Rodney McNeil's Blog

Breaking news!! The world needs more wisdom, more wisdom is what the world needs! Listen to the cry for help all around us in our homes, communities, and our nation. Some people are still hurting for money, even more so a stable income to supply their daily needs. Some people are hurting from the loss of family due to illness, disease, and fatal acts of violence. We all could use a peace of mind marinating in the pan of normal living, but that marinate would go excellent with wisdom.

Violent outbursts and rage has been a normal display of individuals governed by their passions. It's been televised, it's been on social media posts and the nation's capitol has been a focal point of interest. It's never a crime to speak as you wish but somethings are better unsaid when they provoke evil behavior and means others no good. There is a common goal we should all reach for and that's exercising restraint and patience and defer to the virtues of wisdom. Kindness in a man should be desired far more than money and power. We will have disagreements as personality, values, and opinions are a revolving door to conflict. Let's all seek wisdom and move in wisdom to be sure we don't do things that are not reversible, as well as hurtful.

Have we as people forgot the power of numbers? The individual being at the top of a skill, class, or even a culture, is glorified more in western society. Individual accomplishments, skills, ambitions, etc matters but coming together in great numbers for a common cause, matters more. There is a power in togetherness, that can shift the world as we know it, into a world that some only find in their dreams.

There are a number of reasons that we don't come together, for a common cause of good. One of the most compelling I've come to understand, is not speaking the same language. Most of us speak English in America but I'm not talking the tongue of your language. I'm rather speaking on the ideas, agendas, principles and so forth that influences our language. Our outlook on how we percieve things to be or the reason behind why we support certain ideas, agendas, and principles.

Our views are different because we have our own minds but we have to speak the same language. On things that matter to everyone within a society, country, and a culture. The impossible can become possible, when we begin to understand each other and the goal that needs to be reached. We as the people may call for respect, in a society that reflects disrespectful behavior as an example. To accomplish such a thing, we would have to come together to outline and communicate what respect is. With the same thought and reasoning as the next man. That's getting on one accord, that's adopting the same mind frame to accomplish a common goal.

Speaking the same language increases the efficiency in the power of togetherness. We need this to solve the problems of love, respect, and inequality in our society. This type of togetherness would be unstoppable in changing the impossible pursuit of justice, peace, and a better life for everyone.

Amid the pandemic there has been alot of hardship and struggle experienced across the world. The pandemic has changed life as we know, causing traditions to decay and bringing everyone up to speed in how tech is an essential part of life. The masks we wear are essential fashion staples, Lysol spray along with every brand that makes disinfectant spray are heavily coveted and yet a real uncertainty lingers in many of us. What will tomorrow bring? Does things from here become better or worse? Will 2021 be any better than 2020? What's next for us? What's next for me?

It's a new time, a new season that has compelled everyone to change. Reinventing self is the true conclusion, as many are out of work, and others are gifted with going remote. Reinvention is about the quality or nature of life being changed. It's new in the mind set and approach to the challenges life throws at us. Reinventing self is about the new actions you have taken that differ from what we once practiced. It may take an idea or situation that fosters much needed soul searching.

It's time to evaluate strengths, weakness and explore creativity deep within the heart. We must recognize that the big change time brings about, happened in 2020. Sharpen, enhance and develop your skills and gifts. It's important to add value to yourself enabling the ability to navigate through society in the new norm. Reinventing self is that growth that many of us now face and must embrace.

I took wings to the sky, to get an aerial view of the flow of civilization. The lives of many began with their heads engulfed in micro-computers known as smart phones. Their arrogance found it's boast in money and their everday motivation was to harness fame. The reflection in the mirror of their hearts displayed aliens of greed. Now their purpose was to serve themselves by any means and to get in their way is to be removed away, from life of the living.

Afraid to learn more of what I'd seen, I decreased in altitude and no one noticed me. Had I become just like everyone else chasing the money and social status to gain more? Maybe I was already a monster and blended in with the flow of civilization as seen from the air. For a moment serving self wasn't so bad, who would if not you? Taking care of self is essential, it's the purpose behind every cause that makes it blessed or cursed.

Chasing things that vanish into thin air, leaves our souls empty and unfulfilled. Don't get it confused, we need money but what's the purpose we chase? We can acquire social status and money but what's the purpose we chase. Chase purpose and the social status and money make more sense in a equation of reason.

Do you ever here children speak on wanting to be older, grown or better yet, "I can't wait until it's my birthday." I have heard it numerous times and the thoughts that come to mind are, with an increase in age there is an increase in responsibility. You are expected to be better, learn responsibly and grow mentally, as a kid physically too. The more we grow, the wiser we should become.

We are creatures of pattern and habit but also living, growing organisms. We aren't made to be stagnant but to learn and grow. As kids in school the grade level above the one we were currently enrolled, required us to grow some more. Grade school also built on some of the principles we learned earlier in our school career, to advance our minds to think a little further. So we learn in life too even as we get older, we are looked at to be a little more wiser. Building on what we know to advance to where we are going.

It's my birthday today but I want parade as a kid. The older I become, the more I grow. Aging like fine wine over a measure of time. I will still have fun but I will continue to grow in understanding and wisdom. My heart will continue to crave to be better than before, that's as a person and creatively too. The older I become, the more I grow.

Problems have existed for ages and with a problem comes the thought of solutions to a problem or problems. Often we have heard that this thought, invention or person will change the world. How, is the question? Is it the world around them, is it society as we know that will change or will it be the way we use something? All are just a few broad questions on changing the world but how is it that we can change the world? You and I?

