Dying 2 Live...!

Dying 2 Live...!

Friday, July 29, 2011

The Respect Series 3: "The Money Factor"



All I is do is win win win, no matter what. Got money on my mind, I can never get enough. And everytime I step up in the building, everybody's hands go up! (And they stay there, and they say yeah! 2X) Cause all I do is win win win. And if you coming in, put your hands in the air, make them stay there.

By now most people would be aware that the lyrics wrote above are the chorus to one of the number one songs in the world. It's called 'All I do is Win' and is produced by DJ Khaled, an ex-radio jockey now famed rapper/producer from Miami, FL. The problem with the overrated lyrics is that in them large sums of money = winning. On the contrary, it's actually not. So many people seem to believe that, if one has a lot of cash, they can't lose. All problems will go away and life will be a walk in the park. Then explain to me this. Why are some of the wealthiest people on the planet so miserable? Why are so many of them still searching for true peace, hope, love, etc? Why do so many of them end up despising the wealth, become hook on drugs, drink huge amounts of alcohol in order to drown away their sorrows and even, at times, commit suicide.

The answer is: because they're not really winning. Many of them just don't want us to know how badly they're losing in life. But what's even more alarming is the great respect given to the wealthy. Even those who may know aren't winning. It's like we're blindsided to the fact and realization of the ridiculous amounts of money No matter how much money one has, there's just certain things money can't do. See, money has limitations. What about the person dying of a tragic disease? How about the individual who lost the family over money? Or the person who feels horrible emotionally, even with loads of cash. Again, the money has limitations. For all it can do, there's much it can't do. So the next time you see or meet an individual with tons of money don't automatically assuming they're winning. And don't give them all of your undying respect. How about this: try getting to know them for who they are, and not so much what they have. 

Thursday, July 21, 2011

The Respect Series 2: "The Gorgeous Factor"



Merriam-Webster has defined gorgeous as being beautiful; very attractive. So many people want to be viewed this way, and would do nearly anything to accomplish that feat. You know, many will starve themselves to death until they're only weighing 90lbs. Others would advocate extreme plastic surgery methods, cutting into their nose, sucking tissue away from their stomach, or injecting fluid into their lips and around their eyes. What's even more disturbing, most would spare no expense at doing it. Furthermore, individuals would run multiple miles a day, invest in every diet plan imaginable, and slave over weights and step aerobics in a gym all for beautiful results. It's not that they're doing these things for health reasons, the health aspects are some of the lasts things on their minds and, for many, it's all about the beauty.

It's all about other superficial people showing I value you, not for who you are but, for how you look. See, this becomes a major problem when too much value is placed on being gorgeous. I don't need to tell you all the people who have seen themselves as worthless because of their less-than-stellar appearance. Some have even ended their lives over it! Why? This is so tragic and totally unnecessary. Unfortunately, this is how our world is, and it's not improving anytime soon. For many, image is everything. It is how they validate their shallow existence. It is how they define their perceived significance. It's even how they garner mad respect. Their picture will be posted on a magazine cover, people will try to worship them, and they'll gain an uncanny level of massive fame. I ask again, "Why?" What's so key about the superficial? Why it is so vital? Because, to be painfully honest, it's not!

Over time, looks will change. Muscles that should be stout and strong will start to sag and turn into fat. Glowing radiant beauty will begin to turn into wretched wrinkles. You just don't stay young forever! Moreover, this is not one of the greatest ways to garner TRUE respect. When I see a crippled child, an elderly woman, or a baby with down's syndrome, one thing is clear. THEY ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL! To add to that, so are the people who care for them, and love them regardless of their physical conditions. I can speak from this even from personal experience. This is not just something I 've seen or heard, this is something I know all too well. Many of us may be asleep to this issue, but let's wake up and find that true respect has NOTHING to do with how one physically looks. It's all about who they are on the INSIDE!