BLOOD FROM A TURNIP: SEE IT HERE.

Life is an endeavor. Determination is a trait most all people want but not all people have. with any task or difficulty that is thrown in your way in life determination to overcome it is a must. That kind of determination is the same determination that i must have if i am to be successful in going to Europe. Unfortunately, at this moment, i do not have that determination. I wish that i did. But when life sets in front of you continuous let downs and setbacks, it's hard to have determination when you face a strenuous task. it has been hard for me to muster up the will to even want to go in the last few weeks. I just do not see it coming forth. With that said I have to find the will somewhere within me, wherever it may be.

P is for "Persistence!"

Ashton makes my persistence look good!

I have resolved to learn to crochet hats.

It seems like it ought to be easy.  It's not.  I've spent a few precious hours with YouTube, because I'm a visual learner.  I cain't make the beautiful items out at Meladora's Crochet Creations, but I made something!  To my amazement, Malachi's friend Isaac wants this hat.  "I'll crush that!" he hollered, when I brought it out.  "Golden State Warriors' colors!"  OK.  "Seven dollars, " I said, with what I hoped was proper marketing confidence.
"Put a fuzzy ball on top and some strings, and I'll give you ten," the young man replied.  All-righty, then!

http://www.meladorascreations.com

The difference between what I got and what I was going for?  PERSISTENCE.

Crocheting hats and scarves is a way to rest my busy mind somewhere, occupy my hands, and create something, all at the same time.  My grandma Lucy Coker Jefferson told me:  "Nobody can call you lazy if you make stuff!" She was teaching me how to crochet.  My mother taught her, and she taught me.  Most of her grandchildren crochet.  We discovered at a family reunion that we all do so for the same reason--out of loving memories of her.  I got major blowback for teaching my cousin Thurman, Jr. to crochet.  "It looks so relaxing," he exclaimed as he watched my hook flying.  I cain't walk and chew gum, but I can talk and crochet.  I like that.  I taught him what I could, with his mama and sisters screeching dissent the whole way.  They're on F**book, Lord love 'em, and they can stay there.

My goal is to crochet 1000 scarves and sell them at around $10 a pop.  This goal originated from watching a Steve Harvey stand-up.

 Steve Harvey is the New Oprah.

 Before he was that, he did stand-up comedy.  If you watch just one Steve Harvey comedy special, you will understand why yours truly is utterly inured to the n-word.  It has made that man millions.  More than Richard Pryor, Dave Chappelle, and Kramer from Seinfeld put together!  When he stopped denigrating and cussing, Steve got to talking about how he made it (wit de help ob de Lawd!).  He said, "Sell something for $5.  When you make $100, sell something for $10.  When you make $500, sell something for $20.  Do that for a couple years.  Look around and see yourself as an entrepreneur.  Look around and see yourself out of the hole.  Look around and see people respecting you.  Look in the mirror and see a new human being."  I decided to start out with $10 scarves.  If I sell one thousand scarves at that price, I will generate ten thousand dollars.  Of course, I have chunked this goal down.  I want to make fifty scarves and sell them at the local flea market on Black Friday.  If I can learn to make decent hats within the next week or so, I can raise my price point:  $10 for a scarf, $7 for a hat; $15 for both.  NAFTA and CAFTA put the textile industry out of business in North America.  This town used to be vibrant, affluent and alive.  Now, I'll be grateful to make those price points.  A single mom will have a handmade Christmas gift for a child, too.  It keeps me going.

My great-aunt Emma Mae Bullock was the very first A-A employee of Harriet & Henderson Yarns.
This is some of her stash.

I am persistent.  When I determined in my heart to send my son on a trip to Europe, I looked around at what I could do to make money right away.  Entrepreneurs know that it doesn't take making a lot of money to get the juices flowing.  I was overjoyed  when that boy said he wanted to buy my ugly hat!  I'm up early today, because I realize, I got a market.  Consequently, I must manage my time better, so that I may produce more "pretty uglies" for teenage boys.  Whatever your dream--remember, 'P' is for Persistence!

Have a great weekend, and thanks for reading my blog.
#FriendsofMalachiMaxwellGlass

Working OVERTIME on the Paradigm Shift!

The best definition of "paradigm" I've heard came from a teenager.  "It's just a way you do things, mostly."  I am out to change the way I do things.  In order to accomplish that, I must change the way I think of what I do.  This blog is about shifting paradigms.  It's not about me.  It's about reaching out for something better, higher, and broader than anything I want to do for myself.  Making something happen for your children is a motivator.  If your goal is for someone else, it's much more likely to get done.  Why is that?  Mostly because you approach the way you do what you do differently for others, especially for a young person.  We all want our kids to know the highest and best of life before they are forced to contend with its seedy underside.  I want Malachi to know that world travel is not beyond his reach, so I must extend myself beyond my own internal barriers to clear a path for him.  To make a way for him, I must overcome the obstacles I have placed in my own path.

In order to teach my child perseverance, I must persevere.  In order to teach him how to set and reach a goal, I must set and reach goals far beyond anything I've done for myself.  No excuses.  No whining.  No procrastinating.  This is overtime on the paradigm shift, people.  I know that when my son boards that plane for Europe, neither he nor I will ever be the same.  Malachi will be off to see the world.  His mother will have a better, more self-assured outlook on life.  That is expressing it simply.  Inside, I feel a welling up of many emotions: fear, self-doubt, negativity--in regard to myself and my ability to make it happen for Malachi. Fortunately, an inner drive and determination are within me as well, and the shift in question involves relegating fear and self-doubt to a distant back seat as I allow drive and determination to lead the way.

Many people face the challenge of a paradigm shift.  Some dis-integrate into negativity and emotional paralysis.  Some swap one form of self-sabotage for another.  Still others take a hard look at themselves and the life choices they have made, and resolve to do things differently.  I'm on that crew.  Happy weekend, and may your shiftwork be fruitful.  Thank you for taking the time to read this blog.  #FriendsofMalachiMaxwellGlass