AGBM.com Man Talk
This section is a forum for Black men who choose to express their thoughts and ideas in the form of poerty, prose and essays.
Let Go Of The Past
By: Marlon LeTerrance
 A large part of truly loving yourself and rebuilding your self-respect is putting the mistakes of your past behind you.
The prospects of your future will always appear a little dim and uncertain when you allow yourself to be constantly chained down and haunted by the ghosts of yesterday. You have to be strong enough to once and for all say good-bye to all those sad and bitter experiences that have crippled your sense of self-worth and confidence.
More articles from Marlon LeTerrance:
My Dad
(For Many people, the story of my father is similar to their own)
I remember the times when he would get home late, not because he was hanging out, but because he worked in the evenings just to take care of home.
I remember his sweaty smell after he got home from work.
I remember wanting to be big enough to cut the grass because I watched my father run the mower back and forth over our lawn.
I remember hating lawn work after I was older.
I remember Friday evenings when we went to McDonald's for dinner, just the fact that we ate "out" meant so much to me.
I remember him tickling me all over my body to the point where I could barely breathe.
I remember peaking in his room where him and mom would be huddled in restful sleep.
I remember him patting my moms butt and kissing her.
I remember the way he shaved.
I remember the awful odor when he left the bathroom (Yuk!).
I remember the secure feeling when he was home (He had the biggest hands in the world, not to mention his arms).
I remember his soft demeanor. How he exuded strength and intelligence.
I remember his body going from 195 pounds to 130 pounds
I remember the prescription drugs in the MTWTF case
I remember driving him to radiation therapy
I remember the neck brace that he wore
I remember him sleeping with pain more powerful than his drugs
I remember the doctor bills
I remember Mom's silent tears
I remember my own fears
I remember those old worn out work boots
I remember his toolboxes
I remember his extended hospital stays
I remember those rainy days
I remember all the ways he moved on his bed
I remember the tests that were run
I remember wishing I had a gun
Wishing that I could ease the pain, selfishly for me, not him.
I remember that 3:30am call
I remember seeing his quiet still body
I remember seeing him finally at peace
I remember him saying, "I love you"
I remember him hugging and kissing me
I still wear his old worn out work boots
Submitted by E
Things that Sustain
I've learned that…
Friends can fail you when in need
Family WILL fail you in those times of need
Happiness is too circumstantial to be trusted
Money can't quite seem to make you smile,
just ward off bills for a while
Prestige is hinged on your next failure.
Fame is as fleeting as your Prestige
Sex is not much without Love, like comparing bread to cake.
You need both to live but cake tastes much better.
Drugs only hide the pain until you can lie and steal for you next hit.
So what are the things that Sustain?
The by products of Living are…
Prayer can help you avoid many of life's issues before they are become problems.
Faith can allow you to see yourself honestly, even before time catches up.
Compassion will allow you to be refreshed by refreshing others.
Love is the binding force that brings meaning to who you are.
Life is a biological fact. Living is applying things that sustain to your life.
GOD gives you these things that sustain because he is the source.
Submitted by E
Choices
In life we have choices. Everything that we do is a choice. The victories and failures that we experience, in many instances, are by-products of our choices. The importance of the choices that we make deals with our understanding of past problems (Experience) and the implications of the future (Wisdom)
The question can be posed "What is true Wisdom?" That question will evoke countless, endless definitions and thoughts. "True" Wisdom is simply getting your daily information through prayer. "Secular " Wisdom refers to common sense applications to life issues without contact with God. The true basis of Wisdom is getting the best information and guidance about the future as it relates to the individual employing wisdom. The problem with Secular wisdom is that it ignores the only source that knows everything about the future and past. That Source also wants to give information more than people really want it. Another question can be posed "What is wrong with common sense". There is nothing really wrong with common sense, but it is not always correct. In earlier times, it was "Common Sense" that the world was flat. We know that the common sense applied in very early years of our country would not be accepted in our time. The choices we make today can have an unchangeable effect on our future. Here are some of the choices that I make.
I CHOOSE LIFE when the world wishes for my death
I CHOOSE LOVE when my neighbor hates me without merit.
I CHOOSE PRAYER when my back is against the wall
I STILL CHOOSE PRAYER when my life is going well
I CHOOSE FREEDOM when the world seems bound
I CHOOSE FAITH when I cannot see the answer I need
I CHOOSE TRUST when I'm not sure what my neighbor's intentions are
I CHOOSE PASSION when my companions seem unconcerned
I CHOOSE ASSERTIVENESS when my other companions are passive
I CHOOSE PATEINCE when the world is moving at the speed of light
I CHOOSE COMPASSION when the world is rude and stingy
I CHOOSE ART in a world of mechanical, military objects
I CHOOSE ORGANIZATION in this chaotic world
I CHOOSE TRUTH when listening to politicians
I CHOOSE TRUE WISDOM because it controls all of my choices in life
CHOOSE WISELY
Submitted by E
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