"Striking A Balance"

Some of my siblings are not as motivated as others and do not understand that their rut is self-imposed. While the other siblings are all too anxious to strive and make it happen on any level, perceived or real.

Some of my co-workers do not hold as many degrees as the others, while at the same time are AS talented and in some cases NOT AS talented as the ones that do hold the varying degrees.

One of my children gravitated towards their shapes and colors and took to them like a duck to water. The other child took a more "subtle" approach.

Some of GOD's children are more obedient to HIM and HIS Word as opposed to the one's that have one foot in Church and the other one still in the street. Then there are the one's who step not ONE foot IN church and are MORE obedient than the one's that do attend in the form of "Sunday Morning Christians" or the one's who have feet in both locations.

.....During the preparation for my Mother's Homegoing Celebration, I was amazed at the innate ability that she had to be able to navigate, meditate, disseminate, articulate, demonstrate, dictate and oft times doctrinate, all of what she had to each of her children. What poise, patience and dexterity she had to be able to balance and juggle the personalities of not only her ADULT children, but THEIR children as well.

What I realized is how important it is to "Strike A Balance" in life as you travel along your journey's path. "Striking A Balance" allows you to maintain your sanity, all the while acknowledging that you cannot be everything to everyone. You will indeed fall into one of the aforementioned demographics. You will be you and you alone and with that needs to accompany a reconciliation with yourself that it is ok to be who you are and what you are, without the negative reinforcements of those who might be perceived as on the upper echelon compared to your more "subtle" approach.

But I've discovered that with all that said, options and choices have everything to do with HOW we "Strike A Balance." My grandmother used to tell me, "Corey, sometimes you have to ACT crazy, to keep from GOING crazy." I did not know at that time that grandma was just "Striking A Balance."

Imagine the balance that HE has to strike when dealing with all of HIS children.

Therefore, going forward, I will not only better my ability to "Strike A Balance," I will embrace the differences that initially made me "Strike A Balance." Through example, "Striking A Balance" in your life will SERVE to be a living example to someone who's trying to LEARN how to "Strike A Balance" to BETTER their lives, BRIDGE the gap and APPRECIATE others equally the same.

We should ALL "Strike A Balance."

Love and My Mother are the Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are the Motivation!
Love and My Mother are the Celebration!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"Well Done"

Oft times we seek recognition for the things that we have done and sometimes even for the things that we have YET to do. I guess we can call it "advanced recognition" for lack of a better term. I must admit, recognition IS and CAN BE a beautiful thing. The TYPE of recognition is what I am in search of.

It's cool if my boss pats me on the back or if my co-workers recommend me for an award, but the TYPE of recognition that I'm looking for has to be "something bigger than Corey and nothing less than Glory." Therefore, I cannot allow myself to settle for quick intangible wins since this destination-less journey is at least a marathon.

I have entirely too much riding on my recognition to risk the tangible impacts that it will have on all that surround me. So, if it's not part of the solution, then it must be part of the problem and I want nothing to do with it. My recognition is at stake! If you are not part of the solution, then you must be part of the problem and I want nothing to do with you. My recognition is at stake!

I simply cannot SETTLE or dumb-down my goals and ambitions because you refuse to step up, yet you're always willing to step out! I cannot cheat myself out of everything that is in store for me, everything that HE has promised me, as long as I am obedient. My recognition is at stake!

No matter what I do, it has to be "Well Done." Although I'm not in search of perfection, I know that HE has provided me with entirely TOO much to simply do TOO little. And since HE is paying attention, then my recognition is DEFINITELY at stake!

I desire to be recognized with the TYPE of recognition that is pleasing to HIM! Since "U-Haul's" do not follow hearses, I need to leave my impact behind in the same manner that my Mother was "Planting Her Seeds." I WANT my recognition to be 2 words: "Well Done."

When my children are grown with children of their own, I want them to reflect back and be able to say, dad, "Well Done."

When I look into the eyes of the woman that I WILL spend the rest of my life with, I want her to say, SWEETUMS, "Well Done."

When I am reunited with my Mother, I want her to look me in the eyes and tell me, Corey, "Well Done."

And when my life is no more and GOD calls me home, I want HIM to embrace me and tell me, Son, "Well Done."

So, the type of recognition that you seek does indeed matter! It dictates the path that you will ultimately take in life.

My Children, My Love, My Mother, My FATHER! What I will do for you will ALWAYS be "Well Done."

