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My Philosophy
I know how I am.
And that's a good thing. A lot of people just don't know how they are. They don't recognize the patterns in their lives and therefore repeat the same mistakes.
For example, I know I need to lose weight. I also know that I cannot lose weight if I don't work out. My choices are either to work out or accept my weight. See, the choices are there. And because I know me, I am somewhere between the two. I'm not totally unhappy with my weight and somewhat unmotivated to lose it. I know I will one day, but I'm not trippin' about it. I know how I am, so it's pointless to trip about it at this point.
Because I know how I am, I try to lead a very simple life. Seriously. Not like Amish simple, but I like to avoid negativity if at all possible. I try to speak with logic and level-headedness. Because....I know how I am. I have the potential to become incredibly angry or incredibly sad. I think a lot. I analyze a lot. I rarely think about myself as much as I think about the collective -- which is why I see one colleague fuckin up, I dissect the situation and figure out what can be done about it. I feel like somehow I am saving the whole craft if I can save one writer, lol.
But I know that's not normal. (For the record, nobody said I was normal, either.)
I don't surround myself with drama -- it's never been my style. I don't thrive off of it and don't find it funny. I never liked one frat dissing another at step shows. I never liked that show "snaps" where people are jonin' on each other. And I can't stand the freestyle competition on 106 & Park.
Some people call me moody. I call myself sensitive.
I don't like arguing with my friends, and in fact, I don't. I think it's more important to be friends that to be right. As me and BlackMartha were talking about yesterday, why does it seem like so many people don't understand that two people can read the exact same text, have two different interpretations, and both STILL be correct? How's that for revolutionary?
I have a friend who read Sons by Alphonso Morgan and hated it. That's not an exaggeration, either. Moreover, this friend knew I loved it and purposefully didn't engage me in a debate about it because, hell, what's the point? (We ultimately did discuss it, and I think he was surprised to learn that I had the same challenges with the text as he did. I just happened to thing the good parts were really really good.)
It's not just text, either. It's like....life itself.
I have six close friends, three women and three men. And I have a couple of really really close friends who are mostly men. I've never had a best friend -- I happen to think the concept is a little unrealistic, but if you have one, that's great! I think it's beautiful when two people can rely on each other platonically.
At any rate, me and the six close friends (who I call "The Wedding Party") NEVER argue. When I say never, I mean neeeeever.
And that's not weird to me. From 1994 or 95 when I met Joel to 1999 when I met Shari, I can count less than five heated debates among all six of us. And if I was ever pissed off at any of them, they redeemed themselves without even knowing I was mad at them. I like it that way. I don't have to speak and they know how I am feeling.
It's hard to find people to click with like that. So I keep them close and keep them happy.
Life is too short to surround yourself with people who don't make you feel happy.
I know how I am -- keeping my life simple is best.
Posted by Rashid on August 5, 2005 8:00 AM