7 posts tagged “thank you for your life”

There was once a man who, while walking
along a path, fell into a hole and
could not get out. The harder he tried
the deeper the hole got.
A doctor came along the path and the
man said, "Help me! I fell into this hole
and I can't get out." The doctor wrote out
a prescription with some advice and threw
it down into the hole and continued along
the path.
A priest came along and the man said,
"Please help me, I'm stuck in this hole."
The priest said some words and wrote out a
prayer and threw it down into the hole and
continued on.
Finally a friend came along the path and
the man said, "Please help me! I've fallen in
this hole and I can't get out no matter how
hard I try!"
The friend immediately jumped down
in the hole with him. The man said,
are you, crazy? Now we are both in this
hole together!" But the friend said, "Yes,
but I've been here before and I know the
way out."

Moral? It doesn't take experts to help you out of the hole you find yourself in. What it takes is someone who has been there before and knows the way out.

As I get older my mortality becomes ever increasingly part of life’s inevitability. I don’t spend endless hours contemplating what life will be like when I’m gone or what the ones I love will be doing in my remembrance. No, I’m much more self-centered than that. I don’t want to leave because I love living and all the fallibilities that come with my imperfect life. So my life has become preoccupied with “living”. I could go over the usual list of health conscious anecdotes to “living” longer; but I’ll leave that to “my Pharmacist”, Dr. Dean Edell and Oprah Winfrey’s friend’s network. My cause celeb is “adding living to a productive life”.

A simplified definition of “productive life” is the exhaustive part of living that is spent producing, i.e. working, seeking/maintaining/dissolving relationships, raising/wanting children, chasing dreams and pursuit of that fleeting “state of being” called happiness. These are the energy draining, emotionally charged and all consuming “wants” and “don’t wants” important to the “I” in living a life.

How do you “increase” a measure of time that’s finite? My suggestion is to slow it down. How do you slow “life” down? You can’t…you have to slow down. I'm a Man who’s been accused of being “too busy” at times, a “type A” personality (take the test) at best and I traveled in the HOV lane of “life” with no one else onboard (that’s a violation with big fines…some I have yet to pay). If you suffer from this terminal dis-ease and find there just isn’t enough time in the day to get it all done might I suggest some remedies that work for me:

• Turn off the Television. Allow your mind to rest when you’re at home; learn to be at peace within your own thoughts. Sometimes enjoy soothing music or a good book in the same chair or couch you watch TV in, you’ll notice things in that very spot you’ve never paid attention to before. 

• Eat a prepared meal at the (dining) table. Take the time to set your plate, fold your napkin and enjoy your meal without interruption (turn off the TV, cell phone, blackberry and ipod). Savor the food and be thankful.

• Take a bath. Not a shower, a bath. Substitute a bath for a shower regularly it doesn’t take much more time and you’ll feel so much better (that’s a promise). Try putting baby oil, epsom salt or bubbles; even all three (that’s what I do) in the water.   

• Wake up 30 minutes earlier. The morning hours are a time of organization (mentally) plan your day, meditate and pray. You will be surprised how much better your day will go if you get some headspace; time to reset your mind in the A.M. hours. If you don’t want to lose any of your precious sleep go to bed 30 minutes early.

• Watch the sunrise and/or the sunset. Making the dawn of a new morrow or the dusk of a day coming to a close an event puts into perspective how precious time is. You will never get the time you’ve spent back. There are no refunds, guarantees or warranties. It is an “as is” affair a WYSIWYG so take your time, slow down and live a little less so you can live a little longer.
  

Slowing down and living a little more,

Bycha Buxton

buxtonbycha@aol.com

It hurts my heart to watch the pain of a people ("my" people) fight for the right to exist…again. I started college (Grambling State University) in Louisiana in 1987, I lived in New Orleans in 1989-90. My son was born in New Orleans; I became a better man because of my experiences there. It is a city of vibrant living, social injustice, epicurean delight (I learned how to eat in Louisiana) and endless entertainment. Now I watch as a spectator from my comfortable arm chair with all my creature comforts as "my" people fight for the right to exist in thier community, the only one they know. The culture there is like no other in the U.S. (the world for that matter), the energetic Second-line funeral procession, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Reggae Sun Splash, the Mardi Gras, the blending of French and African culture, Cajun and Creole. "The Big Easy” it’s called for good reason; Jazz was born there, the sports traditions of the Bayou Classic and the Super Bowl are played there, the great college institutions; black (Dillard University and Xavier University) and traditional universities (Loyola University and Tulane University) are part of the culture.

