Give Freedom to the Masterpiece

It has almost been a year since I posted anything, shame on me. However, the best way to do anything is to just do it, so that is what I’m doing…doing it, again. I have a love for writing. I love how thoughts are expressed in words, which is something I have not always been able to do. As a child who grew up with a learning disability, scared to talk less alone to write, I can now write what I once couldn’t even say in words. I love conversation and I love placing my words on paper and giving others the opportunity to have a piece of me through my work.

As an artist of any kind allowing you to “peek” into our realm briefly is almost as revealing as nudeness, because you are getting inside of our head or heart. Writing for me is freedom. It is the freedom to defy briefs and boundaries, and to truly be in this moment with my work. When I am writing I become the piece and the piece is me. When words begin to flow I have a sensation that is equivalent to, if not, better than sex. The freedom of expression is to me, when God speaks to me and through me.

When I am writing and the words are flowing without vigor I feel like I’m in heaven, almost as if I’m invincible. I begin to smile and I feel myself. It is then that no one else can compliment me because I have an unwavering acknowledgment of my own talent. It would almost be impossible to praise me as I praise myself. However, I say this in the most humble of words, because I know that my passion is a gift that comes through me and I am blessed in every sense of the word to be able to express myself. I am thankful and grateful for the talent.

Being an artist can be difficult because many artists have attachment issues. We fall in love with the piece. Sometimes it is difficult to let the piece truly have the air to breathe and to become what it was born to be, because allowing it that freedom gives others complete access. When we release a piece we give others the liberty to judge our work. To do this we have to be open. This is interesting because open access to my most intimate place can be too close for comfort, but in life it is in giving that receiving occurs.

As I write this I confine myself to others criticism, but just as I do so I free myself at the same time. In life we often want to stay within our boundaries, but it isn’t until we step outside of what is comfortable that we have the opportunity to become the masterpiece that we were created to become. I think about my daily life and how the fear of failure can prevent me from doing, less alone becoming the greatness that lies within me. As an artist I use to question how what I was writing would be perceived, but now I write with a confidence that doesn’t fear those critiquing my work. I have become so comfortable with the writer that the reader isn’t given consideration, and I think that most successful people in life become so comfortable with themselves that naysayers don’t have voices.

Now, I ask you this…When are you going to give yourself the freedom to become your greatest work?

Even though I have not written a blog in almost a year I have written weekly for a year, and with that I am creating and living my passion. No, I have not been paid in a moment for this work that I love as I love myself. However, the payment is bliss. I love this. I do it freely because I have a passion to do it, and when my love for this meets the right opportunity the payment will come.

So, if you have or are currently in a place where you fear being all that you can be because you care what others may have to say, then remember that if people aren’t speaking about you, you aren’t doing anything. I’m a poet and when I write I divulge some of my life long secrets, but it hasn’t been until I became comfortable with myself that I was able to give freely. Just for today step out and give the world a glimpse of who God created you to be, and see how comfortable you are with yourself, and remember that we all, in the words of another great artist, “Are sensitive about our shit.”

However, as you become more comfortable with who you are you will begin to be less sensitive and become more confident in your talent, skills and abilities. Every artist begins with their first stroke, word, and/or note, but the masterpiece doesn't become the masterpiece locked in the minds and hearts of the artist. So, give your work and life the freedom to become the masterpiece it was designed to be.

©2010 Cha Jones

Leave Your Best As Your Legacy

It has been a minute since I have taken the time to sit and write. I guess you can say that I haven’t been motivated, but I would rather skip the excuses and keep moving forward. My spirit has been moved by a few conversations and many thoughts. The other day I met with a fellow teacher who is about to return to the states as she has completed her year contract. We met to discuss my poetry, or at least that is why the meeting was called. However, once we sat down the conversation quickly changed, and like water, I began to flow.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have the gift to speak, and when I start who knows when I will stop. I don’t like meaningless conversations, ignorance, and people who show up in life, but never seem to perform or in other words, the spectators. Now, I will say that from time to time I have participated in one or all of the above for one reason or another, but I refuse to make it a daily habit and/or a disposition cause life is much too short and I have something I came here to give. So, with that being said I will begin my word for the day.

