Don't Pack Christmas Away Until Next Year

Evening all,

I hope that everyone is enjoying/enjoyed their holiday season. For me, it's one of the few times that I get to connect with my old friends and family so I'm particularly fond of it (plus my birthday being in December doesn't hurt either).

Anyway, I attended service at my home church the other day, and my pastor's sermon was based on doing God's work and he specifically mentioned not packing Christmas away until next year.

This struck a cord with me because so often when we are in the holiday spirit we look for ways to help others through various organizations and volunteer events. While this is great, many of these same people struggle the remainder of the year; does that mean we should ignore their needs during this time?

We're supposed to love one another, aren't we? Look at 1 John 4:7:

"Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God"

I can't think of a better way to show our love than to help our fellow man.

I charge that we all of look for ways to help those in need throughout the year. Can you imagine giving somebody the feeling of Christmas year-round? I know I'd take it.

Cheers to our future efforts,

JIP

Music Revisited: Kid Cudi- Pursuit of Happiness video

We all know I'm a fan of Kid Cudi (see here). Check out his new video "Pursuit of Happiness". You gotta respect the breath of fresh air he and a few other of the newcomers are breathing into hip-hop.

John Wooden's Love Letter

We sports fans know about John Wooden's coaching prowess on the court, but maybe we should take a closer look at how he lived off of the court as well:



I don't think I can add too much to this one...

Cheers,

JIP

Food for Thought: "We'll See..."

I was watching Charlie Wilson's War the other night (good movie by the way), and Phillip Seymour Hoffman's character made reference to a story involving a zen master called "We'll See". Check it out below:

We'll See...

There is a Taoist story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit.

"Such bad luck," they said sympathetically.

"We'll see," the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses.

"How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed.

"We'll see," replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.

"We'll see," answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.

"We'll see" said the farmer.

I take from this that you have to take life as it comes...you never know how things are going to play out. Control what you can control, and let the rest unfold as it will...you gotta let God work.

Cheers to food for thought,

JIP

Building Your Inner Circle

Good Evening All,

I know awhile back I wrote about expanding your horizons and stepping outside of your comfort zone. While this is an important aspect of all of our personal growth, it's equally, if not more, important to have a core inner circle of people.

These are the people that you truly trust and can turn to in both good and bad times, and they can easily do the same thing with you.

The toughest part of designing your inner circle is actually selecting the circlites (my word). It can be difficult to know who truly is there for you as you as opposed to what you have, your social status, or whatever other superficial reasons are out there.

Also, it can be difficult to decide who to share your personal information with, and who will keep this information confidential.

My best advice is to go with your gut feeling on this; more times than not in the process of getting to know someone they will unknowingly give out hints on their trustworthiness. You'll find that you constantly add and remove people from your circle of trust...that's just how it goes.

Good luck, and remember Proverbs 13:20 in your selection process: "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm".

Cheers to those we can count on,

JIP

Food for Thought: "All the World's A Stage..."

Good evening, lovely people.

I'm sure that most of you have at one point or another heard the expression that draws a parallel between life and a theatrical performance. If you haven't it basically states that in life, as in theatre, when you're on stage you have to perform.

Anyhow, awhile back I ran across a monologue from one of Shakespeare's plays, "As You Like It" (read more about it here) that expounds on this topic; check it out below:

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms;
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin'd,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well sav'd, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion;
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything." — Jaques (Act II, Scene VII, lines 139-166)

I like this passage because for me it puts our mortality in perspective. True enough, life is a stage, and we will ultimately be critiqued (or judged) based on our performance.

No matter how many of these 7 stages that we are blessed enough to see, we decide what type of character we want to be during our time here and the impact that we will have on the world. We can exit as quietly as we entered, or we can do something worth mentioning during our time here.

That being said, enjoy your time on stage...that's what life is for. Do good works, be true to yourself, and be mindful of your performance...the world is watching.

Cheers to the world,

JIP

My Sincerest Apologies...

...for taking so long between posts. I could make a list of excuses, but we all know what those are.

Anyway, I have several new ideas/topics that I will be writing about soon so be on the lookout.

Cheers to us all still being here in December...a blessing indeed.

