I live on the fourth floor of an overpriced pre-war building one block from the Atlantic Ocean. I love the sea. On Saturday, as I had done almost every day for the past three months, I went into the ocean at Brighton Beach. The temperature was sixty-three degrees inside and outside on the shore. I gazed with love at my ocean. I feel it even healed ...

1 https://twitter.com/inspirationlisa

2 http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lisa-miller/72/b4a/aba

Hi,

I live in the beautiful state of Alaska with my family where the spirits of animals and men roam free.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVIsHTnIXvY&feature=em-share_video_user

It’s no surprise that the Philadelphia police use excessive force to subdue and arrest a man or young adult considered to be a suspect of a crime committed.  We see it on the local news and read about it in the newspapers all the time. The year of 2013 displayed many examples of the “shoot first, ask questions later” term. It was also a year of clarity for those who do not know that there is no such thing as a shoot to wound rule. “Shoot to stop”, however, is the rule exercised by the officers of the Philadelphia Police Department who are trained to fire center mass (torso) when eliminating a situation involving an alleged suspect with a weapon…  or not. But for some reason or another, these young men aren't just being shot to be stopped, they’re being shot to death. The excuse for shots fired used by those who serve and protect citizens is that these victims all brandished a lethal weapon threatening bodily harm to them. Now maybe I’m a little slow but even the dumbest person knows that if you point a gun at a cop (not to mention discharge) chances are you’re going to get shot. “Man pulls gun, we fired back”. That was the headline of a news article published by the Philadelphia Daily News concerning a 21-year-old male who was shot five times, once in the back and four times in the legs… the back of his legs.

The news article states, “Police heard gunfire and spotted a male running with a gun in hand. Officers ordered him to drop the gun several times, he refused and instead ran towards officers with the gun pointed in their direction and they fired for fear of their safety”. Fortunately, this victim, among the seven shot by police during that week survived the ordeal. I am not excluding the fact that the victim(s) were armed with automatic weapons illegally, but right is right and wrong is wrong. If he was running toward officers he would have been shot in his body’s front and not back. There wasn't anyone else in the vicinity that was shot or injured but the victim in this confrontation, and he has been charged with assault on two police officers, without firing a shot at authorities. His bail is at $1,000,000 because police have painted the picture of him attempting to fire upon them.  Within the last five years there have been eight cops shot in this corrupt city, yet within the last three years there have been 88 police shootings. The Commissioner says “assaults on officers are factors that cause police to shoot first”. He says “shoot to kill is a myth” but I say it exist.

I grew up with one of the longest wish list in the world and never received a single thing on it. In elementary and junior high school I was the class clown without telling a single joke. I was ashamed, embarrassed and hurt by the way I was forced to accept this type of abuse. The girls in my classes weren't interested at all and out of the entire school I possessed one friend. I was officially what you call a VUP (very unimportant person), and life as I knew it became worthless. Killing myself was never an option, it’s a cowardly act that doesn't fit my character. The reality of it was that I didn't want to die, I wanted to live and at the same time be alive… but I didn't know how. I wanted to feel loved enough by my mother to send me to school in a satisfactory and comfortable fashion, loved enough for her to sacrifice the things that made her happy in order to make me happy. When that never occurred I figured the streets had the filling to satisfy my needs and I dived in head first.

At 15-years-old I didn't think I would see the age of 25. My relationship with some of the associates I had in my life painted that grim picture every day that I came outside. Not to mention the many times my mother told me I would never amount to anything. I knew nothing about having dreams and aspirations growing up as a child because they were never topics of discussion in my home. Without that experience and an absent father I realized I had to find my own way in this life. My father was and still is incarcerated so proper parenting never played a role as I grew both physically and mentally. On top of feeling alone I didn't know who, what, when, where, why, or how to do anything. Because of my ignorance to these things I chose a world I really didn't understand the consequences of living in. But since I didn't have anything to lose or live for, I didn't care. It was that act of carelessness that landed me in near death situations and prison for almost 20 years of my life.

The reality is we must understand that those who entertain us do live real lives. Their choice to be entertainers or provide entertainment is the same as our choice to work, have a profession, or be an entrepreneur. I'm not understanding why "we", those that choose or don't choose a movie, television show, book or live performances become critiques on the lives of those making a living. Yes, "we" have a choice, watch or don't watch, read or don't read, buy a ticket for the performance or not...... But to be brutal in our analysis of the individual is short of being cruel.

