No Limits

We all have certain obstacles that hinder us from pursuing our goals, keep moving toward them anyway.  Check out the Pep Talk from Wish at the Well.  Happy rest of the week!

Instructions for a Bad Day

When it doubt, listen to this poem by Shane Koyczan.  The visual is from Kevin McDonald's "Life in a Day; some film clips are from Jon Goodgion.  Happy Wednesday!

Lyrics (as posted on deviantart.com)

"There will be bad days. Be calm. Loosen your grip, opening each palm slowly now. Let go. Be confident. Know that now is only a moment, and that if today is as bad as it gets, understand that by tomorrow, today will have ended. Be gracious. Accept each extended hand offered, to pull you back from the somewhere you cannot escape. Be diligent. Scrape the gray sky clean. Realize every dark cloud is a smoke screen meant to blind us from the truth, and the truth is whether we see them or not - the sun and moon are still there and always there is light. Be forthright. Despite your instinct to say "it's alright, I'm okay" - be honest. Say how you feel without fear or guilt, without remorse or complexity. Be lucid in your explanation, be sterling in your oppose. If you think for one second no one knows what you've been going through; be accepting of the fact that you are wrong, that the long drawn and heavy breaths of despair have at times been felt by everyone - that pain is part of the human condition and that alone makes you a legion. We hungry underdogs, we risers with dawn, we dissmisser's of odds, we blesser's of on – we will station ourselves to the calm. We will hold ourselves to the steady, be ready player one. Life is going to come at you armed with hard times and tough choices, your voice is your weapon, your thoughts ammunition – there are no free extra men, be aware that as the instant now passes, it exists now as then. So be a mirror reflecting yourself back, and remembering the times when you thought all of this was too hard and you'd never make it through. Remember the times you could have pressed quit – but you hit continue. Be forgiving. Living with the burden of anger, is not living. Giving your focus to wrath will leave your entire self absent of what you need. Love and hate are beasts and the one that grows is the one you feed. Be persistent. Be the weed growing through the cracks in the cement, beautiful - because it doesn't know it's not supposed to grow there. Be resolute. Declare what you accept as true in a way that envisions the resolve with which you accept it. If you are having a good day, be considerate. A simple smile could be the first-aid kit that someone has been looking for. If you believe with absolute honesty that you are doing everything you can - do more. There will be bad days, Times when the world weighs on you for so long it leaves you looking for an easy way out. There will be moments when the drought of joy seems unending. Instances spent pretending that everything is alright when it clearly is not, check your blind spot. See that love is still there, be patient. Every nightmare has a beginning, but every bad day has an end. Ignore what others have called you. I am calling you friend. Make us comprehend the urgency of your crisis. Silence left to its own devices, breed's silence. So speak and be heard. One word after the next, express yourself and put your life in the context – if you find that no one is listening, be loud. Make noise. Stand in poise and be open. Hope in these situations is not enough and you will need someone to lean on. In the unlikely event that you have no one, look again. Everyone is blessed with the ability to listen. The deaf will hear you with their eyes. The blind will see you with their hands. Let your heart fill their news-stands, Let them read all about it. Admit to the bad days, the impossible nights. Listen to the insights of those who have been there, but come back. They will tell you; you can stack misery, you can pack disappear you can even wear your sorrow – but come tomorrow you must change your clothes. Everyone knows pain. We are not meant to carry it forever. We were never meant to hold it so closely, so be certain in the belief that what pain belongs to now will belong soon to then. That when someone asks you how was your day, realize that for some of us – it's the only way we know how to say, be calm. Loosen your grip, opening each palm, slowly now – let go."

Define Yourself

 See Lizzie Velasquez's amazing story (13 mins) of overcoming labels society has placed on her.  After being cyber bullied as a teenager, she decided to be a motivational speaker and excel past all limits.  This Wednesday, decide how you define yourself.  Have a great rest of the week!

Giving is the Best Communication

This Thailand mobile advertisement has the strongest message of how one small step can impact in such a larger scale.  Do little things this week that will go a long way.  Happy Wednesday!

Peace Promise #14

No Limits.  Happy Friday.

First Wednesdays: Duran

This is dedicated to the CHILD…the one in all of us. The child that wants to BE…not to be told. The child who’s DREAM was lived through a bathroom mirror and a toothbrush microphone. 

~ Duran

Photo from website www.iamduran.com

It's the first Wednesday of March! Today, we're featuring Duran, a singer, rapper and songwriter based in the Atlanta area by way of Maryland.  Described as "a smokey, savory and sweet gumbo", his music is a fusion of neosoul and hip hop - a special blend of verity and sensibility reminiscent of your grandparents hot toddy, an elixir for the weather-beaten soul. His movement, with his loyal group of Stargazers, is to encourage people to "believe that following the unique design plans or 'divine blueprints' - which were written in the stars - will bring their dreams to life."

One who is very down to earth with insight beyond his years, Duran has been seen at local festivals such as the Artist's Showcase at Taliah Waajid's World's Natural Hair Show and shared stages with major emcees such as Big Sean of G. O. O. D Music. Last year, Duran was featured on CBSAtlanta for his tribute to Trayvon Martin, "Skittles and Arizona" (video below).  He is currently expanding his artistry to include acting, as he was "Jeremy Furlow" in the New African Grove production of August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone (August 2013); his upcoming role is "Booth" in the Songs of Karibu production of Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog (AOA Studios; April 25-27, 2014).

His most recent studio project is entitled, "Stargazers: Why Shouldn't It Be Us?", which can downloaded from his website at www.iamduran.com (under "Menu" tab at the top left corner, click "Music").  Sample some of his music and quotes below!

Getting Started

"My brother introduced me to freestyling and I took it from there. I used to use poems to impress girls. Lol." ~ Duran

Inspiration

"I'm inspired by life. I'm a firm believer that art imitates life; I can not write or perform anything that's not based in truth. I hope people will take away a firm belief in dreams and in purpose. That's what my movement is all about. Dreams = purpose and vice versa." ~ Duran

For Stargazers

"I hope people will see what [they are] doing and begin to listen to that inner voice they have. The one that tells them to follow their heart. I'm not claiming to be a leader but, if I am seen that way, I hope to do so by example." ~ Duran

Booking Information:

Email	eyeamduran@gmail.com
Website	www.iamduran.com
Twitter	@iam_duran
Instagram	@iam_duran
Facebook	www.facebook.com/eyeamduran

"You are a VIRTUOUS, BOLD, PASSIONATE, UNIQUE being with the POWER to move mountains, walk on water and SHINE with the STARS. TRUST your VISION and follow your HEART."  ~ Duran

Happy April!

It's not an April Fool's Joke!  We're back to jump start in April and we have quite a bit in store for you!  Welcome back everyone.