As I reflect on the things I have been blessed to do and be involved with in my brief life span, I am thankful. I am thankful for the triumphs and failures, for the time alone or the time in the midst of great thinkers. I am encouraged by those who move to do great things with nothing but thought.

Yesterday, I watched Mo’Nique’s “I Could Be Your Cellmate,” and not only is she too funny, but she was really encouraging. When she finished she had me in tears as she brought up one of the inmates from the audience to sing a song. Honey, when I say that woman SANG that song and tears came from way-way back, she sang that song.

So, I began to think about how so much talent was given to one individual and how it was being wasted in a place like prison. I thought about how gifted this young African American woman was and how she has been tossed away by herself and society. Although, her gift could easily be helping the inmates that she communes with daily, I tend to believe that it could be used in ways to prevent people from turning to things that get them placed in prison vs helping them maintain while they are there.

I have no idea what this woman was incarcerated for, but I know that the gift that God gave her has been confined to prison walls, but then I realized that so many people who are free confine their dreams without the boundaries of a prison. At what point do you begin to fully live the life that you were placed here on Earth to live? When do you stop making excuses for living beneath your dreams? When do find the courage to move from ordinary to extraordinary? How do you find the faith to be a butterfly instead of a caterpillar?

Well, I am not really sure if there is a defined time all those answers come, but there is a quote that I try to focus on every chance I get, “When faced in the right direction continue to walk.” However, many people have no direction and so they end up with huge amounts of talent in places like prison, or even worse in my opinion, self inflicted mazes wandering hopelessly in life.

Today, is the best day to change what you don’t like and start living the best life you could ever live, and you don’t have to have a master plan all you need to know is that you no longer want to live like you are currently living. All it takes is one step in the right direction and you are well on your way because remember, that once faced in the right direction all you have to do is continue to walk.

So, today I refuse to make another excuse about why I can’t do something, why I have not finished something, and I refuse to allow myself to get in my own way. I will not be imprisoned by my inability to know and trust in a God that I believe still performs miraculously every day in many different ways. I believe that if the idea was placed into thought you have the ability to bring it into reality, and with that I know that everything you need is provided. I know that the words are much easier than the action, but if it were easy then no one would have an excuse in the first place. However, we all owe it to ourselves to leave this plain empty, meaning that you have given everything you got to the cause of being everything you desire to be. I encourage you not to take your best with you, but rather to leave your best here as your legacy.

Living In the Present

The world may be known without leaving the house ... Loa Tzu Verse 47: Toa Te ChingVerse 47: Toa Te Ching
The world may be knownWithout leaving the house; The Way may be seen Apart from the windows.The further you go,The less you will know.
Accordingly, the Wise ManKnows without going, Sees without seeing,

Today, I did stayed home and get some rest. Resting is a wonderful thing. When the mind is restless it wonders about things that it should not. It plans too far in advance and makes up a reality that doesn’t exist. In the past I have meditated and without rest meditation is almost impossible. I also find that if I am constantly on the go I can’t stay focused because I am not as connected as I should be.

Loa Tzu was simply stating in the 47th verse of the Toa Te Ching that everything we need to know is within ourselves. I believe that when we take time to reflect on life and turn down all the things that are calling for our attention we can actually see the path in which need to follow. So, with proper rest and time to reflect on the here and now we can actually know ourselves, and the world in which we live without ever forcing ourselves to be in it. The bible says,” To be in the world and not of the world,” and I believe that is actually the point of verse 47.

When we are striving or looking for things to satisfy us we are looking outside of ourselves for the answer and the answer is so much closer to home, home being your temple. In meditation there is silence and in the silence you must learn to control the chatter, but once you have done that you are open to hear what God is guiding you to do. You can see without seeing as Loa Tzu suggest.

As I think about all the recent deaths and how some of them have been very tragic I think about life in general. In life we all come to this place that we call Earth and we are here for a brief moment, but in that brief moment we have the opportunity to have a great impact. So, in my rest I thought about my impact and the legacy that I would like to be able to leave when it is time for me to depart. I want to be known for my honesty, peacefulness, love, affection, ability to write, and to speech truth. I want to change the world without becoming part of the world. I want to know that my greatest virtue is my ability to capture the attention of men and speak into their hearts while guiding them to their true center.

So, today as I reflect on where I am, I am thankful for the things I have seen today without stepping outside my home. I haven’t even turned on the television, and I feel like I am so much more connected to the world at this moment then I would be watching a news broadcast on the current evens of the world.

