Mouthpi3ce- TURN IT OFF!.wmv

The Builder (Poem)

I saw them tearing a building down,

a group of men in a busy town.

With a hefty blow and a lusty yell,

They swung with zest,

and the sidewall fell.

I asked the foremen,

"are these men skilled?

The kind you would hire,

if you had to build?"

He looked at me, and laughed,

"no, indeed!

Unskilled labor is all I need.

Why, they can wreck in a day or two,

What has taken builders years to do."

I asked myself, as I went my way,

which of these roles have I tried to play?

Am I a builder with rule and square,

measuring and constructing with skill

and care?

Or am I the wrecker, who runs 

the town,

content with the business 

of tearing down?

Writer: Anonymous

Heartbreaking Reality

When I was in South Africa last month, I absolutely loved the people. They were very warm and very open to talk about their lives and their difficulties.

But in the midst of that their openness, they revealed things that were absolutely heartbreaking.

Us in the U.S. can not imagine what many of them face there. I know we have some very awful crimes and people who do horrible things as well. But what I found there was shocking.

Can you imagine a place where about 1 in 3 girls have been raped. A place where around 1 in 4 or 5 have HIV. And why do many have it, because they were raped by someone with HIV. Just the way that I heard they stalk and rape their victims was so horrible. At least in the US the authorities will really go after people who rape or kill, etc. There they say many times the police do nothing, because it happens so much.

What is my point???

When you past that person on the street, who looks sad and frustrated... do you ever wonder what they may be going through?  Do you wonder what they faced that day or recently?

I heard the story of a women who was raped by 19 men continuously over the course of one week. I can not even stomach to go into details of all that happened. I don't even think it would be appropriate to put on the blog. It would be too graphic. But just imagine what she went through being tied on a bed and continuously raped for one week?

Then maybe a person would pass her on the street and she happens not to speak and they say "what's her problem?" She has a big attitude problem! Not knowing that she has been through HELL the day before.

The heartbreaking reality is that we live in a world where most people could care less about what's happening with others. Most people are only concerned about themselves. It is almost shocking when we find someone who is caring, considerate, giving, kind, etc.

What was once the norm, has become somewhat alien.

So what about you and me? How should we look at those we see day to day?

I think we should always bear in mind what others are going through. Don't be quick to assume that you know what is in a persons mind. Because you don't. You should be careful before attacking people, or drawing assumptions about them.

Remember, what if the shoe was on the other foot, and it was you feeling down that day? How would you want others to treat you?






Realidade de partir o coração

Quando eu estive na África do Sul no mês passado, eu passei a amar realmente o povo de lá. Eles foram muito acolhedores e muito dispostos a falar de suas vidas e suas dificuldades.

Mas além de sua disposição, eles revelaram coisas de partir o coração.

Nós nos Estados Unidos não podemos imaginar o que muitos deles enfrentam. Eu sei que nós lidamos com alguns crimes terríveis e com pessoas que fazem corisas horríveis também. Mas o que eu descobri lá foi chocante.

Você pode imaginar um lugar no qual uma em cada 3 garotas já foi estuprada? Um lugar em que uma entre 4 ou 5 pessoas tem HIV. E por que muitas pessoas têm HIV? Porque elas foram estupradas por alguém com HIV. Somente ouvir como eles perseguem e estupram suas vítimas foi algo horrível. Pelo menos nos Estados Unidos as autoridades vão realmente atrás das pessoas que estupram ou matam, etc. Na África do Sul eles dizem muitas vezes que a polícia não faz nada pois isso acontece com muita frequência.

Onde quero chegar???

Quando você passa por aquela pessoa na rua, que parece triste e frustrada... Você imagina pelo que ela está passando? Você imagina o que ela enfrentou naquele dia ou recentemente?

Eu ouvi a história de uma mulher que foi estuprada por 19 homens continuamente ao longo de uma semana. Eu não tenho estômago nem para citar os detalhes de tudo o que aconteceu. Eu nem acho que seria apropriado colocar isso no blog. Seria muito explícito. Mas apenas imagine pelo que ela passou amarrada em uma cama e sendo continuamente estuprada por uma semana?

