Dreams pt 2 ...The World Moves Around You!

You're an artist... The World is your canvas... What will you paint today?

"I've never heard of a canvas that created an artist..."

The secret to life is that the world doesn't shape you, rather, you shape It. Every decision you make....wait, run it back. EVERY decision you make, changes your life, and the lives around you significantly....a ripple, the Butterfly Effect...watch this.

"The Big Mac Story"

Ring Ring! My homie Gabe hits me up... "Yo! the McDonalds on Parthenia's selling Big Macs today, 2 for a dollar! I'm here eating mine right now!" he said. Me..."Word! two for a buck? I'll be there in a sec!" (That good ol' college budget : D). Hanging up the phone I thought...since Gabe is already there, maybe I shoulda' just asked him to get me 2, and I'll pay him when he gets back...ahh well, eff it, I'm going!

Hop in the car, pushing down Balboa, slow down, ease into the turning lane...annnd...Bow! somebody rear ends me(no homo). My cars messed up, the trunk's jammed shut and won't open. Worst of all, my necks in pain. Damn.

Two months later, Christmas...still haven't gotten my trunk fixed. Driving on the freeway...whew! trunk flies open...70mph traffic! Zoom! weaving in and out of traffic, can't see anything behind me...errr, pull to the side, damn, roughed up the ol' Alero. Fix the trunk, check....but..............the car won't start! You serious? Christmas 06', spent on the side of the Freeway.

Few months later... my necks getting worse. Good thing I got connects! ....well, I know a few people... Anyways, I link up with a chiropractor. Long story short, he's a crook. I keep my distance......One year later, hes trying to sue me! Sweet. See everything that just happened? Ripple Effect...I went through it.....

All over two Big Macs! ... fin.

Okay, it's simple, I shaped issues in my life for over 2 years, based on one small decision. I could have had Gabe buy the Big Macs, paid him back, relaxed and had gourmet Mickie D's on the futon...and who knows how life woulda turned out? but nahh, I had to drive.

Look how much the world changed based on that one decision! One decision! (Hold onto that thought!)

We shape this world everyday! Apply it to your dreams...Even the small decisions you make today, dictate your future. Wake up! Stop letting the world conform you! There are no restraints! Only limitless opportunities. The world is yours...everything you do, the world reacts to it. Paint your canvas.

Create a ripple effect that concerns your career, your dreams, your life...You wanna be an MC? CEO? President? Than start making a move towards it, it's no secret that doors will open for you... that's just the world reacting to your decision. You ARE the difference, you just don't know it yet. Shape your life! You can have anything...and never say the words...I can't! No one owns you, or controls you, You Can!... just remember to drink a cup of responsibility here and there! Go and Get it! Every time you take a step, the world moves around you!

And don't just ripple....Make Waves.

DWB...

"Get out the Car! NOW!"

Ahh DWB, a friend of mine was pulled over for this violation last night...What is it you ask? It's a gateway violation...Police! (not speaking for all of them, many of them are truly guardians of PEACE, Good job fellas!) But ahem! back to my point...If you qualify for DWB :D (not a good thing).... there isn't a seat belt in the world that can save you! Still, although you can be pulled over for DWB, you can't be given a ticket for it. No, no, no DWB is just the intro!

Once pulled over, the real battle begins...yup. It's a gateway tactic...profiling, harassment...shall I go further? Okay. Lets talk about the Cop that pulls you over for DWB. He's often overweight, and amidst the donut crumbs adorning his uniform, he often has a chip on his shoulder (Do not look for chip, you can't actually see it : D). Okay, you fell into his trap, now what?

Be ready for some pressure tactics, this bad boy cop now has to justify this inconvenience, usually by running your plates in hopes that you've done something, anything in the past he can make you pay retribution for... Oh and don't be surprised if they wanna look around your car, word to the wise, politely decline this request.

If he doesn't succeed in finding a reason to administer you the golden ticket(not the good kind), you'll be offered a BS reason as to why he pulled you over, such as the following....(True Story)

Police Officer: "I was in a high speed chase, the guy was going like 95 mph, I was chasin'em and you got in the way... I couldn't go around you and you were driving so slow I couldn't catch"em. That's why I pulled you over" ???????? haha, yeah okay.... Right about now's the moment when your thinking about peeling off, pumping some old school N.W.A., track 2 on that sucker all the way home, trust me, I've been there!

I'm saying...You coulda been anywhere in the world...but instead, you got stuck with this product of discrimination......All over DWB.

Driving.While.Black!

Buckle Up Fam.

The following is a list of popular DWB phrases cops use to rile you up(some of which I've heard personally):

"Ever been to jail before?"

"If I search this car, am I gonna find anything?"

"Your getting excited!"

And last but not least "You look like you know the Miranda Rights!"

Dreams... and The Alchemist

Dreams....Chase them? Erase them? Or Embrace them? This book couldn't have appeared at a more pivotal moment in my life. Excuse me, but...Did you write this book for me Mr. Coelho? For everyone? Attention! Read up! I'm gonna say this at the expense of sounding like a paid advertisement, but I'm that passionate about this book...

If you're at that pivotal moment in life, where you can choose between life as a paid slave, orrr... life full of liberation, freedom of spirit, and the self-realization that you can both see the world and conquer your dreams (I'm pretty biased about one of these options, aren't I?) Then this book is for you!

It couldn't have appeared on the bookshelf at my friends apartment at a more perfect time. Paulo Coehlo tells an enchanting, captivating story laced with wisdom, and knowledge that often eludes us for the greater part of life. Mr. Coehlo guides us on the adventure of a young shepherd boy, each page latent with wisdom, waiting for the reader to discover, and parallel to their(our) own lives. I don't know what to say, but after reading what I've read thus far (80 pages deep, about halfway) the complexities of life, seem quite simple. I'm gonna go ahead and recommend...reading each page in this book twice, there's a lot to learn, and repetition is the key to retention, right?

I'll update the status of The Alchemist after I finish, but for now, this may be the best book since the Bible...okay...maybe that's a bit much, but cheers to you Mr. Coehlo!

Cheers to you.

And oh yeah...Go Dreams!