Today, I am simply living. I am in the presence of life, and I am thankful for having another day to change what I may have failed to change yesterday. As I look at my life I am happy to be happy and I have no need to force my thoughts, actions, and/or options because I am present. In the present, doing anything with force defeats the purpose of being present. It takes away from the current moment because when you live to force anything you are living in the next moment where you are projecting what you want your outcome to be. My new motto is,”Do things differently,” and with that I am learning to be present and allow things to happen as they should happen. I am really learning to write without trying to control the lines, but rather allow the line to turn out just how they desire to be.

Just My Thoughts….

It’s been some time since I last wrote on my blog. I guess you could say I’ve been speechless, although I am sure that is not the case at all. I have had things on my mind, but nothing that I felt was worthy of space out on a website for the world to see.

I normally give my advice or thoughts of encouragement, but I thought that I would try something new. So, I am writing about what I am thinking in this very moment. I actually just read a friend’s narrative and I was amazed how this young lady was willing to be so transparent. I am still working on that one. Actually, I am making an effort to become more transparent in all that I do.

In just a few short weeks I will be thirty-three years of age and I am both excited and a little weary at the same time. I am excited because I believe that thirty-three will be the age of authentic revelation. However, I am weary because I am about go abroad, get a little older, find out things I thought were once true are no longer true, and I am going to have to expand in some way shape or form.

Wow, that weary aspect is looking to be a bit overwhelming. Naw, I am just kidding. I actually think that this will be one of my most powerful birthdays ever. I know that I will have some challenges before me, but nothing I feel I can’t handle.

Life is good. I am happy. I have peace in many ways I have never had peace before. I will not sit here and lie about being where I would love to be, but I am so far from where I use to be and that is a major start. I think that in life it is all what you make it. Today, I just want to know that I can, and from there I know I will. I am inspired to move. Smile, you should be inspired to move also. If you aren’t inspired that’s ok too, but remember nothing happens until something moves.

These are just my thoughts today.

Comparing Your Worse to Everybody Else’s Best

“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.”-Loa Tzu

I am an original masterpiece unique in every way imaginable. However, there were times when I looked at my worst and compared it to someone else’s perceived best. I believe we all fight the fight of comparing ourselves amongst ourselves, but the problem is that looks can be deceiving. We all have faults and failures that we would care not to speak of. There isn’t a person alive that is perfect. Yet, for so many people it is difficult to be content with being authentically who God made them to be.

Even in my most imperfect moments I am perfect. I don’t always look like I stepped out of a salon, or feel like I am on top of the world. However, I am always the best “me” I can possible be. I make mistakes and sometimes they cost me major setbacks, but hey I always seem to be right where I need to be for the moment. For many people they don’t realize the setbacks, failures, and what most call mistakes are just opportunities to perfect themselves or what they are doing.

Today, many people are facing very difficult times, but it is not time to give up. It’s time to find your own calling, the thing that makes you feel alive and ready to move forward. Setbacks are a setup for a comeback, a new way of doing the things you have always done. However, in this time you can’t have your eyes on what someone else is doing and how they are doing what they do. You must find the strength to look within and find the things that make you the best at who you are. Everything looks good when you can’t see what it takes to actually make it work. Have you ever been to Disney World? The whole park looks wonderful. You walk through the park in amazement, but what you don’t think about is all the work being done behind the scenes to make it look so beautiful.

“Every tub must stand on its own bottom.”-unknown

You and I are great masterpieces created by the greatest artist of all time, and to compare one masterpiece to another is insane, because each piece of art had its own inspiration.

Today, I look at where I am in life, and who I am becoming and I realize no one else could have ever made it walking a mile in my shoes. See, my shoes where created just for me. Everything I have gone through was for me. I had to experience the things I have experienced and l learned the things I have learned, so I could be me. So, this is my life. These are my wounds, and even when I don’t feel my greatest I remind myself that I am great. I am great with a pimp on my face, a few extra pounds on my waist, and I am great even when I feel like I am displaced. I realize that I am right where I need to be experiencing just what I need to experience, so that I can be my authentic self. Remember, you owe it to the artist to be your very best at who you are, and not compare yourself to something you could never be for you were meant to be you.