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Showing posts from September, 2021

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/26/21

3 Up 1. Mia Mottley - The Prime Minister of Barbados delivered a genuine speech at the United Nations General Assembly that brought some realness and groundedness for our political leaders around the globe and their approach to COVID. A must-watch if you haven't seen it. Also, Mottley recently lead the island of Barbados in denouncing Queen Elizabeth as head of State and vowing to lead the country into a new era. Big moves, quality leadership.  2. Lewis Hamilton - Hamilton not only continues to dominate Formula-1 racing, but he now has made history as the only Formula-1 driver with 100 victories. The dude doesn't get enough love.

Small (or Big?) Moment Lessons

I drove the car home staring at the rearview mirror - or what felt like it - for the majority of the time.  I wanted to make sure that he knew that I was talking to him, and giving him my full attention on this. It was serious - not too serious, sorta serious - but the moment felt like my first test of what will be a series of indefinite small moments - vital, crucial, imperative opportunities. Small enough in the moment, but hopefully strung together enough times to make a difference.  Parenting, right?  Upon picking my son up from school, a complaint was brought to my attention that he was, and I quote, "maybe just a bit too rough with the girls in his class". While I took in the criticism and prepared my mind for addressing the issue with him, the administrator followed it up by stating, "it's not violent or malicious, he's just a boy in a class with all girls. And he's bigger and stronger than all of them."

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/19/21

3 Up 1. U.S. Gymnasts Call Out F.B.I. - It wasn't too long ago many had various opinions on Simone Biles and her decision to step aside during the Summer Olympics. Yet, here we are a few weeks later and Biles along with her former U.S. Gymnastics teammates, Aly Raismann, Mckayla Maroney, and Maggie Nichols, all testified about the abuse they faced at the hands of Larry Nassar. If that wasn't brave and courageous enough, they called out the FBI for their lack of effort. All of these girls deserve so much props - and yes, so much strength.  2. Kevin Richardson - The remarkable story of the exonerated five will live on forever, however, it is their story of what they've done since being exonerated that continues to change the narrative. Kevin Richardson received an honorary degree from Syracuse University and will have a scholarship in his honor. Kudos to Richardson, and especially so, Syracuse University. 

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/12/21

3 Up 1. September 11th Reflections - The time of the year always brings about a bundle of emotions. This year, the nice round number of 20 brings a milestone of remembrance and reflection. Here is to everyone who shared their thoughts, performed ceremonies, and honored the victims and heroes who should forever deserve it.  Just a quick note, here were some of my thoughts on 20 Years After 9/11 . 

20 Years Since 9/11

It's certainly surreal to think that it's been twenty years since the horrific events of September 11th, 2001. 20 years ago is a long time (I was sixteen), and is a round-reflection number for what was, has become, and still is in regards to the hurt, scars, emotional damage, and overall life-changing effects that day brought us.  I decided to read some of my thoughts from a post I wrote ten years ago for the tenth anniversary of 9/11. There, I shared my personal experience and story from that very day ,  as well as some other thoughts on questions that remained unanswered at the time - and in many ways, still so to this day. Today, I punch the keys on a few more thoughts on 9/11, now twenty years removed from a day in which I burst through the exit doors of Canarsie H.S. in Brooklyn, NY, and ran home terrified.

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/5/21

3 Up 1. Emergency, Sanitation, and Utility Workers - These guys deserve the week and quite possibly, the month or year. Their efforts in rescuing those who were trapped, in ushering away debris, and reconnecting immediate needs such as power, subway systems, and more, are immeasurable and highly honorable.  2. Higher Education Workers - This is a selfish "up", but sooooooooo much props and love to everyone and anyone who works on a college campus adjusting, pivoting, and just doing whatever it takes to get this semester off the ground. Good luck to everyone across the country. 

Pondering Pictures #107

A kid from the '90s