Tag Archives: Philadelphia

Profound Hip Hop Quote: Week #2

15 Jan

“Swallow your pride before you choke on your issues.”
—Murs, “Everything”


How often do you say, “My pride won’t allow me to do ‘X’ or ‘Y’ even if it might be the appropriate action to take? Maybe ‘X’ it is forgiving a person who wronged you, or ‘Y’ is accepting help from someone when you really need it.  This line from Murs’ (If you’ve never heard of him, he’s released a few top notch CDs with Ninth Wonder) rap song really struck a chord with me. Even though I do make a conscious effort to practice forgiveness and do not consider myself to be prideful, I do often struggle with swallowing my pride when it comes to asking for help.  I convince myself that I can do it all alone or sometimes feel too ashamed to ask for help or that I am having difficulties if I underestimated how much work something would take because I brought it all on myself.

To use an analogy derived from Murs’ line, perhaps I struggle with reaching out for help because I hear my mother’s voice  from childhood saying, “You asked for all of that food, and you’re not going to leave this table until you’ve cleaned your plate!”   We’ve all got to eat to survive, but it most instances it is the swallowing of the food with the proper nutrients, not the junk, that sustains us.  As an adult, I have learned that forcing myself to eat because I can’t admit that I put too much on my plate  may not only cause me to choke but may also make me sick on the stomach resulting in everything else I enjoyed or managed to eat to come right back up.  This is a scene I don’t want to envision for myself nor for my family and friends who may be in a similar predicament.

Do you struggle with pride?  Has it hindered you, the progress of your relationships or success in anyway?  I know it has for me occasionally and probably will in the future. Sometimes it is best to swallow our pride…isn’t it?

Please feel free to share your thoughts

~Anonomz

Bonus English Lesson:

Murs’ line is an example of an idiom because it is a common phrase made up of words that cannot be understood by their literal meaning.  People cannot really swallow their pride…can they?

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Profound Hip Hop Quote: Week #1

8 Jan

“Never lookin’ back or too far in front of me
The present is a gift, and I just wanna be…”
—Common, “Be (Intro)”


How often do you dwell too much on the past or focus too relentlessly on the future without acknowledging what is going on presently? This is something that I have constantly struggled with until I heard Common put it so simple yet so eloquently.  Of course, it is important to evaluate my past to avoid making the same mistakes again.  Yes, considering future goals and aspirations is necessary in order to establish a game plan and be successful.  However, I know that I must take time to live in the moment and appreciate my present accomplishments.

Where are you presently?  Is it where you want to be?  If not, then it might be pertinent to examine what you have done in the recent past and plan to do in the near future so that everyday will be a present or gift for that matter.  Were you inspired by the same line or a different line in this song?  Please feel free to share.

~Anonomz

Bonus English Lesson:

Even though Common does not utilize the word  “present”  in an indelicate way, it is a good example of  a double entendre because present presents some ambiguity with two meanings: “a gift” and “related to time.”

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Give Me a Minute

23 Dec

Meditation

The luminescent candle fills the room

difficulties with the lotus posture

still aggravatingly inflexible.

Back once more to the crossed leg position

Relax, relax; inhale the energy

exhale any distractions of the day.

Countless emails: I still need to respond

you know what, I forgot to call my mom

got to get that mac and cheese recipe.

Remember: wash clothes when this is over

Agh! Brain chatter is overwhelming me

gently intensifying with each breath.

Focus is what I must be doing now

permeate my pupil flickering glow.

Outside distractions: I mustn’t listen.

Take a deep breath in. Take a deep breath out.

Convince myself that I’m doing really well

meditating for about a minute.

by Anonomz aka Tanya Harris


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It’s a Wonderful Life…Isn’t It?

21 Dec

Tanya HarrisLast week, I finally watched the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life” in its entirety, and it really got me thinking about my life and the impact I have made thus far.  If only “my guardian angel” would whisk me away and let me see what other peoples’ lives would be like if I were never born. Often, I contemplate about how productive my life is and if I am truly making a difference…regardless of how small or large it may be.  An adage that resonates with my spirit proclaims, “Leave this world better than you found it.”  After watching the movie, I sat pensively pondering, “Am I in alignment with this statement?”  This is one of my philosophical and spiritual musings that will sadly not result in a definitive answer, but it did get me thinking about all of the wonderful people in my life who may not even know how they have influenced me.

So, I thought, why not spend a little time creating a brief list of acknowledgement.  Unfortunately, I am fully aware that there are just too many people to name without potentially leaving someone out resulting in a negative impression.  Of course, my family, dear friends, former teachers, students and colleagues have played major roles in helping me become the woman that I am today, but sometimes those people who may appear to cause harm also play key roles into giving me the wonderful life I have today.  Here are three people out of many who have influence my life:

Names have been changed to cartoon characters  for fun to protect the innocent or not so innocent for that matter*

Linus: At a former place of employment, this man caused me insurmountable grief.  Even though I was a hard worker, he referred to me as “an exception to the rule” because he believes (I hope he’s since had a change of heart and that it is now “believed”) that most Black people are lazy, and women are incompetent and should not be in positions of authority.  What’s so wonderful about this man?  Actually, he served a few purposes.  Firstly, he opened up my eyes making me aware that racism and sexism do still exist and that I mustn’t lose sight of this and take a stand when necessary.  Also, he forced me to become a risk taker and to test my faith of believing I can do all things with God on my side by leaving my position.  Thanks to his disdain for me,  I am where I am today!

Pooh: My first boyfriend was slicker than a sheet of ice during the blizzard of ’96, but I was in love and thought he could do no wrong.  He had his good qualities, but he took advantage of my pleaser tendencies and attempted to manipulate me in a multitude of ways.  It broke my heart when I found out he was getting extra cozy with girls from the job (I helped him get) and eventually got a girl pregnant.  Yes, he’s Mr. Wonderful too, and I do not say this sarcastically.  Never did I hold future suitors accountable for his transgressions, but he did help me to realize what I did want and did not want in a relationship and how both people must have the same goal.  Partly because of him, I have an even greater appreciation for the love I’ve found.

Grinch: This man, more times than not, made me feel like I wasn’t good enough and only acknowledged me in childhood and adulthood when it was convenient for him. Even though I do have a handful of good memories involving him,  most of them make me wonder how I was still able to become the person who I am today.  It’s amazing how life works!  As a result of biding for his affection, I worked even harder in school and in my work life hoping to hear the phrase uttered, “That’s my daughter” coupled with “I’m so proud of you” without hesitation of who may hear it said.  Why on earth is he so wonderful?  Well, of course, my mother’s role in my life would undoubtedly eclipse his.  However, without him, I do not think I would have as many accomplishments in hoping that it would be enough to make him happy with me.

On the surface, these examples may seem depressing and not worthy of posting.  Nevertheless, if I am able to get beyond the negativity and people who could have potentially made my life miserable, then why not share it with others.  Do you have a person or story of how someone impacted your life and made it what it is today?  Maybe it was me…Please feel free to share it.
Best regards,

Tanya Harris aka Anonomz

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