and pretty much did everything else that people who feel they have nothing to lose do... The man started crying. He couldn't even believe that he was telling a mere stranger his whole life story. But moreso, he could not bring himself to believe that anyone was even listening .. Oh how it must feel for one who is so invisible to be seen for the first time in ages! Noone ever had time to listen. To "them" (pretty much everyone), he was just some screwed up bum who had an 'equal opportunity' just like everyone else. Plus he smelled like piss and liquor, why would they even want to stop to listen? For so long, he had kept all this stuff bottled up inside of him and ironically enough, the only solace (or atleast what seemed to be that) he found these days was in a bottle.. Ha. Things got so crazy until he picked up bottles like "Scratch N' Play" stickers from McDonald's value meal boxes, in hopes that a jeanie would somehow hop out, giving him 3 wishes.. But bottle after bottle and the same results; nothing. He was hungry, but you didn't have any money on you. In fact, you tell him that are just studying there (from out of town) and happened to be walking to the library to use the computer to finish some drafts and send your family an e-mail.. As a matter of fact, the school gives you free lunch and dinner but it is atleast 30 minutes away by train.. The man is even more surprised. Someone was not only willing to listen to him, but also to offer him a hand? For the first time in a long while, he smiled.. He tells you he appreciates your taking the time to talk to him and thanks you. Next, he says he's gonna head on and try to see if he can get summin' to eat. You tell him,"Look, Brotha. I know I don't know what it is you've been through or what it is you're goin' through, but you keep ya head up, Man." The man pauses and he takes your hand and says,"Thankyou, Brotha. I thank you." He tells you,"I'm Ed, Man." You say,"And I'm Kwame. You been through alot, Man. There's a reason why' you still here. You stay up, Ed." He says,"Yeah Kwame, you too, Brotha.. You, too." You two shake hands and go about your separate ways.. Five years later, you divorce, get laid off and things just ain't lookin' too good. You're in a serious rut. No, you don't start smoking crack, but you really are drinking more than you should be.. You start thinking about all the twists and turns your life has taken you through and just to take your mind off some of it, you turn the television on. You flip through the channels and stop when you see this man in a suit and tie speaking on how to turn your life around through changing your perception. Dang, he' speakin' some STUFF, Man.. Hold up, though.. U know that face; you just can't place it. Maybe he was on some other station or something before? Nah.. You know that face and it rings a very familiar bell in your mind.. When the commercial comes, it advertises his new book "The 180 of Eddie Ricks". Wait! "Eddie is 'ED'! I KNEW I KNEW THAT FACE!" IT WAS HIM, IT WAS THE GUY WHO SMELLED OF URINE AND LIQUOR THAT YOU HAD MET 5 YEARS AGO! He was now a well known author and motivational speaker! After tuning into the program, you feel an air of inspiration and you are even moved to go cop his book. When you get to the bookstore and start checking the book out, something tells you to just turn to the dedication page. It reads: Dedicated to the memories of my beautiful wife and children: Ayani Ricks, Eddie Ricks Jr., Uhura Ricks, and N'namdiye Ricks. I love you, I miss you and I know you are all guiding me through this journey everyday. Also, dedicated to "Kwame", a 'stranger' whose words helped to completely turn my life around for the betterment of myself and those whom I sincerely attempt to reach. And to all who need guidance (and that is everyone, as we all do), "stay up." Your spirit smiles and you just think to yourself how it really must be true what they say about everything happening for a reason. You are able to contact Ed through his publishers and he (who never even knew if he would see you again) is just so full of gratitude and appreciation. Also, he remembers how you were studying journalism and asked you how all of that stuff came along. In talking to him, he even offers you a major position on his writing staff and you graciously accept.. "Isn't that something", you think to yourself.."I simply took the time to listen and look how this all turned out".. So.. The point is this. You are not a "super-savior", you are not "Superman", you are not "Wonder Woman", but then again, you never know.. What you might consider to be just so small, another person can consider to be the biggest thing to ever happen to them, whether that is positive or negative in that person's mind.. You cannot "save" anyone, only an individual can save him or herself and you can only touch what or who is meant to be touched by you. However, you NEVER know what a person is going through, has been through, will go through. Your words and/or actions just might be a link in the chain of choices when one is trying to choose between life and death. The point is.. You never know.. You really never know. Noone is "righteous", noone does EVERYTHING they feel they should do all the time and noone refrains from doing EVERYTHING they feel they should not do all the time.. However, reciprocity is the key to The Universe and we only get what we put out. Maybe we should try to uplift before crush; you never know the effect it could have... Just some food for thought.. | ||
| Lambd "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Lambd Post Number: 356 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for the meal, BWS. That 'thought food' came at a time when I was starving for it! Really, really, 'preciate it. Peace | ||
| Watastar Regular Poster Username: Watastar Post Number: 27 Registered: 07-2004 Rating: N/A |
You have just blessed me. Thank you so much.. Thank you. (And feel free to pass it along to anyone you feel to pass it along to.) Again, thank you. | ||
| A_womon "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: A_womon Post Number: 572 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: N/A |
Yes, this really is food for thought... | ||
| Sisg AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Sisg Post Number: 94 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
That was beautiful Watastar, thanks for sharing. | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 1136 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
We can always depend on you to infuse the board with something uplifting, watasta. Peace. |