Love and My Mother are the Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are the Motivation!
Love and My Mother are the Celebration!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"As Long As I Am"

When I ponder the possibilities and marinate on the reality of our love I cannot help but to get extremely giddy about what the future holds. My love is healthy enough to pass our "Relationship Physical" and sturdy enough to appreciate the concrete foundation that has already been laid. To know that cracks within the foundation are non-existent because Faith endures, reassures and implores me to fall back on one single source of inspiration, is to know that whatever comes our way will have to first encounter "the full armor of GOD."

I love you, I'm in love with you and I cannot do without you. You are my purpose and the reason my new leaf has turned over revealing the person that I am today, the goals I have for tomorrow, the smiles that accompany my actions and all the eternal joy thereafter.

You have revealed to me that I am indeed a work in progress and showcased my areas for improvement by qualifying what has been done thus far, yet identifying that this journey is destination-less, for I will not arrive until I have arrived. Therefore I will diligently keep it moving!

You have proven to me that it's not about me.
Your strength has sustained me through all of my adversity.
You have provided for me when I couldn't pay the fee.
Your love is enormous and spills over abundantly.

I promise to love you with all that I have for "As Long As I Am."

Love and My Mother are the Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are the Motivation!
Love and My Mother are the Celebration!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"To Whom Much Is Given"

"To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected."

Giving back is not synonymous with a monetary value. Truth be told, that belief hinders US from giving back as often as we should! It dawned on me some time back that giving back is synonymous with your TIME. Time IS money as "they" say. So, if that is the case then giving back could indeed hold a monetary value in the form of the donation of your TIME.

Speaking on your experiences, lending a watchful eye, offering a shoulder to lean or an attentive ear to hear are ALL forms of giving back. And not once did I dig into my wallet to pull out former Presidents.

Please do not ALLOW or PERMIT perception to become your reality when your reality could in all actuality ENHANCE someone's perception!

Do your part!
Play your role!
Positively impact someone's life!

Illustrate the fact that life extends far beyond the confines of a one city block radius. Don't just claim the street you live on. Do something that will make them name one AFTER you!

Understand the importance of "giving of, what was given to" in the form of a Blessing.

"To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected."

Love and My Mother are the Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are the Motivation!
Love and My Mother are the Celebration!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"Honey & Vinegar"

My Mother used to tell me, "Corey, you get more flies with Honey than you do Vinegar." As a kid I had the visual in full effect. "What on earth is my Momma talking about THIS time? You see, she knew I was the thinking type so she always told me things to keep my mind busy. My Mother resented an idle mind. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop Corey." Again, as a kid I had the visual in full effect. One of these days, I'll put it all together and figure out what Mom means, what Mom is talking about and why she CONTINUES to fill my mind with all of this brain food. In all actuality it is probably because she knew that I was hungry, craving for some information to soak up, absorb and most importantly process.

It's so important to not only build relationships, but to foster them as well. Oft times our approach makes all the difference in the world. This is exactly where Mom's quote comes into full effect: "Corey, you get more flies with Honey than you do Vinegar."As I ponder the success AND failure of past relationships both of the personal AND professional nature, I can now truly appreciate EXACTLY what my Mother meant when she told me, "Corey, you get more flies with Honey than you do Vinegar."

My approach would sometimes require reproach after I realized that perhaps the door or window of opportunity closed once it saw my demeanor coming. I had to analyze WHAT I was doing and HOW I was doing it! I had to analyze WHAT I was saying and HOW I was saying it! My "vinegar approach" wasn't working. My Mother WAS right, you DO get more flies with honey than you do vinegar.

Sometimes it is incumbent upon us to think about the end result before we attempt to communicate what it is that we want, what it is that we desire. As we contemplate our wants and needs we should develop a plan of action that is complimented with the right approach in hopes of those favorable end results.

I do not believe this to be a tact used ONLY for selfish wants and needs, but for wants and needs that have a much broader reach than what we're used to.

Expel that "vinegar" out of your mouth and dip your tongue in some "honey" before you flip your next words. You do indeed get more flies with honey than you do vinegar. Thank you Mom!

Happy Birthday!

Love and My Mother are the Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are the Motivation!
Love and My Mother are the Celebration!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"I Already Have"

For so long I have been looking to add things to my life that I was under the false impression I needed. I would ADD this person, join THAT organization, associate with THIS cluster of people and go to THESE particular places. Depending on your perspective, perception and reality, the differences between the two or the combination of both, can be a humbling experience. I wound up creating a "top-heavy" situation that could easily tip over in excess. Things were upside down because they were NOT right-side up.