Let's just think about someone seeing you in your chosen profession or job and blasting your performance, your reasons for choosing the profession, and your quality of life. Where you live and why you live there, who you date, marry, or associate with, how you may have become the icon or failure you are, and the best one ........ the image you portray for your race, gender, religion. Why do we feel the need to step into the lives of the entertainer, the athletes, or anyone else who we often observe at their job........ none who have in anyway demanded our intensive observation. They really don't need that audience, after all if "we" truly feel that way about them why bother mentioning what they do.

Does the ratings of a show, the money made, or the awards given affect the "naysayers" in any way? Sure it gives a buzz for the media. The hypes give a form of publicity that is free and yes raises curiosity. The stir of talk positive or negative is free promotion...... so yes bad or good, the entertainment world wins. But that winning doesn't often give props to the individual actor, writer, musician, performer, or athlete. They live as we do..... for the pay. Yes, the ego is coated by the fame but the reason they stand in the spotlight and take it all in is for the money. The means to their living..... to gain wealth, to live above the poverty level, to be comfortable in the world. I don't see anything more or less different than those of us that go to work seeking recognition for a promotion, an elevation or that almighty raise.

So...... before you berate, belittle, criticize the work of another, be sure it is the work and not the character you seek to destroy. They too have a life behind the screen, off the field, off the stage, and they live after they put the pen down. Their family lives through the tabloids voice, the ignorant posts on the internet, the paparazzi and fans. Your family knows you go to work but never know how well you perform until your money is increased. Good or bad, opportunities will be taken and we all hope that they wouldn't degrade "us" as people. Reality is often degrading, it often touches what most don't want to face. The News, the best selling novel, the latest television series, the negatives are attracted because the reality in them all exists. We don't blame the newscaster, nor should we blame the author or the performer. It's merely their job, the profession they chose, and it's what they get paid to do....... the better they perform...... the more you will see their names, their production, and yes they are paid well.

With the Holiday Season approaching, there are those who will find this time of year stressful, bitter sweet, but a reason to come together with family and friends.

I offer this challenge. I find that posting an inspirational quote erases the stress, teases my emotions, and often leaves me uplifted. So for this week, as we approach the Thanksgiving week...... I will post my Thankful thoughts.  Please feel free to join in..... we all have a reason to be thankful.

We're all thankful for waking up, our general health, the health of our loved ones..... let's dig deeper......

Monday's thankful message.....
I am truly thankful for the changes I have made in my life. It is through those changes that I have seen my growth, the changes in my attitude and how it has transcended into empowering me. For this I am thankful.

Just A Thought- Travel time- 14 hours gives you time to think.... my mind kept circling around our society issues. Drugs, violence and guns... the lack of morals and respect from our youth to the adults..... the increase of mental health issues....economic dilemmas....and so much more. Normally I would write when these things cross my mind.... writing is and always has been my plateau of peace. But today I popped in "our" music.... the 70's. Listening to the lyrics our focus was on peace, love (not sex, hell half of the songs we didn't really listen to the words until years later...LOL), and just great dance music. I thought about the media and what they woudn't publish, put on the air, allow to be seen in the theaters, what journalist wouldn't plaster on the front page unless it was the "Star" and everyone read it to get a good laugh. After my generation there were those who returned from the Vietnamese War, spun out on deeper drug addictions, and of course the change for women who had to become providers. Definitely a societal change..... leaving the question which remains today..... What do we do? I listened to the words of Marvin Gaye and his well known album "What's Going On", Earth Wind and Fire their greatest hits, "Devotion, Keep Your Head To The Sky, and Reasons"..... Curtis Mayfield...... and the list goes on. Music we embraced and lived by...... The irony of it all is either these artists were well ahead of their time with the messages conveyed in their music.... or God gave them the messages to give to our generation when we asked....."Why". Well, it was a tearful listening period as I thought of the lost souls I've known over the years. Then I thought of those I know walk the boder line now, the lost children, those that refuse to see the damage we have caused being "liberated liberals". As a nation, no as a world we are living the days described as the "Last Days"...... I don't know about you but I was told if I worked hard and obtained an education, I would have opportunities and abundant possibilities; that my vision, my dreams of my future would be bright. I would be in control of my life and work as a productive adult for my family one day..... and yes, retire and enjoy what I aspired to be. I would be able to enjoy life and the fruits of my labor...... and today if I allow the challenges of society be a part of my life I wouldn't live long...... dying from stress and aggravation, worried to death. Sick and tired..... I think that's what most of us are. Some don't read the paper or watch television.... where's the entertainment? Others don't travel much, living in their homes and only venturing out for the necessities..... work and not much play. Then there are those who find themselves..... find their purpose....... put out and receive simply because they remain positive in this world that often is more than we can bear. Spiritually guided, devoted, committed to the cause...... or simply trying to remember that all is not evil, all is not trash, and we deserve what we all were promised....... a life worth living. Have a blessed weekend..... you say a prayer for me..... I've said one for you.

