Lemonade

"When life gives you lemons make lemonade."- somebody 

Although the saying is definitely true it's not that simple. You've actually got to put in some work for that refreshing drink. 

Nobody likes to go through rough times but we all have to. What matters is who you become after. The situation doesn't matter. It could be the way a boxer changes up his game plan after preparing for months then getting knocked down in the first round. It could also be the kid who grew up in the worst condition winning the Super Bowl one day. Everybody will encounter a time where they go into a situation expecting one thing and getting something totally different. At that point you have to do something to make things better. You have to get those ingredients for your lemonade. Do whatever you have to do to get the job done. After getting handed my own lemons a few months ago my homeboy told me that God is using this pain to push me towards my purpose. And I truly believe it. So now I'm gathering my sugar, getting my water and whatever else that goes into the stuff (I barely drink it) and I'm starting on my drink.  For any bad hands or bag of lemons you have just pray that your purpose gets revealed to you and work towards it. Make it work and sit back and enjoy yours. 

Embracing Fear

The other day I was thinking on how many guys did I know that died while I was growing up and I could only think of two, and both boys had drowned. This sudden realization shocked me, being that I have a child with Autism and that they have great chance to drowning I was immediately struck with fear. The next thought that occurred to me was that I would never let Carter near another swimming pool, lake, pond, even a front yard puddle.  As I thought more on that concept I began to see how I was thinking like King Stefan from Maleficent.

If you haven't seen Maleficent its basically a different take on the Sleeping Beauty that we all know.  The part that is critical to this blog is when after his daughter is cursed that on her 16th birthday she will be pricked with a needle from spinning will that will cast her into a slumber only to be awaken by true love's kiss.  Upon hearing the curse King Stefan reacted how most of us would react, in fear.  He ordered all the spinning wheels be locked away and that his daughter be basically raised away from humanity. Now lets look at this curse another way, what we can take from it is that when your daughter turns 16, she will begin her search for her true love after a small prick from a normal tool allows her to get some good rest.  He could of focused on using those 16 years to being the best father he could be and prepare her for true love has to offer.  He wasted those years in fear of the inevitable as all they things cursed came true, including having a true love.

As I began to focus more on my situation I decided that I wouldn't be like the king but I  would be open to the opportunity that is granted to Carter and I.  If it is probable that Carter will have some sort of experience with water it is better that I help prepare him for that situation and be the best father I can be.  In this new year don't be overcome by fear and fight it with preparation and love.

-Irvin J. Powell

Meeting of the Minds

Can our minds say hello to each other? Even if we haven't. They can talk about where they've been. Mine has been in California. On a beach thinking about a past life where we knew each other and we talked all night about where we wanted to go. Then it went to Paris and waited for you to join at the Eiffel but you never showed. Where has yours been? On a boat or maybe in New York? Or maybe sitting on that same beach next to mine. Just wasn't the right time. In my mind I can look to the right and see you there. You're magnificent and the water barely touches your feet. Even in my mind you're more beautiful than I could imagine. All I need to do is say hi and get you to talk to me. Then our hearts will follow and lead us to that beach just in time to watch the sunrise. 

Last of the Mohicans

Sometimes I like the attention and the praise.  I'm a black male married w/ 2 kids and I'm an excellent father, niggas ask me questions like I'm Uncle Phil (a month ago I woulda said Cliff Huxtable).  But then there are other times when I feel ashamed, often I wonder am I the only dude in my age range living this almost "sitcom" life.  I thought back to when I was younger and realized I was one of very few guys who's parents were happily married.  It seems as if black dudes just don't want to do right.  I could go into facts and statistics and say how bad environments are killing of the strong black man but that won't fix shit.  All in all I'm going to make this a short post and promise to do my part and teach my sons how to treat a woman, how to communicate and how to be strong.  So if 15 or 20 years from now your daughter tells you she's dating someone named Carter Powell or Levi Powell, she's won the jackpot.  