When I right-sided the upside down I started to realize the balance that I truly needed, that was desperately missing. I was doing the opposite of what I SHOULD have been doing. By right-siding the top-heavy upside down I was able to stabilize my foundation. By subtracting FROM instead of adding TO, I wound up creating a new lane in which to travel, along a road less traveled.

My epiphany: Everything that I need in my life, "I Already Have."

There was no need to add TO because less is truly more. I have the best friend in the world and HE has never left my side nor forsaken me. I have a couple of living reminders of "What Not to Do." I have love in my heart, love in my life and the love of my life. I truly have everything, for there is nothing that I do not already have.

The math effort of subtracting has afforded me the luxury of time, more time to spend with and doing the things that I truly love and the things that truly matter. The aimless effort of adding TO no longer carries a top-heavy distinction in my life. Balance has tended to work better for me: better suited, better managed and better off.

I am SO thankful and feel enormously BLESSED to know that everything that I need in my life, "I Already Have."

Love and My Mother are the Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are the Motivation!
Love and My Mother are the Celebration!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"Know Your Truth"

Ever been accused of something that the accuser was actually guilty of themselves? The perpetrator of the action was in all actuality the guilty party.

"You're not smart!"
"You're stupid!"
"You don't deserve this!"
"You didn't earn that!"
"Who do you think you are?"
And the BIG one, "You're cheating!" And all of this was BEFORE breakfast!

Truth always has a way of presenting itself! Truth will always shine a light on the accuser's ill-attempt to camouflage the truth. You have to be smarter than what you're attempting, so you can at least make sense out of it yourself! Should you not be smarter than truth, perhaps you should practice it more often.

But as long as we are and continue to be truthful to ourselves, the innate response to such mediocrity will be that of a revelation of sorts. You see, some people need to tear you down in order to build themselves up. Some people need to push you out of the way, in order for them to get ahead. And some people need to cut in line because their level of patience is not what it should be. They kept hitting the snooze button on life, hence the reason they are always "Late in Life." Unfortunate realities that we have to witness, but we're still fortunate enough to recognize them and nip them in the bud way before they blossom and spread in a weed-like manner. And we all know how hard it is to combat and rid our "Gardens" of weeds.

Do not allow yourself to be a verbal, emotional, physically abused, unrighteous, CAMOUFLAGED pin cushion for someone who lacks the tenacity, hunger and spirit and is too lazy to do anything about it! There is a BIG difference in being there during the struggle and winding up struggling and being left behind because you inherited the attributes and characteristics of the accuser, that guilty party!

Understand your truth and what it means to you. Do not EVER dumb down your ambitions in order to allow someone to fit into your world. Build them up, but NOT at your mental expense. Tell them: "The price is too high and quite frankly I cannot afford it."

You are NOTHING that you've been wrongly accused of and EVERYTHING that truth says that you are!

"Know Your Truth" and all that it is worth!

Love and My Mother are the Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are the Motivation!
Love and My Mother are the Celebration!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"Change IS Good"

In a relatively short period of time, specific to YOUR timeframe, you have embodied the notion that "Change IS Good." Everything about you is proof positive that in order to want change, you have to be an agent for change. I have witnessed your struggle and in admiration of your situation, you continue to illuminate the path that you travel by vigorously putting one foot in front of the other and.....CONTINUE. The fact that you "Continue to Continue" reassures your own confidence and petitions my own level of motivation to abundantly contribute to the festivities leading up to your as-yet realized success and subsequent celebration. Congratulations are indeed in order and would surely be premature should they be verbalized right now. But a congratulations is needed NOW to illustrate the fact that it IS the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. You have identified the squeaky location and have independently applied the grease to adequately lubricate the nuts and bolts thus decreasing the annoying friction that threatens to further damage the very components that are keeping it all together. "Change IS Good."

Your new attitude has beckoned a response from me and I wholeheartedly acknowledge IT along with ALL of your efforts. I've already determined that a standing ovation for your "All the Time" performance is worthy of the recognition that it already has and will undoubtedly continue to garner. What you do and how you do it is nothing short of miraculous. Afterall, your situation could have wound up disastrous but you recognized that "Change IS Good!"

I am proud of the fact that you have found your rhythm and have taken to the dance floor to demonstrate your moves. I am delighted in the fact that you are now dancing like no one's watching and singing like no one's listening. I am overwhelmed with joy that you have accepted the notion that "Change IS Good."

It has never been up to me to change the fabric of who and what you are. Through example my goal has always been that of a Supporting Cast Member yielding my "Shield of Patience" as I witness the transition unfold before my very eyes. Your ability to accept and make changes is your ability alone! "Change IS Good."

