Should be Freedom Granted or Taken?

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What do you believe in? Should freedom be granted by someone in power, or do you think that freedom should be taken?

Freedom is the physical state and mindset of being free. It means being absent of control and punishment.

Waiting for freedom to be granted can help to avoid direct conflict and retaliation. Waiting to be granted freedom could be good for people who are immature and don’t understand how the cogency of freedom could lead to destruction. I mean think about it like this; why are children given parents at birth? Freedom is a state of mind and you can be in prison in your mind while free in the physical form with access to endless currency and materialistic goods. While waiting for someone to grant you freedom on the outside, you can bring or defend your self-independence for your freedom on the inside. How beneficial is it to be free in the physical form if you can’t lift yourself by your own bootstraps due to the brainwashing of the negative thoughts in your mind? When I think of waiting for your freedom to be granted, I think of how much of an influential leader Martin Luther King was. I understand that patience and negotiation can lead to a more comfortable freedom where you are free to let your guard down and dwell in everlasting peace.

The downside of waiting for someone to grant you your freedom leads to the highest level of dependency. Based on what Malcolm X said, I wonder if democracy is hypocrisy in America. Ask yourself “How many missed opportunities have I missed out on because I waited on someone else to grant me permission to live free?” Even when freedom is granted, it is often on terms that still favor the oppressor. Moments like the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the fight for civil rights by any means necessary, and even when Moses led his people of Egypt are examples of where it was beneficial to rise out of dependency to take freedom. True independence is how you become free. Based on my last paragraph regarding how Martin Luther King used non-violence and believed that one-day black people would be judged not by their skin color but by the content of their character, he still demanded freedom using the weapon of non-violence.

I am a firm believer in taking your freedom. I believe those in power rarely grant true freedom unless they are pressured to do so. When you take freedom, individual or collective freedom will based upon the people’s terms. If freedom was never taken, would America be independent right or would we still be under the rule of the British parliament? I have always aligned with Malcolm X’s approach to self-defense and any means necessary for freedom. People feared Malcolm X because he had the necessary tools to defend himself such as his intelligence.

The downside of taking freedom does come with consequences that the oppressed and downtrodden may not see coming. Regardless if you wait for your freedom to be granted or if you are willing to take it, those in power will not give up control power. As much as I abhor corrupted leaders, the one admirable trait that they have is confidence. I believe it takes a level of confidence to execute corruption. Also, if there is no clear leadership after taking freedom from a corrupted person or corrupted body of government, there could be chaos which could birth internal conflict and civil wars. As I previously mentioned, there was the French Revolution that led to the overthrow of the monarchy. This led to internal conflict where Robespierre and the Jacobins created a dictatorship in which anyone who was against the revolution was executed. Eventually, Robespierre was arrested and executed in 1794 which eventually led to Napoleon Bonaparte seizing power in 1799 and he declared himself emperor in 1804. So did the French ever really get the freedom that they were hoping for?

Based on your point of view, think about these questions to yourself:

  1. Is democracy really freedom?
  2. Do you believe in being granted your freedom or should your freedom be taken?
  3. Can a country function without a government? (After thinking about this to yourself, rethink number 2)
  4. Do good leaders become corrupted because of the unchecked power of leadership, or are people born and raised to be corrupted from the way they were raised at home?
  5. Is freedom learning to be flexible within your mental capacity, or is freedom the state of being physically free?
  6. Can mortal beings ever achieve freedom or is that goal only possible within the afterlife?

Where Did Love Go?

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Love acquaintance and the devil’s apprentice. 
A false prophet digged 
inside my skull and 
planted addictions.
Love and all of its acquaintances
just got evicted.
Afflictions are 
short-term pleasures 
like abbreviations.
Mass devastations. 
A hero in many lives
but a villain in my own story.
Pain is ordinary and yet hereditary.
Look at the roots in my brain.
Childhood games fades 
in the wind where mental abuse in childhood
grew into adulthood.
Outside in the rain with no umbrella 
or hood.
A smoking engine under the hood 
is my anger flowing 
like lava.
So coldhearted, 
I never shiver 
even on the coldest night of winter.
Heaven is the gated community 
and my poverty is invisible.
A sad song without lyrics
my pain is an instrumental.
Torture is reciprocal
as I stare at my reflection
where the river of paradise
transforms and demoted
to a sea of fire
where my miracles
is the sweat dripping
into this ocean.
I was already practicing 
social distance way before covid.
I received a million-dollar bonus 
from Christ,
but in a billion-dollar debt with Lucifer
with a million-dollar monthly minimum.

