Subject: Happiness

I came across a good quote the other day. Just thought I'd share:

"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier.

The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want."
-Margaret Young



Now to be honest, I didn't know who Margaret Young was when I wrote that, but I did a little google research and apparently she was some singer in the 20's, 30's, etc... She seems like a pretty happy person, so I think I just may have to follow her advice.

~SJ

UPDATE!

Daaaaamn, has it really been 4 months since my last blog? That is entirely too long. I apologize to my vast audience... I don't really have anything to say, just wanted to update...

Ummmm.... Who's up on this whole Twitter thing? (Check me out on Twitter)
I don't update much, but it's cool. All these ways to stay connected, it's crazy! It's so easy to stay connected to people these days. First you just had AOL with the IMs, then people started using AIM seperately, there was windows messenger and yahoo messenger as well, gchat through gmail, and regular text messaging too...


then there is "social networking"

blackplanet, migente, myspace, facebook, friendster, xanga, xuqa... countless others. and now twitter gets added to that list. I guess it's the latest fad, and I guess I'm guilty this time around too!

Ok, that's it, I'll try to update more regularly from now on... (I've said that before haven't I???)

Thanksgiving

Just wanted to wish all the people out there a happy thanksgiving. Hopefully you were able to spend time with your family and/or loved ones... and eat lots of good food.

~SJ

My iPod's busted

Fuck.

I think this describes it all.


And by the way, fuck Apple for that sad, yet strangely appropriate, image. For any of you who have not experienced this misfortune, yes this is what my iPod displays when I try to turn it on, along with a URL to go to... Ouch.

Hmmm, what to do now?

You can't just league jump

You can't just league jump, you gotta work your way up. This isn't little league, you don't just move on to the next league because you had a birthday... This is real life. You have to work to go from the CFL to the NFL, from the D-League to the NBA, from the minor leagues to the big leagues... Why should it be any different in real life?

I was having a conversation with my friend "Zoe" the other day, who is recently single, and she asked me "Did guys suddenly lose their balls?" She's been frustrated recently by the way she has been asked out on dates, in really lame, roundabout, scared-to-fail type of ways. Sadly I had to inform her that a lot of guys out there never had any balls to begin with (sorry all you ball-less dudes out there... Grow some). She says, "It's like I have some kinda sign that says 'If you're not in my league, please ask me out...' Please don't try, you can't just league jump" and to that I simply said... "awesome". I was simply amazed at the amount of Swagger exuded at that moment. Because you know what? She's right! As I said earlier, you have to work to get to the top, you don't just start there.

The bottom line is, there are leagues! You don't have to stay in your league, but you have to work your way up. In other words, pay your dues... or just be naturally awesome like me. Step your game up!

History...

November 4th 2008, approximately 11PM Eastern time... Barack Obama becomes the president-elect of the United States. For the first time in United States history, the President will be someone other than a White male. This is a day that many people thought would never come. This could never happen, only on TV or in the movies... But it has happened, and it will change our history forever.

Just a few hundred years ago, Africans were stolen from their homeland and forced into labor here in the Americas. Since that time, we have overcome many obstacles. From becoming freed men, earning equal wages, equal rights to education, equal opportunites for jobs and housing... Earning the right to vote. All of these things have been fought over. People cried, clawed, fought, sweated, bled, and died so that we as a people could simply be equal. And although I was around for none of these things, I now see the culmination of this work.

Growing up, adults always like to know... What do you want to be when you grow up? No matter the answer a child gives, it usually earns the response: "You can be anything you want if you try hard enough" or something similar. As a black youth, how many times have you heard that, only to think to yourself "How come there has never been a Black President?" It is a sad occurrence when you think about it... Hopes and dreams faded before they can even begin...

But today, less than 24 hours after a Black man has been elected to lead the nation, I sit here prouder to be an American than ever before. Especially as an African-American. I feel joy at the fact that in a few centuries, most of our nation has been able to overcome a deeply rooted racial divide. I feel grateful for all of the non-Black voters who were able to look past skin color and simply choose who they felt was the best candidate. I feel pride for all of the Black voters who came out and voted like never before, a privilege that, as a people, we have not used as often as we should. I somehow feel a sense of accomplishment, no doubt similar to the one felt by those who lived during the time of Rosa Parks' bus ride, or MLK's speeches. This is a historic milestone, not only for African-Americans, but for America itself.

But this accomplishment does not come without obstacles. President Obama will be inheriting a country that is in economic turmoil, a country that needs to improve it's foreign relations, and a country that should be seeking to break it's addiction to the oil that is killing our planet. This will not be an easy road ahead. President Obama will have to prove to the rest of the country, and the world, that he was in fact the right choice. He will be under more of a spotlight and under more scrutiny than any other man who has graced the Oval Office, but I believe that he is prepared for this journey.

In the words of Sam Cooke:
"It's been a long, a long time coming, but I know...
Change gonna come. Oh, yes it will"



~SJ

No one in the world has Swagger like me...

"I can't teach you my swag, you can pay for school but you can't buy class..."
~Jay-Z - Swagger Like Us [by T.I.] (2008)

What's with all these references to Swagger? These people callin me out? Why all of a sudden is that the buzzword in Hip-Hop? Most importantly... why does everyone think they have it? I'm not saying Jay doesn't have it, cause he does... and admittedly, I think that's where I bit the term from...

"I got a hustla spirit, n---- period
Check out my hat yo, peep the way I wear it
Check out my swag' yo, I walk like a ballplayer
No matter where you go, you are what you are player
And you can try to change but that's just the top layer
Man, you was who you was 'fore you got here..."
~Jay-Z - Public Service Announcement (The Black Album - 2003)

That, right there, is the essence of what Swagger J is all about. Be confident in who you are, because at the end of the day, that's all you are. You.

That's what swagger is, at least how I see it. All of these people walkin around think they have swagger because they're cocky and have money, but how many of these images are the real person? The word has lost it's meaning...

But it's all good, it's not like I have any ownership of the word or anything. People can use it however they want to, just like any other word. In fact, if you look the word up in Webster's Dictionary (since that's what people like to do when they want to make it look like they know what they're talking about), it has a pretty negative connotation. Here, I'll save you the trouble:


==========
Main Entry:
1swag·ger
Pronunciation:
\ˈswa-gər\
Function:
verb
Etymology:
probably from 1swag + -er (as in chatter)
Date:
circa 1596

intransitive verb
1: to conduct oneself in an arrogant or superciliously pompous manner
: to walk with an air of overbearing self-confidence
2: boast , brag

transitive verb
1:to force by argument or threat
: bully
==========

You're welcome... Yeah, not the greatest word according to definition... but you know what, that's how Webster's defines it... I don't let anyone define me! (Cue cheesy music)

Yada yada yada, ramble, ramble, ramble... Swagger is a cool word, just stop using it so much or people will think I stole it from Lil' Wayne or some shit... (I stole it from Jay-Z, get it right!)


T-Pain out!
[enable voicebox]
Ooooh I can't believe it!
Oh, oh, they usin swagger, swagger!
It, it, feels like a dagger, dagger!
But does even matter? naaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwww
[disable voicebox]

hmm... sucks that not too many words rhyme with 'swagger'... especially ones that make sense. oh well, had to get that song outta my head... and I'm out!
(for real this time)

~SJ