We can change the world one mind at a time. Reaching a person, a soul, or the mind of someone changes the world. It's not always the world that will be changed abroad but it could be a family, a community and the world around them as they know it. A global scale of change is such an enormous task for any individual. Regional would be a great start but even more so a mind at a time.

Tissue, cars, t.v., phones, internet, social media and fast food has changed the world on a global scale in a major way effectively. Yet the thoughts were simple to change a problem, that became a greater solution in everyday living. Solving problems and helping people by making everyday dilemmas easier changes the world gradually and effectively. The point here is reaching minds gaining their attention, their trust and their thoughts. That's how the world can be changed one mind at a time.

The faculties of the mind, the institution of education foster the environment for change. Will we change our minds, share our thoughts and become influential to others? A person is connected to a family, connected to a community, connected to society and connecting us to the world of change.

Recently I looked at a documentary on Netflix called the Social Dilemma, it broke down the topic of human behavior vs how the tech companies aim to draw us in as consumers to continue to use their products. Those products being apps such as Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube to name a few. The whole conversation originated by those who worked in the tech industry for those companies. They all identified the manipulation of algorithms and how the tech companies tracked your digital behavior to better understand your next move. Is this dilemma there's to solve or our responsibility to dictate personally?

Tech companies hold their own weight of responsibility but the true weight of power, we hold. We make these companies popular and valuable. So without us feeding them the necessary attention they couldn't flourish. The problems expressed were addiction to being on the apps too long, suicide in teens rising and our interactions as humans being redefined. The core dilemma starts with us as consumers. We have to set boundaries and limitations on our tech usage. That's considering the factors of time, content and attention we consume and seek.

We as humans first understand that too much of anything can be unhealthy. It's on us as adults to govern our minds and time. We need to govern our children, as it is understood with them being children, are more open and vulnerable to too much tech time. Give time constraints and even age limits to being able to use social media. Tech and social media aren't evil as some have viewed but rather the way people use and abuse social media.

We can all be influenced by the negative content and behavior associated with social media abuse but we must remember the dilemma is our dilemma. Nobody is forcing us as consumers to do anything we don't already desire. It's on us to give into healthy practices concerning time, content and attention. It's on us as adults to govern our children to ensure they are healthy mentally and physically. We are very fortunate to have tech but the dilemma is ours to solve in how we use it.

To rise beyond the less than inspiring environment, challenging circumstances and negative stigmas, one most soar. Soar to the height of your heart, soar above the illusion of fear and soar above the uncertainty of doubt. If it's anything worth proving to anyone, let that someone be yourself. Prove to yourself you are and from there soar into your destiny.

Envision yourself as an achiever of your goals, if you can believe it, you can acheive it. They're are numerous reasons to stop working hard for what you dream and believe in, but there is a great deal of of value to succeed in what you believe. Soaring to higher heights is taking that passion and pushing your goals beyond what you can see. It's living out your destiny in a way highly esteemed. It's not enough to just succeed but with honor and respect, helping others along the way to your dreams. Takeoff from the runway of hope, fly the skies of dreams and soar into your destiny.

Working hard and hard at work is the description that comes to mind daily when we think of regular life routines. Our work needs to pay off in a way that we are effectively making profit, as well as producing quality work but there is a greater need to getaway from all the work to breathe. We need to enjoy life, enjoy the fruits of our labor, experience another side of life other than the normal routine of events we often become trapped in. Taking a vacation is so vital for the mind, it relieves the pressure of life. It reduces stress and gives way to mental clarity. Go away, see different parts of the world, do different things and gain a fresh perspective of life. Know when to stop working, for time waits for no one, it runs away with the daily hussle we pursue. Teach yourself to treat yourself to vacation.

When I say black lives matter, it's not just another empty echoe for attention but to bring attention to the cruel misconduct of leaders, citizens and officials that abide in hate. By their actions have displayed the monstrosity of assault and hate, yet all we ask is to value our lives so that we can live another day. When I say black lives matter, I'm not saying that all lives don't but infact we as blacks deal with an unnecessary grief from people operating in a system of injustice. Black lives matter as a whole deserves the attention to change the heart of the individuals who view us as blacks less than equals, in a society where the end of our allegiance to the country states liberty and justice for all.

When I say black lives matter, it is a public reminder of how ugly and mutilated racism has been to blacks. The end result to the statement and protests should bring about shame to the abusers and evoke change. Change in the heart of the people, those people change laws and systems that are injust to blacks. This problem of injustice, inequality, and racism is not new but overdue in not tolerating hateful behavior. Our men, women and children deserve to walk in peace and enjoy life as we all should. There are countless examples of injustice on and off the record, known and unknown to us. We heard about Emmett Till, we saw George Floyd killed on video recorded footage and they invaded Breonna Taylor's personal space. Just a few examples that resonates with the topic at hand currently.

When I say black lives matter, I'm saying we have always mattered and the individuals that try to oppress us can not succeed. Slavery is over, that oppression is over, we now have to get rid of the stench of the law and systems that uphold injust actions against blacks. I'll be clear in saying this is not a plea against every officer that puts on a badge or every white person. That's the same type of disgust we don't need, we have come to find real friends and advocates among them all. The real problem is the matter of the heart not the skin tone or position held.
When I say black lives matter, I'm saying let's stop the nonsense and live normal lives were we exist peaceably. I hope the families that have lost loved ones gain peace and a healed heart as they fight through the trial of justice.