Another Untitled Post

This post doesn't really warrant much of an introduction, so I will just get straight to it. It is an excerpt from a song I'm writing. Let me know what you think!

"We can wipe the slate clean.

We can change our sheets, 

Change everything

As long as we know

There’s no going home

We can take our time

Filling the voids 

That fill our mind.

As broken as we are,

We know hope’s never too far.

And I don’t know if I’d consider it luck

But we’re born with one heart, and with it we’re stuck.

We can either choose to live and learn

Or find a new book, take the page, and turn.

We can give ourselves up,

Start running towards,

And stop running from

Everything we’ve done

We can’t finish a race we haven’t begun

We can even fall in love

Because eternity with you

Would hardly be enough

I only hope you know

You’ve made my mind your home

And I don’t know if I’d consider it true

That we need money just to make something new

We can straighten our spines and get to work

Building up our spirits, making better out of worse."

Man of the Century.

Today was my father's birthday. It being his birthday doesn't really have a big impact on this post, just that it really sparked me to thinker deeper about the things he has taught me. And he has taught me quite a lot.
But I feel as though I should share my dad's story, or part of it at least. The part that I know best. I will spare you all the little details, since you are probably barely reading this far.

My dad lived much of his life, to my knowledge, out of the direct influence of God and everything he had in store for him. He moved from New York to down south in Georgia, and New Orleans, Alabama, and eventually to where we are now. Somewhere in that journey, after being married and having two children, he found God. Really found him. His life took such a drastic change; he became a much different person. So much that his own family could hardly relate to him. But he knew, and still knows, that he is on the right path. He refused to let the way he grew up affect the way he wanted to raise me and my brother.
This is not to say that he was ever morally errant. But, after he gained some clarity, he saw the man he truly wanted to be - at the age of forty. Ever since then, he has been providing the best example of the way a man should be that I've ever seen. I have learned more from my dad about living righteously than any preacher or avid church-goer has ever shown me.

My dad has taught me so much. He has shown me how to treat others respectfully and lovingly. To spend time with them, and understand that they have their own battles as well. That I need to be there for them. He taught me that you spend your time on what matters, and the things that matter will always have your attention. He has taught me how to be a chivalrous man - one who treats women with the utmost respect. He has shown me that I am worth much more than I sometimes think I am. He has trusted me when no one else has. He has also experienced more let downs from me than anyone else.

I am more thankful for my father now that I have grown up a bit and can understand a bit more all of the talks he has given me. He has really shown me how to be a better man by example. He has sacrificed much of his life for me and my brother. I hope I can live up to the man he is. My father is my hero.

I know this was more bragging than saying anything thoughtful, but thank you all for reading. Have a blessed day.

Gifts.

Hello again friends! This post won't be a long one (I'm finding out that I'm not so good at this writing relevant things thing) but I do have some things on my mind. Not that most things on my mind are worth noting. And many things I say tend to be trite and overused. But here it goes, and I promise there is some sort of point to all of this.

Giving thanks. Being thankful. This is just such a hard thing for me to remember to be on a daily basis. I do believe I have been blessed beyond anything I deserve, and I remember to give thanks for that. But I get lost in the commotion of the days, and I forget to constantly give thanks. For every encounter with a person that I have. I generally under value small interactions, when every time someone reaches out should be a great thing. Because human connection is such a beautiful thing. I often forget to thank my friends and show them that I love all of them. I forget that during the day I learn so many new things. I should be thankful for that, and for the ability to learn at all, but instead I get bored and phase out of my lessons. I am not yet intelligent enough to afford not listening.

I forget that every breath I take is a new chance for life. Because what if air stopped being air, and I couldn't use it anymore? I would die, that's what. But that is not happening, and each breath is a gift. Every sunrise and sunset is beautiful and is certainly a gift. I should really at least give thanks for these things.

Basically, just be more thankful. Of all the things we as people can take for granted. Hopefully there is something that you know of that you could be more thankful for, and you give thanks for it. And I will now thank you for reading this, you are a blessing.