The Life experiences that helped me to grow

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In life, you cannot know everything. The beauty of life is that it is not constant in which life always gives you the space to grow into something better and have memories that you can talk about with your grandkids. In order to grow you have to step out of your comfort zone in order to live through accomplishing your dreams. I am going to list two experiences that helped me to grow the most in life.

#1:My parents divorced:

My parents divorced when I was eight years old. It was a very fast paced, yet frustrating experience.
At that time in my fragile little mind, I thought the world was unfair because all of my other friends parents 
were together. This experience helped me to grow because this was the experience that took my innocence away. 
I started to understand the true meaning of struggle in this world. It was harder for me to focus on school, it 
was harder for me to adjust to a different lifestyle such as being in a different neighborhood and making new friends. 
This experience was the most important experience that enhanced my growth.
Once I became 10 years old, I learned that change is constant and at times you will have no choice but to adjust.

#2: Quitting my fulltime job in 2017 to go back to finish my bachelor’s degree:

This was another important life experience for me. In 2013, I dropped out of Farmingdale State College 
to work full time doing construction. I was an electrical apprentice. 
This was probably the worst decision I could possibly made in my life.I hate my fulltime job. 
Imagine working at job fulltime that you hate for four years. 
I knew since the first week that this job was not for me. 
I became complacent and accepted the fact that I need this job for fulltime benefits. 
I would get up at 4:30AM everyday, to get on the 5:30AM train for 5 days a week and had school twice a week. 
My work schedule was 7:00AM -2:30 PM Monday — Friday.
On top of that apprentices are required to go to school.
On Wednesdays, I had school from 4:00PM — 6:00PM, on Thursdays I had school from 5:00PM — 8:30PM. 
So to break this down even more, on Wednesdays I would wake up at 4:30AM and would not get home until 
7:30PM at night due to the fact I had to take the train. 
On Thursdays, I would not get home until after 10:00PM. 
So imagine on Thursdays that you had to get up 
at 4:30AM and not getting home until 10:00PM at night and having to get 4:30AM on Friday to get to work.
On top of that, some of the foreman’s I worked for would try to pressure 
me to do overtime. 
Basically, this job consumed me. From August 2013 — May 2017, my life was a blur do to the fact that I barley remember anything outside of work during this time period.
I wish it was as easy as doing what you love to make money. 
I wish it was as easy as when they told me as a child that I could be anything that I put my mind into. 
But sometimes you will be in a rock and a hard place and have to take a job in order to support yourself. 
I took this fulltime job in 2013 because I was not motivated for school at the time. 
I just did enough to past my classes. The major I took at Farmingdale State College was Computer Information Systems. 
I was told that it would be 
very hard for me to get a job in the tech field. 
I allowed this to get into my head so when I saw an opportunity for a fulltime job with benefits during the Summer of 2013, I took a an escape from
school thinking I had found a better opportunity, but all I did was dig my myself into a hole in which to this day, I am still trying to climb out of.
I grew from this because 
I learned to never be loyal to a company, never let know one pressure you to take a job you are not 100% sure that you want to do, and to always put your mental health first.

This is only part 1. Within the coming weeks, I will continue this and write a part 2. 

Do You Need a Break? From what?

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I am at the point to where I need a break at this moment. I get overwhelmed by a variety of things in life. I found myself wanting to hit the reset switch. I wish life was a video game, where there is a reset button and I can start all over. I am going to mention all of the things I need a break from:

1. People

Ever since I was a child, I always had a hard time trying to fit in rather it was school, church, work, or even at family events. I have a very quiet personality. I have always been told that I need to open up to people more, but every time I do, the energy is not reciprocated back to me. So because of this, I been on a self isolated island where I just stay to myself. I am always known as the quiet person in public. I get annoyed when people ask me “Why are you so quiet?”. Choosing to remain quiet is not a curse and I hate when people act like it is. The reason why I am so quiet is because people are judgmental and as I get older, I lose the motivation to speak with people due to the endless responsibilities I need to take care of.

