Some of my fav mantras

16APR2021; 0230, FRI

I am most def out of practice considering how badly I just butchered that time date stamp on my initial attempt. That's to be expected after a bit of a hiatus tho, I reckon.

Also, I know that "Nothing good happens past 2AM", as Bear Hands sang back in 2016. However, I believe it to be more or less imperative that I get this piece hammered out tonight while I'm inspired.

Last few housekeeping points: Apologies for the chicken scratch above; I'm submitting the rough draft; and this may or may not turn into another trilogy. With that being said, now for the cannonball:

1.) "Everything is everything"- MLH (Ms. Lauryn Hill). Considering that the intro to this piece was almost exactly 98 words and her sole solo studio album dropped in '98, I figured why not kick off the list with her.

I'm not gonna front and pretend like I know what this particular one means. Although, I'm pretty sure that the lyrics site Genius has a decent explanation.

2.) "It is what it is"- Random Black folks. This also ambiguous but equally nostalgic one reminds me of the friend of the Fam who I wrote that open love letter too.

She's a big fan of this phrase and MLH as well. Matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that she is the very first person that I heard say this, the better part of a decade ago.

3.) "Won't He do it!"- Also random peeps of the Black community. I'm well aware that more likely than not, "God is a Black [woman and a] Revolutionary".

I'm also cognizant of the fact that this particular line item will likely be flagged by the moderators due to its religious nature; along with the somewhat soft superiority complex. I digress.

The Lovely Lady and myself were raised in religious households; and we're both African Americans. So, yeah.

4.) "God is good. All the time!"- Random church folks. "Please don't [flag] me, Bro!"

That's one example of the African concept, call and response which I couldn't resist trying my luck on. If it helps my case at all, I learned this one from a standup of the living legend Kevin Hart.

5.) "Say it with your chest!"- Kevin Hart. Speaking of the big homie...

6.) "Lights, camera, action"- My old man. That's how he reminds me of my headlights being in the off position when we ride around in the DMV (DC, MD, & VA area) together at night.

7.) "All love all day and every which way."- Moi. Speaking of my dad, this is essentially how I end our daily buddy check calls.

I have a sneaking suspicion that it's my fault that he wasn't there to save his moms (Rest In Power, Grams) when she passed suddenly right after I was born. Least I can do is make sure that he is still getting by, arguable melancholy notwithstanding.

8.) "Hang around em long enough, you'll be like em"- My maternal grandma. This one is sometimes varied as "Be like em if ya want to"; and/or "Don't be like em!"

9.) "Aim small; miss small"- U.S. Army and Mel Gibson's character in The Patriot (2000). I'm ~89% that the late great Gunnery Sergeant Carlos "White Feather" Hathcock II (along with almost every other American sniper) would agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment.

10.) "Walk with a purpose"- also the Army. I've always walked slow.

The above mantra occasionally helps with that. Of course that's only on the times which I remember it and/or realize that I'm becoming "a fall out".

11.) "Stay woke!"- Childish Gambino. The song Redbone from his 2016 album.

12.) "Stay enriched, enlightened, and enlivened"- Another original. I don't remember how or why I came up with this one, but yeah.

13.) "Have a peaceful, productive, and positive day"- Mom Dukes. I believe that this one is almost exactly a decade old or so.

Considering that I'm practically running on fumes (in regards to sleep and such), and the fact that she was born on a Friday the 13th...

***

I'm not sure how, but I ended this post at approximately my exact baseline. I'm taking that as a sign to prepare for my Bday this upcoming TUE by catching up on some much needed rest.

With any luck, someone somewhere gets something from this piece; and if that somebody's you, then please think about considering a Like/Tip/Share. Thx in advance (TIA)!