JIP

JIP's Picks: The Sartorialist

Two things that I’ve always found beauty and inspiration in are people watching (courtesy of the Bobby Parker) and photography. I don’t know why…in people watching there’s just something about observing the life around you without being directly involved in it, while photography allows you to capture some of the more precious moments life has to offer (or not so precious…see your friends’ Facebook pages).

I’ve never personally had the patience to learn photography, but I think the combination of the two things above is some of the most impressive form of art out there. That being said, check out The Sartorialist blog.

I first learned about The Satorialist from reading GQ, and I was always intrigued by his pictures of fashionable people caught in the street of whatever city he was in at the time. The photographs were truly real…people in their natural element. So once I found out he had a blog I decided to check it out, and the rest is history.

The blog has all kinds of photos of people from various cities going about their daily tasks and routines. One thing that is different, however, is that many of these people don’t appear to be trudging through their day. If you look through enough of the blog you get a sense of people being truly comfortable in their own skin…they have an “I did it my way” attitude about them (word to Sinatra). These people appear to be confident individuals with a sense of who they really are. That’s surprisingly rare in a society that is basically fueled by the latest trends.

One of my favorite profiles was of a driver the The Satorialist had on one of his many trips. Check out how he describes this gentleman below (see the gentleman's picture here—copyright issues J):

One of my favorite encounters on this book tour was my driver in San Francisco.

As you can see he was very elegant and practically oozed self-confidence, dignity and pride in his work.

I love people who show pride in their work, regardless of the job.

This man's car was spotless, his shoes were shined and he knew exactly where he was going. He wasn't dressed like that for me, he had no idea who I was, this was just another day and just another ride done in his own stylish way.

I've said this so many times before, and recently in the intro of my book. Even though this blog is about fashion I don't really think about fashion when I look at this photo. I think about how he is communicating his sense of pride and self-worth; not by how expensive his clothes are but by how he wears his clothes, his posture and his politeness. This man is pure style.

Now shouldn’t we all be like this guy? I think so. Be confident in yourself and your abilities, and let the world see that in you and your personal style. Individuality makes the world go ‘round…

Cheers to my individuals out there,

JIP

Monday Morning Inspiration: Desiderata

Happy Monday all...I hope you all had a solid weekend. There's nothing like catching up with old friends (shout out to Sunshine) and watching Alabama beat up on LSU.

I wanted to start this week off with one of my favorite poems, Desiderata, which is Latin for "desired things" (read about its history here).

I was introduced to this by my lovely mother during my freshman year of college, and I have read it several times a week since then. I find that it helps to keep me focused and to make sure that I am continually working towards achieving happiness in life by controlling the things that I can control.

Remember: the universe is unfolding as it should; don't stress out about it.

As the good Rev. Efrem said yesterday, God has bigger and better plans in the works for us all.

I'm sure you'll all enjoy this (especially on a Monday). Cheers.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even to the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain or bitter,

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals,

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love,

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

My Two Cents on Relationships

Since everybody knows that JIP is a relationship guru, I’m going to let everybody in on a little secret: relationships aren’t that hard. There. I said it. I honestly don’t think they are. The actual relationship in itself is not the issue; the extra ingredients that we like to add to it are the real issue. We go out of our way to make relationships way more stressful, drama-filled, and unpleasantly eventful than they have to be. Why do we seem to enjoy doing this?

Let me preface this by saying that I’m talking about people in monogamous relationships; if you have some sort of arrangement with several guys/females, great for you…there’s no way around your drama. But I believe that one of the main problems with relationships today is that everybody has their own agenda. You have people fighting to maintain the upper-hand, creating an unnecessary power struggle. You have people testing their partner to see what they are able to get away with, creating insecurity and trust issues. You have people leading each other on for their own personal gain/satisfaction, creating pain and eventual heartbreak. This all begs the question: why are you really in a relationship in the first place? If your intentions are not pure aren’t you really doing more harm than good?

I’ll call my proposed solution “The Pursuit of Happiness model” (word to Kid Cudi): if we all put our egos aside and genuinely searched for a person that makes us happy, then we would all be fine. That’s the hard part… finding that person that is your match. Once you find that person there will be bumps and bruises, but that’s life. But those bumps and bruises shouldn’t come from running games on each other, infidelity, or trust issues in general…those are unnecessary problems.