2. Social Media

This one is relatable to the first point I made because people are the ones that have an impact on Social Media. Although I must that admit that you can learn a lot from Social Media, it is a very toxic place. Social Media made people anti-social. Social Media is the reason why I feel like life lacks originality compared to years ago. It made people become experts on speaking on topics they have no experience whatsoever. Most importantly, it gave unrealistic expectations when it comes to relationships/marriages. People constantly need to seek validation from other people. Due to Social Media, I have moments where I lose motivation due to overwhelming access information that we have today compared to previous generations. I always feel like there should be a break as far application developers developing applications. I understand that an app developer have a job to do, but I feel that we have another apps already. I wish we can go at least go the next five without the development of any new apps and just stick with the apps that we have now.

3. Thinking About the Future

I am always thinking about my future. I want to reach to the highest mountain in life. I want to accomplish all of my dreams. The problem comes with all of the hurdles I have to jump in order to get to the point where I can keep my feet up and relax. For this year, I have to save more money, I have to start looking for houses soon, and I plan to start a family soon. Last year, I got married, I got a new job, I got a promotion within my new job, and I had to pay money to make major repairs in my condo. Although, everything I accomplished were blessings for the year of 2023, I am mentally worn out. Wedding planning alone was a mentally draining vacuum sucking the life out of me. Having to deal with the anxiety of being the center of attention and coordinating with different vendors is an overthinking civil war within yourself. Although wedding planning is over, I now have to mentally prepare for searching for a house. Life is an endless planning tunnel where you will constantly have to plan in order to adjust

Goodbye To My Soul

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The devil is the mastermind
of capitalism.
Getting what you sold your soul for
is a camouflaged optimism.
Demons view your poverty
from a penthouse, pulling your strings
from the shadows.

Thought, memories,
synchronizing
into a vortex of lost and found
where your intelligence
lost the full deck of cards to frolic with.

Loved ones lost patience listening
to a persistent man reminiscing,
promising he will go back of what used to be.
Chasing the ghost of my memories
echoes of the angels slip away from me.

Losing myself in past time,
drifting in the previous shine.
My soul is a hoarder for the days
before yesterday, wishing tomorrow was a yesterday.

Spoiled for memories, blocking blessings
not comprehending
today’s way of living.
Delusional as neglecting
enjoying the moment, subconsciously rehearsing
in today’s time,
acting the part hoping the clocks rewind,
to bring everything forward
I left behind.

Reliving of what I was previously
when I am asleep dreaming,
are regrets as I wake in the flesh
of today’s reality.
A wolverine in the flesh,
but a kryptonite in my heart.
Don’t know where to start
to escape from being
trapped in the dead end
of where my soul use to be.

Living long enough
to see a nightmare
from start to finish.
Permanent graveyard shift,
wondering if the sun ever exist?
Nightmare clear as vodka,
numbing the cold winter nights,
walking with ease where I’m sleeveless
and soulless.

Cheers To Everlasting Love

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Two souls synchronizing
the imperfections
of characteristics charted
in love’s catalogue.
Imperfection leads
to perfect practice
of existing sweethearts.
An instrument produces
enhancements of romance
where communication
is the cable
jumping
the battery of amplifications
as cupid uses his arrow
driving on the ravishing road
while simultaneously charging this battery.

Enchanting parades
for ordinary days
identical to milestone anniversaries
as we shower each other with affection,
cleansing assumptions
and doubts are the bowel movements
in our stomachs
defining two souls synchronizing
for a connection,
solid like a boulder
or a man’s shoulders
exercising deltoids
where the detachment of caressing
that was once possessed
by the hands of fornication
is a sin mitigated
by lifting
weights in the gym of everlasting marriages.

