Change & Growth

Change & Growth. Two simple words, but when used together they instantly become powerful. Now I 1st have to pay homage to this chick I use to date, who has these same words tattooed on her wrist. She schooled me in saying she has changed & she is forever growing as a person. I can relate & artistically I wish to be able to convey that to a much more broader perspective. Now no matter who you are, or what you have ever dealt with in life, we all are faced with change & growth. We all have to know this & accept this. Some of us do, many of us don't. As a people I believe the ones who don't see the importance in growth, are far too comfortable in their situation or just too complacent in life.

Now if you have made it to a certain aspect of you're existence & you are comfortable, then you are not using you're full potential. Simple as that. If you haven't grown to the place you are aiming for then you have to ask yourself the following question : What change do I need to become, in order for myself to grow? See change & growth go hand & hand, they are counterparts to this thing called life. I sit here at 23 with a job, no career. No children, girlfriend or even a wife. I sit here at 23 with a dream & growing determination. The reason I bring myself up is because I'm the test subject, I'm the change & I will be the growth. No I'm not disappointed with myself or am I having a reality check. Its called being self aware & may we all be self aware.

Know that it takes something to be somewhere in life, & do you know what that something is ? Yeah that's right you guessed it, Change & Growth. Very simple yet very complex in the same exact text. There are many things that I in fact am aiming to change. This process will be followed by the growth of a man evolving into someone whom I don't even know yet. However I do know that person will be better than Darrin at 23. May you all become that change, & allow yourselves to grow. We need it, our families, communities & future needs it. It can be something as small as quit smoking & working out more. Or even monumental as going back to school & finishing for your AA, BA, MA etc. I am a living breathing testimony, that we all can "Change & Grow". Lets get it.

God Speed

Ms. Patton.

BLUEPRINT

Its almost that time of the year again, you know the time of the year where you look up & assess the good & bad of 2011. The times you laughed, cried & became all sorts of emotional in between. The time where you remorse over those we've lost to death, & time where we look back on the ones we willingly let leave our existence. The time where you self analyze & judge who you are as a person. You're weight, style, living situation, financial income as well as outcome, relationships with people etc. It is the time of the year where we all believe to get a fresh start & say, "this is going to be my fucking year".

I enjoy the last two months of each year, I look at it as my "Blueprint" stage. For me, this stage is when I become my harshest critique & look back at all the good & bad I did in 2011. How to take these mistakes & learn from them as a man & proceed with wisdom. I also aim for different goals or challenges to attempt in 2012. The older I grow the more & more I'm able to see my flaws & then attempt to correct them. One of my favorite quotes is " Youth is wasted on the young". So I definitely take that to heart & aspire to make something of it, as we all should. May you all reach your personal endeavours & continue to utilize the youth within us all, remaining this year as well as 2012.

God Bless