Under this model, people would still break-up of course because everybody is not made for everybody else, but the pursuit of a happy relationship would be much more pure because it would be built off of good intentions. It’s a shame how much people talk about how they’ve been hurt in past relationships for things other than just not being made for each other. Then the cycle just perpetuates…they pass their pain and anger from the past on to the next person and so on and so forth.

Now I know as well as anybody that it’s basically impossible to get everybody in the world to adopt this new way of thinking…there are too many evil forces out there for that. But what we can do is apply this knowledge to our own personal interactions. Life is hard enough as is; we shouldn’t make our relationships that way.

Who knows though? Maybe one day we will completely change our collective mindset and the world will be a much happier place. In the meantime we can dream, right?

Cheers to happiness and the pursuit thereof,

JIP

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday all,

I try to be positive about this day that a lot of people kind of just drag through. We're all just as blessed to be alive as any other day (although I'd rather be getting paid while watching football than be at work).

Anyway, I threw a couple of new poems on the blog today for you to check out...let me know what you think. Also, I hope to talk about some relationship issues as well this week...I've been meaning to do that as well.

Shout out to Jon Becton...I'm not sure DC is ready for your takeover.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

JIP

My Home

The subtle sounds of the night are all too clear;

I hear the crickets performing their nightly concert for all who care to listen.

As I look around, the fireflies illuminate the darkness that has overtaken my presence;

I gladly accept the feeling of being a minor player in this major production.

The thick air of the summer night is all too familiar to me,

The sense of peace I feel in this very place, the sense of calm and nighttime charm,

I love this place I’m in…I’m so proud to call it home.

Early Retirement

Let’s see…you don’t go out to the club anymore,

You left that life of debauchery alone.

You traded in your bottles of alcohol and the club scene;

You replaced them with the warming sensation of a lady to call your own.

There comes a time in life when you have to realize that you can’t have your cake and eat it too,

Just make sure when you hang up your jersey for her,

She hangs her jersey up for you, too.

JIP's Picks: Mike Posner

Good evening all,

I'm always looking for some different music/artists to rock with, and I happen to run across this guy Mike Posner the other day. I listened to a couple of his tracks and I was feeling them...he has a different type of vibe or swag (do we still say that?). Check him out here remixing Kiss Me Through the Phone in his dorm room.

Dude has talent and and is a senior Sociology major at Duke (never hurts to have a backup plan). Another favorite of mine is Cooler than Me (here you go).

Anyway, download his mixtape with Don Cannon ('nuff said) and DJ Benzi, "Mike Posner and the Brain Trust"

Almost forgot, check out that new mixtape as well, "One Foot Out the Door".

Cheers to something new,

JIP

Just my thoughts...just what I was thinking at the time...

So I've told a few people that I was going to start writing again...it's been a long time coming. I'll spare everyone the details of why, but I put two poems (or whatever you want to call them) together and put them on here: "Mr. Probably So" and "Life's Dream"

Just as an aside, I encourage everyone to write their thoughts out, at least from time to time. It's a great way to get out all the information that's constantly running through your head. Who cares if you don't think it's great...give it a shot.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my writing and I'll try to do some more. Let me know your honest opinions...I have tough skin :-).

-JIP

Life's Dream

Late nights and early mornings,
the stuff that dreams are made of.

Leave me alone with my thoughts,
They're nothing to be afraid of.

Spending time on self reflection,
Thanking God for all my blessings,
Living life and living right,
The stuff that dreams are made of.

The progression of life,
Starting new chapters,
Taking lessons from the past and applying them thereafter,
Growing as a person and extending life with laughter,
Now that's the stuff that dreams are made of.

Mr. Probably So

Am I gonna drink tonight?
Yeah probably so.

There's a party going on,
So I'll probably go.

There's some winning out there,
So I'll probably win.

The world is full of it,
So I'll probably sin.

This cycle can only go on so long before it takes a toll,
Inside you yearn for something more,
The standard gets old.

After awhile you realize it's probably time to grow,
Am I ready for that day?
Yeah, probably so.

