By Cheryl Smith
Some people are made of plastic And you know some people are made of wood Some people have hearts of stone Some people are up to no good But baby, I’m for real I’m as real as real can get If what you’re looking for is real
lovinganything Then what you see, is what you getThe Dramatics
with a little editorial licensing
Over the years I’ve talked about folks who have impressed me because of their grind.
While there are others who impress me for varying reasons, I love the grind of folks who you may be familiar with like James Brown, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, Jay Z, Harriet Tubman, Allen Iverson, Chuck D, Queen Latifah, Mark Cuban, Tom Joyner, Roland Martin, Janell Monae, Dick Gregory, Lawrence E. Young, Paula Madison, Susan Taylor, Cynt Marshall, Deion Sanders, Lyria Howland, T’keyah Crystal Keymah, and my Daddy!
These are the type of folks who work hard and strive for excellence (in whatever form they see or interpret it) and they are focused; regardless of what others around them are saying and doing.
Their grinds are not solely tied to a dollar and you see the fruits of their labor, because they definitely lifted as they climbed.
They are hustlers, but in a good sense!
Which brings me to my truth!
Michael Jordan said, “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen. “
Who are you?
Some people want a big house, a fast car and lots of money. Some people want a tiny cabin in the woods away from those kinda people.
Some people want material things. Me, I just want peace, happy times and people who love me.
Some people will never fit into your life, no matter how much you want them to.
Yes, there are so many people in the world and you have to determine who and what you are going to be and if whatever it is is determined by how people treat you.
Can you stand on your own? Who validates you?
It’s important that, as the dynamic Nikki Giovanni said, you get to know yourself; that you fall in love with yourself.
Are you more like someone else you encountered? Are you a combination of several folks? Do you know who you are or are you going to wake up one day and look into the mirror and feel lost?
Are you nice to people because they are nice to you, or are you a nice person?
Do you know your purpose?
Do you only grind for yourself or for money or do you have enough love of yourself to grind for others?
I know. A lot to think about. Well, as Sister Nikki suggests, go into an empty room, close the door, sit down and get to know YOU. Listen to your heartbeat, your breathing pattern.
You can also touch yourself. If the room has mirrors that might be a good thing because I bet you will find something you never noticed before.
Hopefully when you leave the room you will be happier and you just might embrace the thought that you only have one life to live and there are just some things not worth addressing during your time on this earth.
Check out the lyrics of “Be For Real” by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes.
Think about the words, your life and your future; then get to grinding! You will find that you won’t have time for all the foolishness that keeps you from the greatness that is there for you!