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Good morning I’ve not had internet in 5 days and every thing in my house works off internet. My cell phone and house phone is magic jack wifi only (everything)! I call my provider and I was told my services where due for payment but not out for disconnect they’ll see what they can do mean while I should see what I could do about a payment for $112 hold please. I waited and was told I believe we can have someone come out Saturday between the hours of 3and5, but you really need to get that payment in so I go on to say our payment is not due till the the 9th he says no your payment is technically due on the 6th which was yesterday and that could be why your services have been (disconnected) so I believe it would be in your best interest to start making your payments on time... Before I answered I took a long deep breath an said a slow pray to my Father asking him to control my words as I blew my breath out. I said okay thank you can I expect a technician Saturday between thous hours? He said sure also is it possible you might be able to give me a time we can expect a payment from you? Here at Charter we are pushing our customers to pay there bills on time. Now mind you my bill was not DUE until the 9th! I got off the phone and was like really? really??Now after all that Saturday comes and Charter doesn't I wait all day and no Charter but around 5pm I hear a knock at the door it's ATT rep.. so I told him I really don’t want to deal with ATT there do expedience my budget doesn't allow it it's out the question he's wasting his time point blank end of discussion. This man pleas ma'am give me 5 min I promise I can get you a better deal than Charter. Before he left I was an ATT customer with a much MUCH better rate!! Monday doing as I was told I explained to the rep I needed internet service BADILY!!!!! I never knew how dependent I was on internet until I didn't have it. SERIUSLY!!!! WORKING FROM SOMEONE ELSES WIFI IS NOT FUN!!!! Especially when you work from home! I called ATT and got a better date for them to come out and connect my services. now in order for them to do that they had to get charter to consent to transfer my phone number earlier than there 24 of Sep. I have big plains for the 25 so that date wasn't going to work and they wouldn't release the number so I had to change my number to get they service expedited and I'm officially an ATT customer as of yesterday but completely hooked up today!!!! YAAAAA..... Oh and Monday on the 9th when I got off the phone with the ATT rep after she confirmed my installation for the 10th as I was hanging up the phone. I walked into my living room and my in laws kid was on our computer. He sad Tiffani can I play this game? I said "Baby the computer doesn't work." he said "Aha see and I looked again and it was on. Then I looked at the modem and it was on then I checked my box and it was on. Now I find this to be odd... When i asked you to fix my services you couldn't do anything to fix it but when I sign up with another company you turn the services back on on the day of disconnect so you can charge me for the last day? Naw brother naw you got the wrong one! AND When I called to cancel every body I spoke with could not believe how I had been treated and that the people I spoke to had the audacity to document it on the acct and none of there mgr did anything about it. What I told them was and this is why you no longer have me as a Charter customer. The final woman I spoke with was of course there highest manger and she checked everything I told her and all but one thing was true she said my bill was not past due and out for disconnect and it was not $112 it was $98 so like I told her she only put the icing on the cake! She tried to offer me the package that I had for free for a year! Yall gotta understand I didn’t have just some cheep stuff with Charter we had every movie channel and she offered us that for a year for free. This is what I told that women. "Ma'am unfortunately what you hear in the background is not your services that is ATT and had the former representatives I'd spoken with been as attentive as the reps I've spoken with today I would still be a Charter customer but today all I need you to do is disconnect my services please. She said I am so sorry this happen to you then asked me what my bill difference was with ATT... A $50 dollar difference.

On this day of National Remembrance while reflecting on the past we need embrace today. Without the politics, the government input, and allegiance each of us live in neighborhoods that cry for change. It is a National cry..... it is no longer in small parts of the states or certain sections of the cities..... our Nation is crying. While reflecting there are more reasons to cry out. Yes, we stood together as one and as we face each crisis, Americans meet the challenge and come back with a strong front awaiting the next crisis...... but our backbone is weakening. Our education system, our jobs, our relationships to others....... abroad and at home...... we are weakening. Yes, we fight for others...... even teach them about democracy........ yet we are weakening. Today as we remember the way we were, what we did to rebuild, to reinforce, to stand United...... let us pray we can do as much for us..... as we do for others.