JIP's Picks: Gilt Groupe

Alright...I consider myself a fashionable, yet frugal guy so I'm going to try to add some of the places that I am able to come across some good deals online.

My first pick is a little site called Gilt Groupe. I ran across this at one of the blogs that I enjoy going to, Tweed and Velvet (check them out while you're at it).

Anyway, this site has high end clothing for men, women, and children at a highly discounted price; here's a brief description:

For those that don't know, the Gilt Groupe is one of the first companies in the US to offers high end designer fashion, using the "sample sale" idea, to the masses via the Internet. Essentially, the sales start at 12:00 noon everyday and once the flood gates are open the feeding frenzy begins with designer wears being sold at up to 70% off or more.

All you have to do is sign up via email and you're good to go. I've personally ordered a couple of things from them and have been completely satisfied. As it says above though, sales start at noon eastern time, and the best stuff goes fast, so you have to be ready. Also, you have to realize that if something is $600 retail, it might be on Gilt for $200. While that's a good discount, it can still be kind of pricey, so the "Frugal JIP" in me has to hold back sometimes.

So go forth...get your Cool Boy on...

Cheers to good deals,

JIP

"God Knows My Heart"

Growing up in the Black church, this is a saying that I've heard millions of times. I'll even go as far as to say that it's one of the more overused phrases period...right behind "at the end of the day". Cliches aside, I completely agree that God knows all of our hearts at the deepest possible level. But you know what else he knows? Our actions.

Many of the times that I hear this phrase used it's when someone has neglected their responsibilities or just has done something in general that God would not approve of. While many of us use this in a joking manner (myself included), we should take a step back and think about what we're really saying.

In church Sunday, the reverend was talking about how God loves us so much that he gives us the power to choose the light or the darkness. I took from this that He knows what is at our core...the being that He created. But He also knows that the negative ways of the world play into our actions, hence creating the darkness.

I'm by no means perfect and there are often actions or inaction on my part that take me away from God's path for me. But as I hop off my soapbox, let's make sure that God is not only proud of the person we are on the inside, but also the person we show to the rest of the world.

Cheers to the Light,

JIP

Rant #2- In My Zone

We all love our comfort zone or our inner circle, right? Why? Well, we believe we know what the people who comprise this zone are all about. The problem is, once most of us have our click, we don't feel the need to meet new people. We already have our friends, so who cares?

One of the key things that I've learned about this world is that the majority of us love convenience, and why not? We want to exert minimal effort to get maximum gains. This applies to all situations: relationships, jobs, school, etc. While I'm all for not overextending yourself, by not taking the time to get to know other people, you are severely limiting yourself. I would also say that the opinion that you form of those people probably has some sort of negative connotation attached to it as well. Why? Well, we feel that because the person does not feel the need to reach out to us, he or she is only concerned with themselves, when we did the exact same thing by not even attempting to reach out to them! Why? Because it's not convient.

Look, all of our life's relationships come from someone reaching out...they all don't work out, but whatever. Life is about stepping outside of your comfort zone and having positive interactions with others. Try it...Something beautiful may come out of it.

Cheers to you,

JIP

My View on Mid-Major College Football teams

Jon Becton might have you believe that I'm not a fan of mid-major college football teams...this is not entirely true. I'm not a fan of mid-major teams who don't play anybody all season and whine about why they should be in a BCS bowl. Yeah, Boise State somehow won in '06 against an Oklahoma team that had a high school quarterback-converted to college wide receiver-then back to quarterback for his senior season. Fantastic. The stuff movies are made of, especially the cheesy proposal after the game. But this is 2009, and this team is still riding off that victory. Of course you should go undefeated in whatever conference Boise is in (the WAC...appropriate title). But a season where an extremely average Oregon team is your toughest competition won't cut it.

Now, I'm sure that many who are reading this will, if you haven't already, will point to the weak schedules of some of the teams in automatic qualifying BCS conferences, particularly out of conference, take Florida for example. And I agree, there's no reason for the defending champs to have the 119th hardest schedule in the country, but being in a conference that is extremely competitive does afford you some luxuries.

