Things & Time

Greetings! It is amazing how quickly time flies by. Seasons come and go, and the next thing you know it has become almost a year. I realized this and decided that it was time for me to get back on track with a few things. I figured a great way to start this would be to write about some of the changes that have happened within this past year...

Looking backward, the last time I actually took a little time to post something was after the results of last year’s presidential election. Well, needless to say much has happened since that time. Obviously, we have our first African-American president, which is a really great thing. I had so many things that I had wanted to write about and share during that time, but the pace of life was a bit overwhelming. In any case, it has been a refreshing six months with Mr. Obama in office. What astonishes me though is how many haters there are already. Have Americans forgotten the amount of rubbish Obama has inherited as President? Are people that scared of reform, change, and sacrifice? Are people impatient and expecting too much? I’m not sure what the general public believes, but I for one still have faith in the man. I know full well that I will not be pleased by everything that he does, but being a president involves having to make compromises and different choices sometimes in order to establish something greater. We shall see what comes down the road.

Besides the new presidency, I was in the midst of completing CT’s notorious BEST Portfolio in order to keep my job as a teacher. If there was one reason why a barren wasteland replaced my field of thoughts and poems, this was it. Teaching alone is a very intense job, you are always creating, thinking, and making decisions, so it is exhausting at times. Well, keeping that in mind, imagine having to do a huge amount of tedious planning, reflecting, and paperwork in addition to the usual job requirements and what you get is a stressed-out mess. I am so thankful that that arduous task is over. I believe I did a good job, but my results are still forthcoming. I’m not worried though... so BEST, get thee behind!

This year I had decided to finally dreadlock my hair. As a Rastaman, this is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but circumstances didn’t always allow for it. There is still a stigma about having locks in society, let alone as a teacher and public servant. I wanted to wait until I had established myself and let people know me from the heart. In fact, being a baldheaded Rasta during the past 7 years or so has given me the ability to mature in that heartical sense, so that by the time I decided to lock, it was merely a visible affirmation of what’s been within for a long time. In all honesty, I was also motivated to dread by the fact that if I waited too long, I may not have any hair left! This doesn’t mean that locking my hair wasn’t met by opposition, strange looks, and criticism, especially during the first awkward stages. Yet, enduring that with patience has brought me to really be happy with my dreads. They still have a long way to go, but the progress has been amazing. Since I’ve begun my dreadlocks I also feel fulfilled in a way that I couldn’t quite feel before... something almost mystical. I will definitely share more vibes about my dread journey in due time.

This past year has also been eventful because I finally reached Jamaica, which has an obvious influence on me in a variety of ways. Travelling has been something that I’ve not been able to do on my own up until recently. Once again, circumstances. So, I am so thankful for the journey I was able to take. I was able to see many parts of the country and reason with fellow Rastafari people. I also made a trip to the Twelve Tribes of Israel headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica. I am a member of that particular organization in America, so it was a real blessing to go where it all started and meet some of the elders. I already had know so much about the culture, the history, the people, and the music of Jamaica… but there is nothing like stepping foot there and experiencing it, especially from a natural point of view. I hope to reach Ethiopia someday and have a similar type of experience! There are many places in this world where I must trod and behold.

As it shows, this year has been a blessing in many ways, and I give thanks for that! It has also been a very busy time, and some of the changes have not always been as positive. The stress and pace work, the blows dealt to the heart by failed romance, the lack of creativity, and the failure to keep healthy routines have all taken a toll on me. That is why I’ve decided to make a few changes to strengthen up the livity and make things a little bit easier and satisfying. I will definitely share more about that as progress is made. One thing this year has taught me is that life can go in so many directions, heights and depths… but I must always remember myself and take care of myself in order to sustain that journey. There comes a time to revitalize and reevaluate, and that time has come for me. Give thanks for life, and hold a meditation!

JAH Bless,
JAHsh