The celebrated Chefs of our time, Paul Prudhomme who introduced us (the broader U.S.) to Gumbo and Blackened Redfish, Emeril Lagasse whose '“BAM!” has been heard ‘round the world, and the many mothers and grandmothers that have been feeding the generations with the "love" that makes New Orleans cuisine so great. New Orleanians live to express their unique culture with love for their heritage that's deep and genuine. Every "Black American" born in New Orleans can trace someone in their family to one of the Low Income Housing Projects in and around the Crescent City, not that it's a bragging right ; but a rite of passage from who they were to what they've become. There is a systematic plan to rid New Orleans of this rich history and these particular inhabitants. First the natural disaster (hurricane Katrina) played a key part in putting the city in distress. We (Black Americans) cried out “Injustice!!” at how we were unfairly treated when the FEMA and other disaster relief agencies came to the “supposed” rescue of New Orleanians (a selective rescue at best). Then redevelopment by way of failing to rebuild in certain “black areas” that were deemed a flood risk in the event of a second “Katrina like storm.” Now they propose demolition of the last vestige of “real” Black History; “living” Black History is being erased. There is a better way than this. 

I predict that New Orleans, for my youngest child’s (4 yrs old) generation and my grand-kids (none yet…I hope) will be homogenized like much of the U.S. The language, traditions, the food and culture washed away and the “real” history demolished and replaced with the “new American standard”. It is a sad day when this systematic removal of the “color” of New Orleans is razed to the ground.

 

Feeling the pain with New Orleanians,

 

Bycha Buxton

buxtonbycha@aol.com

 

  One of the iconic songs of a century gone by. "Just the way you are." A mans confession to a woman that she is just what she "is" and that's all he needs. Here is what I believe. Women are wonderfully divine creatures (a mundane statement, but I'm going somewhere with this; follow me). In the beginning God created Man. He said that Man mustn't be alone; so looking at what He created and all its imperfections known only to God (the creator) He made some improvements to this species. Hence Woman ( Man 2.0). She is self-containing and preserving for the existence of Man. Not only is she as smart (most times smarter) as Man she is cunning, wise and very beautiful. There are so many examples of this I will allow you (the reader) to ponder all the great women you know past and present...

Back to my point, If I were to take a long trip to an unknown place with no knowledge of my return, what would I take? A compass, a map; maybe my cell phone? No, I'm taking my Woman. She comes with food and fun (a built-on feeding apparatus that provide endless entertainment too), the ability to satisfy my physical desires (I'm not selfish; but I am a Man). Her patient but demanding way gives her an advantage in negotiating the sometimes tough roads that lie ahead and she has a love that I will never comprehend only yearn for. Her mind processes in ways that gives us an advantage. So I find myself preparing for this trip (life's journey), and as I gather the things I need for my voyage (money, clothes, car and things), I would leave them all if I could only carry just one...Woman.

a humbled man,

Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com

Young brotha being young is a requirement; getting old is a privilege. Young brotha I've tried to be an example of a "Strong Black Man" for you; but life can get in the way at times. Young brotha no matter your circumstance never give up, if it (life) knocks you down, get up, dust off and get going. I'm here; I will help you young brotha. I've tried to clear a path for you; so follow me, but not too close cause I've stepped in some traps along the way. It truly is a jungle and you are the prey. Yes my young lion the [lion]keeper is closing in; but I'm here to help you.

Young brotha you can't do it alone, don't even try it. I'm here; I will help you. Even when you can't see me young brotha, cause the brush is too thick, believe me when I tell you I'm making a way through this madness. I love you, I'm here; I will help you young brotha. Don't tell me I don't understand; I just cut the path your going through. They say "when your going through hell don't stop...keep going". I'm clearing the way. I'm here; I will help you, just keep going.

Someone is helping me young brotha; he's just up ahead, clearing the path. And when he tires you'll pass by where he rests; give him respect he loves you too. And young brotha when it's time, you'll know...stand tall and make us all proud. We've been cut and beat and bruised trying to make a way through this jungle. Don't let us down were counting on you...and the young brotha behind you is too.

a Brotha, a Father, a Son;

Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com

 
I'm from that look between two people.

He saw Her; I was Them.

I'm am passion.

Passion is a boy of love.

I'm from grits and eggs.

Scrambled hard and over easy; the morning after and the night before.

I'm from the empty plate of a full morning that led to passion; the boy of love.

'Cause from Them came I who is He that saw Her.

You know...from between that look I'm from.

Yep, that's from where I come.

It was a moonlit morning in December 'till the 23rd of August

'round midnight of the next day, I was love and on my way.

Where I'm from is not hard to easily understand.

Just new old-fashion humpin'  between a woman and a man.

Where are you from?

A boy named loved,

a.k.a.

Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com

 

With the New Year fast approaching I am reminded of Hebrews 9:27 (look it up, you might be inspired). I always get

melancholy about the years events. Those who started this journey...those who have reached their destination. It was because of the death of Norman Mailer' that I wanted to know more about his writings and found an entry on Vox, I haven't stopped blogging yet. Thank you for your life. It was Evil Knievel that inspired my playground daring, Sean Taylor (of the Washington Redskins) that let me know that I can dream and it is the brave Men and Women in Iraq that remind me of the value my freedom (priceless). Be careful all that are in view of this message lets' safely go together into 2008, GOD willing. This is a small reminder of those who have completed their journey. Just as I was inspired by another's death to share my life with you; so too may you be inspired to make a difference in anyway you can in the lives of others. We are all inter-connected, part of the "Body of Christ".

Your Brother-in-Christ,

Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com