The latest Beat is back in your hands with more insightful writing and art for you amazing supporters, friends, colleagues, partners, writers and artists. This latest issue, 28.03/04, which you are holding will certainly give you plenty of inspiration and insights as you flip from page to page, while reading many of the different entries from around the state and beyond.
It’s OT coming to you guys live and direct. This latest editorial note was inspired by one of the writing prompts this week which was the words from the wise quote of the week. “I really get motivated when I have doubters.” This came from Shaquille “Shaq Diesel” O’Neil, which happens to be one of my favorite color commentators on TNT and I really like his joking style. The way he treats people no matter how much money they have, or more like he has. He’s a down to earth human being and was on a mission when he played in the NBA, but his time in the NBA doesn’t define who he is today.
Matter of fact, it’s what he’s been able to do after his NBA career that has kept him relevant in this new generation, because even though my son doesn’t watch basketball that much, even he knows Shaq. But his pranks, his comedian ways isn’t what has motivated Shaq to be this person that he is now, but it did help him during his career into being one of the greatest centers in the NBA.
But enough of the basketball talks and enough about talking about Shaq. I actually agree and disagree with the quote and let me explain why? I agree because at some point sometimes haters, doubters, or even people that express the feeling that they don’t believe in you does provide fuel and inspiration to prove others wrong.
I grew up with that mentality and part of that is carrying this big ole’ chip on my shoulders and feeling like I had something to prove to someone and to everyone. This type of mentality would actually lead me into going from knee-deep in the streets to neck deep in the streets. It would lead me to those same juvenile seats some of you sitting in, county jail, and then Federal Prison.
But I will rewind a bit further and say that trying to prove doubters wrong does have a positive aspect to it. I mean there were times where teachers or even my own family didn’t believe me and it made me push harder and get a good grade on the assignment or even push myself to pass a class with an A or a B.
But here’s where I’m going to have to flip the coin from heads to tails. See proving doubters wrong, and empowering them to have that type of control over your emotions and ultimately your goals can put yourself in a position where you’re at a real disadvantage in life in general. I’m gone have to say, you shouldn’t care what people think about you but there’s always flip side to that too.
Growing up there’s a way to tell when someone is saying something true about you. For example, if someone says you’re mean, or you’re a bully, or you’re rude, or you’re messing up in school, or telling you that drugs are interfering on being the best possible you and you don’t see it, then that’s a self-care problem; that you don’t ever seem to analyze anything that you do.
Let me get further into detail with that. Sometimes the people that actually do love us are the first ones to point out when we’re messing up, and many of us including older people and even the younger generation don’t like accepting constructive criticism. Constructive criticism is imperative to your advancement in being that great person that you will be one day. Whether it’s being that great mother, father, brother, uncle, cousin, or great member of your community, church, work, the list is endless.
You have to be willing to listen to these people that love you because they’re telling you these things in your best interest. Many of us live life at a very high speed. Even if you’re not in the streets living in the fast lane, most Americans (or anyone in any country) all have to work, go to school, do homework, study for tests, play sports, take care of the kids, be a parent, be a brother, be a sister and even run a business, and that involves a lot of time and work.
Time is not on our side. Therefore, where is that time in the day where you look yourself in the mirror not because you’re popping a pimple or brushing your teeth or combing your hair. That time where you’re really reflecting on your actions and what you can do better so you can be better. Many of you all don’t have time for that, except for the ladies and gentlemen locked up. They have a lot of time in the world to do that. But most of you out there in the free world don’t give it much thought. And there are those that even going in and out of the system don’t put much thought into trying to be a better person, they go inside and come out and attempt to be a better criminal and not get caught.
So there’s that perspective and thanks to social media and terms like “going viral” a bad day at work can make you an instant success online and being the centerpiece of a lot of hatred and criticism. There will always be people like that in life. It will only get worse. You will have your doubters and you will have your haters, but do you really need to pay attention to what they have to say when they don’t even know you, let alone care about you?
So why use what people say as motivation to prove them wrong means you’re still looking for the approval you’re not getting elsewhere. This is where I do disagree with Shaq. As I previously stated I went through my life with a chip on my shoulder that I really didn’t need, if anything I should prove my loved ones right. Sometimes our loved ones are the first ones to see our potential so they give us that tough love and say things that at times, might seem mean because they’re angry that we’re wasting all of our potential and talent.
Some of us need a swift kick in the butt sometimes. I know I did. That’s why when you first start a job, you get evaluations on what you’re doing good and what you can improve on, so you can be the best employee you can be. When you’re a student you get evaluations before your actual report cards. But who’s give you the real life report card? That reality check. The tough thing about life is who’s going to tell you how to be a better brother? A better sister? A better mother? A better father?
Shhh if no one does I guess I will because I love and care about all y’all too much to stay quiet…and I expect the people that love me will do the same for me. I don’t care what the general public thinks, or social media, or proving someone wrong now, because now I can honestly look at myself and give my own swift kick in the butt, and be like damn, “You’re messing up, OT.”
We can’t wait for someone to do it for us all of our lives, because guess what? Our loved ones are not eternal. Part of life is passing away and sadly, none of us will live forever. That’s why it’s important for y’all to realize this sooner than later, that we need to be our own assessors, and not worry about those that will never be around when we actually need them.
This is all about being leaders and not followers. Don’t be afraid to listen to the people that actually care about you, the ones that are coming to see you right now, that are supporting you and helping you through these tough times. Those are the ones that love you and want to see you succeed in life. Maybe you should worry about working hard to prove them right. After-all, where was everyone else at during these challenging times for you?
Much love to every single one of you ladies and gentlemen out there. OT is signing off with the utmost love and respect…and The Beat keeps going and going…
Thank you, OT, for delivering your strong and thoughtful message on our latest Beat topic. As always we are grateful for all of you who participate in The Beat Within. We truly appreciate your writing and art that you share each and every week. You all make a difference when you have the courage to put the pen/pencil to paper and speak your truths. Until the next issue… Sending you our best. Stay in touch!