Is there such a thing as to much knowledge? Last night as I laid next to my husband I found myself pondering this very question. It all started when he joined me in the room. He sat in bed next to me remote in hand. “What are you reading?” he asked“A book on Option Trading” I answered“Why?”“Well,” I said “I want to learn more about what we are doing.” I advised“But we are already taking classes and have a strategy. You learning more than what we need might just confused things, don’t you think?”“hmmm” was the only reply I could give as I went back to the book and pondered his question. I have always been a learner. I dropped out college and mostly autodidactic my education from then on. I consumed non-fiction books learning thoroughly everything from sales to philosophy not for any particular reason but simply to know. My mind craves sustenance and it always hungers for more. So when the question was asked, this query of whether learning more than absolutely necessary would cause confusion it gave me pause.What if I did not forage constantly for knowledge? What if I picked one thing and learned the basics and just became great at that one basic thing? What if? What if? What if? Our lives would be ruled by “what if’s” if we let it. But the truth is I will never be the person who is happy knowing one thing as my husband will never go out of his way to learn multiple things if he does not absolutely have to. I believe we both know this about each other and have made a teetering peace with that fact. We are two different people. The world has different places for different people. Each of us have a role to play and mine is to always be learning, no matter what the subject maybe. While my husband’s is to question why must I do so and to keep me out of harm’s way in search of information. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

Oana, if you love doughnuts then let me take you to the motherland. Recently my kids grandmother and I was looking through the cupboards for a crock pot to deep fry some chickens when she introduced me to some of her old cook books. At first I knocked them because these where cookbooks her church published. I'm a member of the Nation of Gods and Earths so anything from a Christian church I pay no attention to. Then I continued on reading some of these 19th/20th century recipes to find some nice recipes. Then Nanna (kids grandmother) asked me if I ever had monkey bread. Monkey Bread? That's what I said. Then Nanna went on telling me about this "monkey bread". She told me that her mother made it all the time for holidays and white folks back then loved it to death. I thought it was an European dish but nope. I'm from New Orleans Louisiana, land of the big booties and creole cuisine. I can cook most of these dishes myself but my family never had this monkey bread. It's really soft dinner rolls layered together with butter to create a butter roll tree. I noticed all of her cook books had a monkey bread recipe in them. I'm like damn, it must not be that good if I haven't heard of it yet. So I did my research to find out this dish is traditionally called Afrikan Coffee Cake. Then I remembered that New Orleans has a dish called Afrikan Coffee Cake that was Christianized for a Christian holiday, Fat Tuesday. This particular dish is the signature piece for the Mardi Gras celebration, the King Cake. I can make a King Cake because my mother taught it me but like most American bred Afrikans our culture and traditions were stolen and outlawed to practice so my momma didn't tell me the origins, just the recipe. So now here in DC my kids are like what is this King Cake or Monkey Bread. After giving them a factual history lesson I decided to make it for them. The first picture is my first attempt made with just sugar, cinnamon, brown sugar, butter and store bought biscuits. It was gone in one day. So I decided to make another one with some Creole "stank" on it. This time I used sweetened butter, molasses, brown and light brown sugar, milk, flour, eggs, and I made the glaze from an old school powdered sugar, water and buttermilk recipe...and here you have it for the second picture. It's a shame that racism is apparent in all American history. What's worse then that is today people play a blind eye to it like it never existed. Maybe if people are really sincere of the truth then maybe we can sit at the table together to have a slice of the King's Cake. But apparently not everyone believe Afrikans should be KINGS. That's funny, who do you think created kingdoms worldwide? Check the facts! Peace.

Shaping Young Minds:

Civil rights leaders, freedom riders, bus boycotts, voter registrations, lunch counter sit ins, non-violent protests, speeches, and famous marches are all things that may instantly come to mind when you sit and reflect on the late great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Perhaps his Letters From a Birmingham Jail, my hometown, which helped inspire a full on civil rights movement sticks out in your mind. Or is it the famous March on Washington and subsequent "​I Have a Dream"​ speech that are highlights of his life for you?