For instance, your Floridas-Texas-Alabamas of the world can lose one game, maybe two and still make the national championship game, as they should. You have to judge a team on the level of competition of who they play the majority of their games against, which is their respective conference. As of today, when you face an FCS team in UC-Davis and 8 other teams that rank between 60 and 105 in the CollegeBCS.com ranking (yes you, Boise State) won't cut it.

Now, as much as it pains me to say this, Utah obviously had a good team last year and they showed that against Bama. But another luxury afforded to schools that are proven is that they are ranked more favorably in the polls because of their ability to consistently recruit top talent. Mid majors don't necessarily have that ability, and the polls reflect that. That's why Utah finished the year as #2 and started this year as #19 in the AP poll. They have to consistently show and prove.

To wrap this up, I respect mid-majors more for scheduling a hard, or at least competitive, schedule and losing a couple of games, than taking the Boise State route and whining about why they should be in the BCS and how they get cheated, etc. Once they learn that the only way to gain respect is to consistently challenge top talent and do it with success, then maybe it'll reflect in the polls. Who knows, maybe I'll even cheer for them.

Cheers to BYU after they got massacred on the 19th,

JIP

JIP's Picks: Kid Cudi

Okay, so I know that I'm not the first person to talk about this guy, but I felt compelled to write this anyway: Kid Cudi is one of my new favorite artists.

Now, for those of you who know me, this says a lot. I was hesitant to buy in at first because I'm normally against artists that come in with a lot of hype (Drake), especially when it's on the back of somebody like Kanye. Nonetheless, I downloaded the mixtape "Dat Kid from Cleveland". After listening to it, I realized that this guy had potential. He had a smooth flow, but it was his choice of beats that I enjoyed the most; he wasn't afraid to try something different and branch out. It reminded me of what Kanye did with The College Dropout when he made the soul sample a mainstay in the production world.

Next, I listened to "A Kid Named Cudi". This mixtape, albeit his introductory tape, took even more risks that "Dat Kid from Cleveland". Off of the bat, he featured Wale, who is another one of my favorite new artists, so that showed me he knows what time it is. My favorite song on the mixtape is "The Prayer" which has the following lyrics in the first verse

Sometimes I'm thinking God made me special here on purpose
So all the while 'til I'm gone make my words important so
If I slip away, if I die today the last thing you remember won't
Be about some apple bottom jeans with the boots with the fur
Baby how I dream of being free since my birth
Cursed but the demons I confronted would disperse
Have you ever heard of some sh!t so real?
Beyond from the heart, from the soul you can feel?

Enough said.

After listening to both of these mixtapes, I naturally was hype about the release of "Man on the Moon: The End of Day", and it, if possible, exceeded my expectations. That's mainly due to the fact that this album explored the non-traditional hip-hop side of Kid Cudi that was introduced in his mixtapes. This is definitely an alternative rap album.

Another element of this album that I connected with is the vulnerability he displayed; the level of realness in his lyrics was a breath of fresh air. For instance, in one of my favorite songs, "Soundtrack 2 My Life" the chorus goes:

I’ve got some issues that nobody can see
And all of these emotions are pouring out of me
I bring them to the light for you
It’s only right
This is the soundtrack to my life, the soundtrack to my life

Although Cudi is signed to GOOD Music, there are only two Kanye produced tracks, including his second single "Make Her Say" featuring Kanye and Common. This leaves the rest of the album to use production to explore a wide variety of non-traditional hip-hop beats, making it that much more enjoyable.

The last thing I'll touch on is how this is a concept album by definition. There are 5 acts. which are narrated by Common: The End of Day, Rise of the Night Terrors, Taking a Trip, Stuck, A New Beginning. Each song plays a role in the overall development of the album and contributes to the transition between each act.

I could talk about this album all day, but I encourage everyone to have a listen. It may not be for everybody, but I believe everyone will leave with an appreciation for the body of work.

Check out Cudi performing his new single, "Pursuit of Happiness" on Letterman:

Cheers to Kid Cudi,

JIP

You Socialist!

Socialism-various theories of economic organization advocating state, public or common worker ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods, and a society characterized by equal access to resources for all individuals with a more egalitarian method of compensation.

Are we a socialist nation? Absolutely not. Should we embrace elements of socialism? Absolutely. For example the "equal access to resources for all individuals" is a great concept. It is a must to counteract the elitism that is still alive and well in the US.
I understand that socialism is one of those "great on paper" ideas that will only work in theory, but that does not mean that we cannot embrace and apply some of its aspects that will go a long way to benefiting our country.

