We all know people who are great cheerleaders. They are often on the sidelines at every event cheering people on. You may even be the person who constantly puts yourself on the back burner to support everyone else’s agenda. While there is nothing wrong with being a great supporter you have to make sure that at some point you play in the game. Now there are those who may be saying everyone serves their own function on a team and that is true in certain aspects. In order to make sure that all parties are sharpening their skills all members must play in the game including the cheerleaders. When everyone has an opportunity to play in the game things like jealously and envy don’t have time to set in, people’s skills don’t get dull and everyone gets to feel like they’ve contributed equally to the victory. If you’ve been on the sidelines for a while get in the game for a quarter or two! Don’t get stuck in the role of perpetual cheerleader!
For those not into politics
We’ve all heard someone say it more than once, ” I don’t talk about politics” as if they have exalted themselves above the masses and sit on the throne of being enlightenment. *News Flash* There are politics in everything! The educational system involves politics, religion involves politics, just about everything you do has some form of politics in it. Removing yourself from the equation will only ensure that you are left out of the scenario when the spoils are being divided up. You may not ever get gun ho and go door to door getting the word out for your favorite candidate but you at least need to be informed. Take a look at the world around you, start with where you are locally. Does it seem like your local legislators are doing all that they can or does it seem like they have just been looking out for themselves and their friends? Most of the time the same ineffective people sit in office for years because “people are not into politics.” Sitting on the sidelines will ensure that business as usual will occur and most of the time that business does not have the average citizen in mind. That’s our 2 cents on the matter. Follow us on all social media at @Mropenyonated
Purpose and Paths
Our personal plans for ourselves are not always God’s plans for us. The word of God is filled with examples of God revealing what his plans for a person is and often they are a direct opposite of what the person has in mind. No matter what personal power we have or focused positive thinking we use when God has other plans for you your agenda will take a back seat. This is not always an easy pill to swallow for most folks but when you see what God is lining up it’s easier to go with where he is leading you. That’s our 2 cents! Follow us on all social media @Mropenyonated
You knew what it was when you got into it!
Everyone knows someone who is a teacher or works in the field of education in some capacity. I think most folks will agree that teachers are very imporant in the grand scheme of things. Who can’t think back to that one person in the school that inspired them ? Why is it that now this day in age many people have jumped on the bang wagon that teachers get paid too much and should just suck it up because they knew teaching was a labor of love? We’ve all heard the comparisons about how athletes make more than teachers, you know the people who inspire and help the athletes. Why do we think so little of educators? We’ve seen the viral videos, of conditions in classrooms, we’ve heard the horror stories yet many still say ” you knew what you were getting into” Many also admit thst they could not do a teachers job. Did people really know they would be vilified? Did people really think investing into the youth would become thankless to a lot of people? If people knew what they were really getting into they probably would have changed their minds and went another route. So before you tell a teacher to suck it remember how much they sacrifice and ask yourself could you do the same. That’s our 2 cents. Follow us on all social media @Mropenyonated
If you build it will they come?
Have you ever walked by a store with a sign that said GRAND OPENING and the employees were just standing around and waiting for someone to come in and at least look at what they had to offer? I’m pretty sure that most of us have seen this happen or it has been us waiting for someone to ask us what we have to offer. We as people have great ideas however we don’t always do what we need to do to fully launch out and make those ideas flourish. I personally think of things all the time and I consider them to be great, but I don’t always market them properly because I’m a homebody. Do I think that they are magically going to market themselves? Somewhere in my mind I do think that but you get the drift LOL. Just creating something isn’t enough you have to pound the pavement and get the word out. Getting the word out does not always mean posting on social media because many of us are guilty of that as well. Many people post about their new endeavor and just wait for the likes, shares and calls to happen but they never happen. You need to get out there where the people are, rub elbows and share what you have to offer. There is nothing like being told about something in person. There is nothing like seeing the passion and excitement in someone’s eyes as they tell you about their new endeavor. Are you launching a new business, trying to strengthen your brand, build a new facility? Well you need to get out in the trenches and tell people what you are doing! That’s our 2 cent for today. Follow us on all social media at @MrOpenyonated and be sure to like our Facebook page to stay in tune with the local artists that we cover. https://www.facebook.com/Mr.Openyonated/?fref=ts
Whose Job is it to Provide “Safe Passage” For Our Children?
