My Open Letter to the World

As you guys can see, it’s been a very long time since I’ve shared thoughts or even music on here. I figured, with so much on my mind, I should share some thoughts. There’s been so many thoughts running through my mind, and for a while I let those thoughts sit there. After having many negative experiences come from me speaking my mind, I figured it was better that I kept my words to myself. I was partially right. Remember that quote: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”? Well, for many years I thought that was a lousy cop-out to shelter the overly sensitive from the truth. Now that I’m a little older, I realize why the older generations practiced this. Sure, in some cases, this doesn’t apply. In my case, this applied. See, I was building a career off the truth, but I was being brutally rude while delivering the truth. Some people would say, “Good! Some people need it!” Here’s the thing, stepping back and looking at the world, I realize the world already has too many people who make a living off negative comments. That’s partially what’s wrong with today’s world. If I know that I have a knack for catching people’s attention through words, why am I using my gift negatively? I’m not saying I have to lie and praise things I surely don’t support, but I also don’t have to tear them down. Our world lacks compassion. Where did the compassion go?

I hear many people recently saying, “All hope is lost in humanity. I give up on people. Humans suck.” If we as humans are saying this about our own kind, we are only worsening the problem. Where is your hope? Even if you don’t believe in a higher power, where is your hope for your kids, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc.? Are you going to let them walk into a cruel world with no hope? When did we, as people, stop caring? When did we start having this arrogant you-aren’t-informed-enough,-you-hypocrite attitude? I keep thinking to myself, “What is wrong with us people?!”  We point the finger at other humans who supposedly make us lose hope in humanity, but look in the mirror. We are no better for criticizing those people. Who’s more successful: the person sitting on their butt complaining about the issues and whining about how doomed we are, or the person failing, but trying? I’m not trying to come off condescending, or even rude. I many times, fall under this category also.

I’ve come to the conclusion that our parents and grandparents are more correct than we think. Why have times changed? Because we stopped respecting them and what they have to say. We are single-handedly destroying humanity. Worst part about it, we don’t even realize it. Someone once told me if you’re invited to the grown folk table you should sit there and listen. Take the opportunity to listen and take notes. Our parents and grandparents hold the key to saving humanity. We even have people from overseas looking at us in a condescending manner criticizing us. Nobody has the right to criticize anyone. Nobody’s hands are clean. We have all lacked compassion at one point or another.

“If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” More people need to start learning this, and putting it to use. It’s golden.

Some might be saying, “You’re right. Okay, how can I start helping to fix humanity?” My response is: be the best version of yourself. If you are like me and have been told your strengths are giving speeches and writing, pursue it! Be the best public speaker and writer you can be. Do it with the best intentions. Do it with confidence. You and the world are deserving of your talent! If you have vocal cords on you, grab a vocal coach and sing your butt off! Inspire people through your lyrics and voice. If you are good at rapping, rap and write your butt off and inspire others. If you are good at being a mother, raise disciplined children and motivate them to contribute to the world with whatever talent they possess. Some may think being a mother is not a gift, but not anyone can be a great mother. Everyone has something to offer this world, and the easiest way to hurt humanity is to not share that gift you were given. No contribution is mediocre. Be the best version of yourself and always offer your gift to others.

I realized that by not sharing my gift, I am also partially responsible for harming humanity. I have things of substance to share, so why am I letting them sit on my mind? Sure, they motivate me to move. But am I using my gift to its full potential if I’m the only person I’m influencing with it? Don’t be the only person you share your gift with. Make this world beautiful again. Share the positives within yourself.

Merry Christmas, and happy holidays to those who don’t celebrate Christmas. I hope I got at least one person to think. (I shared a video at the bottom. Feel free to listen at your own leisure.)

Lils

 

Passage from: "THE Book" (5/2011) by Lils

Life is a series of unfortunate events that prepare you for one great moment that makes the unfortunate events all worth it. You can call me a pessimist, or even a functionalist. Do I believe my life is full of blessings? Absolutely. There’s no doubt in my mind that my creator looks after me, especially since he gives me another chance at life every morning I get to open my eyes. I also believe that life is about carrying your cross. Most of us, because we are human, make the process of carrying our cross harder than it has to be by adding things to the cross to make it heavier. Some of us have chosen to make our crosses as light as possible, while others have chosen to carry their own cross plus someone else’s. If you don’t carry your cross on your own, do you deserve to reap all the benefits for yourself?

Good moments in life are like having someone bring that soaked sponge to your mouth while you’re on that jagged quest to reach the top of the mountain. The water is a break of sorts. We all get those water breaks, and they usually come from someone we love or respect. I’ve had my fair share of water breaks. Some of those water breaks came from people who have walked the path next to me and every once in a while held the sponge up to my mouth when they saw I needed it most. Other times it came from people who decided to help momentarily, before finding someone else to help. From my perspective, all those who have been responsible for holding that sponge up to my mouth deserve respect. It doesn’t matter who was more consistent. Some of those people who held that sponge up to my mouth added to my cross at the same time. Some have even gone as far as leaning on my cross while I was trying to move/carry it. Some crosses naturally come heavier than others. My mom has always said I’ve had an unusual strength. Haha.

Anyway, my point is this. Carry your cross, no matter how heavy it is, without complaining. You don’t know whose cross might actually be heavier. Be grateful for the people along the road who hold that sponge up to your mouth. Don’t mind those who add to your cross because someone later down the road will help take some of the load off your cross.

Now, I’m not saying we’re like Jesus. I’m saying, whether you believe in him or not, the story has a moral and theme that we can all apply to our lives. Complaining about how heavy your cross is doesn’t make it any lighter. If anything, complaining drains your energy. If you have the opportunity to put your cross down and hold that sponge to someone’s mouth, do it. Who knows, maybe they haven’t had water in a long time and were on the verge of collapsing. If you purposefully add to someone else’s cross you are adding double to yours. If you spend all your time adding to other’s weight, you will never reach the top.

So, you choose.