Pain

Have you ever thought about how pain affects you? Any type of pain whether it's emotional or physical. How do you act after enduring pain? Physical pain may cause you to favor the injured area when performing any type of activities. In doing so you can neglect the area and not let it fully recover. Or you can work on that area so much that it's stronger than it was before the pain. You can heal and be just fine with proper care. In most cases you don't carry the effects of that type of pain for the next few years. Emotional pain is way different. You lose a loved one and you hurt forever. A kid gets hurt emotionally bc their dad leaves hurts forever. Your significant other breaks your heart and it might not hurt forever but it feels like it at the time. No matter the situation that type of pain stays with you and constantly bothers you. How do you get away from it? Surrounding yourself with friends just delays it. Thinking about something else just delays it. Trying to replace what you lost doesn't make it better. I've recently been dealing with pain from a relationship and after almost 32 years of living I've realized I have been closed since a relationship that ended almost 10 years ago. I don't need to say what caused it but I've carried that with me ever since. I never sat and thought about it but that has to be it. It's just weird how we carry emotional pain around for years and never know until you meet a situation that causes you to look inside yourself and say you should do something about it. The mind and inner workings of our brain can be as strong or as weak as we let it. You just have to find your own way of dealing with it. Don't let it consume you. Pray about it and realize you can always overcome it. 

Change Comes from Within

Last night we set ourselves back. I mean I get it. People are outraged over the decision to not indict a white police officer for murdering a black youth. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding it Mike Brown shouldn't have been killed. It seems like everybody is ready to point the finger and ready to tear down a city that they have to live in and maybe even rebuild. At some point we have to ask ourselves what can we do as a people to prevent this type of injustice moving forward? I love the passion shown during these types of times but we need to display that same passion and need to protest against blacks killing each other. It's crazy how the robbing and killing of another black man gets celebrated but it's war when a white person does it. We have to be smarter and more aware of the traps that we fall into. This is modern day slavery and the way we overcome it is to stop all the bullshit. I've seen so many people say they fear for their sons. Why? I don't fear for mine or my son's life because I act accordingly and I'll teach him the same. I'm not saying racial injustice won't happen but it definitely reduces the chances. Now I'm seeing everybody saying they're boycotting Black Friday. What exactly is that going to do? I say stop the looting which does absolutely nothing for the cause. People are looking like fools and I'm sure MikeBrown's family isn't pleased. That's not going to bring him back. That's not going to end racism. That's just adding to the problem. If the people want to take action we need to start at home and in our own neighborhoods. Start at home and let your children know they're just as valuable as the white kids across the street. Let them know they can be anything and do anything. Make sure they're being properly educated. Help them to understand that violence isn't the best way to go. Now is the time to come together as a people and say we value each other. We need to look out for each other. Realize who the enemy is. It's not the white man. We're slaves of our own minds. If we're never taught there's a better way how will we ever know? I pray for the everyone involved in the tragedy in Ferguson and I hope it gets better but violence and looting isn't the answer. We need to open our eyes and use our minds to truly be free. 

The Universe is Your Friend

I'm a firm believer in the type of energy you put out will be the energy you get. Not necessarily the definition of karma everybody warns you about. I don't think every action will yield an equal action, but I do think when you purposely do bad things with the intent to hurt or when you do good with no expectation of receiving anything you will get in return what you deserve. I watched a film called "The Secret" a few weeks ago and it dealt with the Law of Attraction. It simply states the energy you give and what you ask the universe for will give you what you ask for. Positive thoughts become actions and manifest themselves into something great. You just have to do your part which is nothing when you think about it. If you got a dream or goal all you have to do is grind it out and believe the universe rocks with you that much to where you can want something so bad you'll actually get it. I said before we don't know how much power we possess. A dream can easily become a reality with a few positive thoughts and actions to match. If this post inspires anybody to take that step then it served its purpose. Whatever you ask for it shall be yours.