Chicago seems to be on track to have one of the most violent Summers ever. Typically in the Winter instances of violence subside and the city is a bit safer however that is not the case. Homicide is on the rise, and once again it seems like our children are walking targets. Once again there are demands on the police and public officials to keep the children safe. There are even designated routes called Safe Passage routes that are designed to provide safe routes for children traveling to and from school. Safe Passage workers are visibly out with bright jackets in an effort to keep Chicago youth safe. Sadly instances of violence still occur on the routes. I hear residents saying we need to be protected, our neighborhoods aren’t safe and the list goes on. One thing that I don’t always see is active people in the community joining in with the authorities to make it safe. I have been blessed to work with a few community groups that are doing more than calling for help they are in the trenches building community and calling for a stop to the senseless murders. I often ask myself “whose job is it to provide safe passage for our children?” The answer I always give is that it is the parents job and the people of the community. Many of our communities have become overrun with gangs and drugs all fighting for control of a corner that none of them own. Innocent children are routinely killed during turf wars and it seems like there is no end in sight. It’s time that we stop looking for other people to provide safe passage for our children and do it ourselves. The police can’t do it all they simply don’t have enough resources and many in he community still operate on a “no snitch” culture that continues to let murder run rampant. I remember a time when parents would raise up and do what they had to do in order to protect the children, it’s time they do that again by any means necessary! Follow us on all social media @MrOpenyonated and visit our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Mr.Openyonated/
Why are we so up in arms about the Oscars and other awards?
People need to be affirmed at some point in time that’s a given but somewhere down the line one has to say “I really don’t give a care!” We’ve all seen the tweets, and videos, heard people from both sides of the issue and the result is the same. Hollywood says it’s going to do better! We’ve heard that story for decades. Screw Hollywood! Surely enough of us have attained enough wealth to create our own films and tell our own stories. Why can’t we just say I’m over it? Do we not value the attention of our own people enough ? If our music acts don’t cross over are they not as good? A serious in house conversation needs to go on. We are VERY talented people! How many times does someone have to tell you that I want your gifts but I don’t want you? Guess what? The Oscars didn’t have us in mind when they were created neither did the Grammys or any of these other awards. Can we please get back to creating great art and not worrying about being patted on the back? The Oscar looks like something stolen from Egypt anyway ! That’s our 2 cents, follow us on all social media at @MrOpenyonated
Do You Really Want Change?
We’ve all been guilty of making new years resolutions and there are plenty of people who have seen the memes on Facebook poking fun at us. While there is nothing wrong with making resolutions following through on them is a different story. We all start with good intentions but somewhere down the line some of us get sidetracked and some totally derailed. Sometimes you have to ask yourself “Do I really want change?” If you are open and honest and put it side by side with what you are willing to do for it the answer is no. Are you willing to put in the late hours? Are you willing to go to places you don’t want to go? Are you willing to come out of your comfort zone? Do you really want change? Once you answer that question honestly then you can put things in place to make the change happen! That’s our 2 cents today. Follow us on all social media @Mropenyonated and like our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Mr.Openyonated/?fref=ts We will follow back!
You Don’t Have to Fit In !
We live in a world of conformity. Many people feel immense pressure to be grouped with the masses. While wanting to have some form of relationship with your peers is understandable, it can lead us down a dangerous path. Everyone wants to belong to some group or effort at some point in time. It’s very important that we maintain some sense of individuality in this giant melting pot. BE YOU! God created us to be individuals and not carbon copies. The world would be a very boring and monotonous place if we were all the same! Make sure you follow our blog on social media, we follow back! @Mropenyonated
Poetic Thought Thursdays “Youth Night”
Whitney Houston once sang ” I believe the children are the future, teach them well and let them lead the way.” Giving the youth center stage is just what Poetic Thoughts Thursday did with its February 11th edition. The host Goddess Warrior AKA Dianna Tyler provided an opportunity for Chicago’s youth to share their gifts as well as be exposed to different forms of art. The evening was a night of spoken word, singing, praise dancing and hip hop. It was a packed house with youth, parents and othr family members. Many people say that they are youth centered verbally but it was good to see someone actually back that up with actions. It’s very easy to get lost in the bright lights of building your own brand so Goddess Warrior definitely gets kudos for sharing the spotlight with the youth. The features for the night were Kinetic and Mara Marie both part of the At Ease Family. Kinetic encouraged the youth in a way that only she could weaving in poetry and teaching at the same time. Mara Marie serenaded the audience with her vocals which are always on point. The event was hosted at the Afrikan Village Chicago Cultural Center located at 5840 West Madison in the Austin community. They have positioned themselves to be a hub of knowledge and cultural activities for the community. To stay on top of what goes on at Poetic Thought Thursdays and the Afrikan Village be sure to check them out on Facebook at the links below. As always follow us on all social media a @MrOpenyonated and on our Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/Mr.Openyonated/?notif_t=page_fan and please help us in spreading positivity through our #Capturelove campaign!
https://www.facebook.com/Poetic-Thought-Thursday-324352154431994/?fref=ts&ref=br_tf
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