No one ever testified under oath that change was easy or that change was NOT good. Perjury is against the law and they would have easily been found guilty thereof! "Change IS Good."

In order to build, maintain and sustain, change is not optional, but more along the lines of mandatory. Should you be content with life as you know it, simply avoid change. But if you're on the lookout for breath taking views, limitless opportunity and a chance to engage, experience and contribute to LIFE, primarily yours, embrace change for "Change IS Good."

Love and My Mother are the Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are the Motivation!
Love and My Mother are the Celebration!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"What Not to Do"

Throughout life we live and learn what to do, how to do it, where to do it and when to do it. Life teaches us to be prudent in our planning and even then nothing is guaranteed. We are always shown examples of who to look up to, who to emulate, who to pattern ourselves after; all with either with great happiness or supreme disdain.

Then we have the "Poster Child" for "What Not to Do," who not to be, where not to go, who not to associate or affiliate with. I use the "Poster Child" ideology in the reverse manner. For me that "Poster Child" is my daughter! That "Poster Child" is my son! They are my reminders of "What Not to Do!" You see I cannot and will not allow myself to do ANYTHING that could POTENTIALLY embarrass the likes of my children, family and loved ones. Just as I represent everything that my Mother instilled in me, I also represent everything that I instill within my children. I could not tell my children not to smoke as I excused myself to the deck to light one up. Therefore, I stopped smoking. I cannot pray for a safe trip to and from my daily destinations if I am the most aggressive driver on the road. I needed to be the example that I was attempting to set through my words.

I have taken the liberty of incorporating and embedding them into my daily thought processes. You can say that they are "hard coded" in all that I say and/or do. I have "Customers & Representation" on both ends of the spectrum with a built in "Expectation Insulation." This affords me the luxury of living up to my own expectations and exceeding them abundantly because all that I love, cherish, admire and adore, is watching my every move.

As my Mother watches from above, my children are front and center, clinging on to my every word and studying my every move, absorbing it all, in an exact sponge-like manner. Constant reminders such as Post-It Notes, Blackberry devices, Calendars and Appointment Books are all great ways to remind yourself. But what if you forget to enter them into your friendly reminder?

Living, Loving Reminders have proven to be the best reminders for me. I could not possibly fathom not living up to what is expected of me from them. Afterall, I represent them on both ends of the spectrum.

How do you choose "What Not to Do?"

Love and My Mother are the Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are the Motivation!
Love and My Mother are the Celebration!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey

"Guilty of Our Own Demise"

More often than not and quite frankly too much of the time, we find ourselves looking for someone or something to place the blame squarely on the fact that we are in the predicaments that we have SO elaborately customized for ourselves. The intricate details that house our "situations" have long since been in the need of a Home Makeover, a new interior decorator and in some cases a deconstruction for a reconstruction, starting with the core, the foundation.

More often than not and quite frankly too much of the time, we have been the owner, the slum lord AND the tenant, all in need of one thing: "An EVICTION of Our Old Thought Process." If it wasn't working for us THEN, why do we think it will all of a sudden pose an about face if WE ourselves have not posed an about face with respect to our own lives?

More often than not and quite frankly too much of the time, WE are the reason for and "Guilty of Our Own Demise." No one has held me back, BUT me! No one has hindered my success, BUT me! No one has written me off, BUT me! People do not believe in me because "I" do not believe in ME!

As a wide receiver on a football team, it is important to POSITION yourself in order to catch the ball so that you and your team can advance. The amount of yardage gained is contingent upon varying factors, but first and foremost is your ability to CATCH the ball due in large part to your POSITION. When you POSITIONED yourself to advance yourself, you took the initiative to develop a "play to win" mentality that will undoubtedly snowball into inevitable additional receptions for more yardage and even further gain!

When I reflect back on being "Guilty of My Own Demise," I feel Blessed to know that I have yet another opportunity to POSITION myself so that I can realize the "Emotions of Victory." The sheer elation of actual participation! The magnitude of MY gratitude! The Blessing of being Blessed!

It is time to stop being "Guilty of Our Own Demise." Through conviction it is time to give ourselves LIFE through living and being passionate enough to participate and rejoice in the fact that we have yet another opportunity that has been afforded to us, thus allowing us to align and POSITION ourselves for everything that life has to offer.

If HE's the quarterback and you're the wide receiver, catch the ball and receive the Blessing!

Love and My Mother are the Inspiration!
Love and My Mother are the Motivation!
Love and My Mother are the Celebration!

All the Best, All the Time!
Corey