Let's take healthcare, for example, since it's a hot topic. Many Americans are against it, and this scares me for two reasons: 1) people actually do listen to whoever talks the loudest and 2) people really don't care about their fellow man.

First point: Many Republicans are saying that the President's healthcare plan will not work and the American people are listening to all of their yelling and doing some of their own as evident by the townhall meetings. I have no problem with anyone disagreeing with a particular plan; I actually think that is the best way to come up with the best solution. I do have a problem when misinformation is being fed to the people. For instance, saying that Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, one of the President's advisors, is a "deadly doctor" and wants to limit healthcare for the disabled and the elderly. This is what people are being told, and people are getting scared. What they aren't being told is that this logic is being taken completely out of context from research papers that the doctor has published over the years. Nevertheless, the thought is in their heads and their fears have been awaken...the loud talk worked! Reversing this will be an uphill battle.

Second point: what is true about this new healthcare reform plan is that those of us who are comfortably insured could end up footing the bill for those who are not, and possibly end up paying more. I have a problem with the fact that this bothers and fuels a lot of the opponents of the healthcare reform. And not to mention, you will be able to keep your current plan if you're happy with it? Ridiculous. Personally, if I know that my paying extra will benefit my fellow man and help him to afforded the same level of care that I receive, I have no problem with it. I'm all for affording equal opportunities to all resources to ALL Americans. It's our Christian as well as our civic duty to help those who are unable to help themselves, or at least give them the same opportunities that we have been afforded. If wanting this makes me a socialist, then call me Karl Marx.

Cheers to (proper) healthcare,

JIP

Rant #1- Life's Beauty

Life is beautiful, no way around it. You see it in people, nature, even in buildings. The differences that we all possess are a key component of life...individuality. What fun would it be if we all had the same thoughts, ideas, feelings? What beauty is there in a world that lacks diversity? You know where God allows my joy to come from? Being part of something that is ever changing...something that you can never quite figure out. That's beautiful...the pain, the love, the excitement, the anxiety...the bad things in life make the good all the more enjoyable. There's beauty in challenging yourself...seeing what you are made of...see what your heart of hearts truly desires and going for it. There's beauty in making a difference in somebody's life outside of your own...being a little more selfless. Have you helped anyone recently? Do you plan to in the future? There's beauty in love...man, that can be a topic all it's own. Take time out to step outside of yourself and see the wonderment that is life, and the beauty it possesses.

Cheers,

JIP

Keep It In the Right Place

"God is good all the time, and all the time God is good."

No, I didn't get a morning service in...i just checked Facebook. Just by looking on Facebook this morning, I like the positivity that I see. One of the main reasons that I go on is actually to check people's status updates; it's always refreshing to see people giving glory to God for the blessings in their lives, as well as turning to him for strength when things become grim.

I used to be against putting religion based statuses on FB, but I have since reconsidered my position; there's nothing wrong with asking others to pray for you or letting the world know how God has brought you through so much, as long as your heart is in the right place. By that I mean you're not just looking to be cool or gain some form of adoration from others, but you are genuinely and sincerely looking to help or ask for help from your fellow man. Nothing at all wrong with that. I actually applaud people who do this because it is not easy to step outside of yourself and put others first, even if it's just for a second.

Let's keep our hearts in the right place.

Cheers,

JIP

Welcome to my blog!

Welcome one, welcome all to my new blog "Established 1984". The main reason for the name is fairly obvious, being that I was born in 1984, but there is more; I feel that not only was I born in '84, but it is also when I began to build the legacy that I will leave here, even before I knew or cared. My goal is to have a positive impact on this world, and hopefully this blog can somehow accomplish part of this.

Also, I have a lot of things in my head that I would like to share with the world and what better forum is there than a blog. I want to show those who don't know me well or who have never had a real conversation with me that there are deep thoughts behind the charming Alabama smile :-).

This blog will focus on a variety of things: style, sports, religion, current events, random rants, etc. Who knows, I might even throw some of my writing on here...

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy Established 1984.

Cheers,

JIP