Reading Stories I wrote From 2017 over the Weekend

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The last thing I did for fun was reading all of my poems/short stories I wrote back in 2017 and 2018 when I first started blogging. This was fun for me because I was proud of the creativity utilized in these stories. It’s good to see to reflect back in life to see how far you have moved along in life. When I first started blogging back in 2017, I was addicted with coming up with clever poetry to upload. Some of my previous stories I wrote were funny to me.

Below, I will post links to some of my previous poetry/short stories that were unique;

Night before My Wedding

A Story About A Couple On Their 5th Date

How To Please ladies

I Owe you

It Was Only Suppose To Be Simple Date

A Story About a Couple On Their 5th Date Part 2

Let’s Read This Story And Pick A Letter At The End

For those of you that started following me recently, these were my old stories I posted on here from 2017 and 2018. If you are looking for something funny to laugh at or something to get you curious, please read one of my stories above and comment and let me know which you read!

Thank you!

A Lesson I learned While Jogging

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 I started jogging again over the summer to stay in shape and healthy and I learn how to breathe in through my nose and breathe out through my mouth. It felt uncomfortable at first becasue I have always been use to breathing in and out through my mouth. For years, although I would nautarally breathe in and out through my mouth, my mouth will get dry instantly making it harder to finish my workout. I did researched and looked at youtube vidoes on how to be a successful runner. The youtube video that gave me inspiration was this video. The skill of learning how to breathe in through my nose provides more oxygen towards my lungs, allowing me to go the distance when jogging on the trail around the corner from my house.

Also, for one that uses medium to publish their work, please check out this story that I just posted on medium earlier today A Story About A Couple On A 5th Date

For those of you that want to learn more about me, these are my following social media platforms

Instagram

Twitter

Medium

Also the feature image in this post was from this website

Tome

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The poem below is based on the #vss365 poetry prompt using the word tome.

My mind is a #tome
with unpublished poems
with words unspoken
possessed by a dark side
where my temper is protected
until you read the chapter
of revelations
containing the start of a revolution
where devastation will reach
its prime

My Open Mic Experience

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I am posting a poem I recited at Open Mic at the Bowery Club on June 24th, 2018.

Such a priceless experience I will never forget.

I remember last year around this time,
had dreams of making you mine
but underconfident I couldn’t reach the finish line
because I didn’t have a dime.
No joke when you’re on the decline.
Barely food for dinner.
Cold during the winter
People mistaken me for a drug addict.
People mistaken me for an alcoholic.
Everything is part of God’s plan,
and I felt like hell was my destination,
but still kept the bible in my hand.
It wasn’t easy as a man.
How do you thank Jesus
when searching for scraps
in trash cans?
Just couldn’t give up.
Becoming inpatient
until I saw your face.
You felt sorry for me
and gave me a plate food
to stuff my skinny face.
You walked past
and visited everyday
in the alley by the fire escape
to drop off food
which gradually put
me in a better mood.
Vienna Sausage and soup.
So, we began to converse
and I learned you
was a registered nurse.
I told you I write poetry
and short stories.
Your face lit up
because you love poetry.
You asked me to recite a poem

“I feel like an airship
high and mighty
but I am a sinking ship
just forever drowning
I feel like an African King
ruling my kingdom
side by side with my lovely queen
but I am slave, a peasant,
body worn down
from building tall pyramids.
I feel like a pastor
preaching to the congregation
on Easter,
making people in believers
but I am a hypocrite
for telling civilians
that walk by me to follow Jesus
since the skin my body
is dirty.
I feel like I’m dwelling in heaven
but this morning I almost committed suicide.
I feel like I have all the answers
but I have so many answered questions.
I feel like the devil is a liar
but he told Eve the truth
about the tree of knowledge
of good and evil.
I feel like a black hero
saving my people
but I feel like a false king
like Scar
waiting for judgment day
when the lake of fire
burns my face.
All men created equal
in a world
that so vile and diabolical.
These thoughts have me suicidal
but for some reason I refuse to.”

You are just speechless.
You believe that poem is unique
and you love the way I speak.
You say you will take me
to Open Mic at the poetry club
next week.
Should I go to a open mic
next week?

Below I posted the link of my open mic experience.

See this Instagram video by @hockaday_poet: https://www.instagram.com/p/B4UmqaIHm_6/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=M2M0Y2JmOTAyOA==