Então talvez alguém passaria por ela na rua, aconteceria de ela não falar e a pessoa dizer "qual é o seu problema?". Essa pessoa tem um grande problema de atitude! Não sabe que esta mulher enfrentou o INFERNO no dia anterior.

A realidade de partir o coração é que nós vivemos em um mundo no qual a maioria das pessoas se importa muito pouco com o que está acontecendo com outros. A maioria está preocupada só consigo mesma. É quase chocante quando encontramos alguém que se importa, considera, dá, é gentil, etc.

O que antes era o normal se tornou de alguma forma um alien.

E quanto a você e a mim? Como nós devemos olhar para aqueles que nós vemos dia após dia?

Eu acho que nós deveriamos sempre tentar imaginar pelo que os outros estão passando. Não se apresse em afirmar que sabe o que há na cabeça das pessoas. Porque você não sabe. Você precisa ser cuidadoso antes de atacar as pessoas, ou chegar a conclusões sobre elas.

Lembre-se, e se as coisas se invertessem e fosse você quem estivesse se sentindo para baixo naquele dia? Como você gostaria que que as pessoas te tratassem?

Durban South Africa- Beautiful Place (misconception debunked)

Here is a video that I never got the chance to upload, because of internet issues. But i want to share it with you, because it goes along with my conversation about misconceptions. Check it out. It is less than 3mins. Think about it.

The Temptation of Success

Here is an exert from a great book that I read called Joseph:

"This message is addressed to the successful, to the up-and-coming executive, to the man or woman on the way to the top of the heap, to the individual who is experiencing the benefits of and favor of God, to the person who is reaping the benefits of increased PRIVACY and TRUST.

Adversity (hardship, affliction or misfortune) is sometimes hard upon a man, but for one man who can stand prosperity, there are a hundred that can stand adversity.

The temptations that accompany prosperity are far greater (and far more subtle) than those that accompany adversity."


Point: It's good to fight for success, but when you're becoming successful or have reached success, you better watch out, because the "temptress" is waiting toward the top of the ladder. Planning a way to knock you down.






A tentação do sucesso


Aqui está um trecho de um ótimo livro que eu li chamado "Joseph":

"Essa mensagem é destinada aos bem sucedidos, aos executivos ambiciosos, ao homem ou mulher a caminho do topo, ao indivíduo que está vivenciando os benefícios e as bençãos de Deus, às pessoas que estão colhendo os frutos da PRIVAÇÃO e da CONFIANÇA.

A adversidade (sofrimento, aflição ou azar) às vezes é difícil para um homem, mas para cada homem que consegue vencer a prosperidade, há cem homens que vencem a adversidade.

As tentações que acompanham a prosperidade são muito maiores (e muito mais sutis) do que aquelas que acompanham as adversidades.

Moral: É bom lutar pelo sucesso, mas quando você está se tornando bem sucedido ou alcançou o sucesso, é melhor você vigiar, porque a tentação está esperando no topo da subida. Planejando uma maneira de te derrubar.

Paths of internal communication- from Renato Cardoso.com

Friends, how important it is for us to communicate properly and correctly.
I did not write this, but I had to share it. This one is great.

Check it out.

FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE DIRECTOR

Next Friday, at 5pm, Halley’s comet will be passing through this area. This event only occurs every 78 years. So, please, get all the workers together on the factory’s courtyard, making sure that they wear a helmet for safety reasons. I will explain the phenomenon then. But if it rains we won’t see this rare spectacle with the naked eye.

FROM THE DIRECTOR TO THE MANAGER

The Presidents request, Friday at 5pm, Halley’s comet will pass over the factory. If it rains, please, get the workers together, with their helmets on, and send them to the cafeteria, where the rare phenomenon will take place, and it only happens every 78 years to the naked eye.

FROM THE MANAGER TO THE SUPERVISOR

There’s an invitation from our dear President. The 78 year old scientist Halley will appear naked at the factory, wearing only a helmet. He’ll then explain the phenomenon of rain to the security guards on the courtyard.

FROM THE SUPERVISOR TO THE FOREMAN

Everybody naked, next Friday at 5pm, because the boss of the president, Mr. Halley will be showing the rare film Dancing in the Rain. In case it starts to rain, which only happens every 78 years, because of safety reasons wear a helmet.

- Taken from: http://www.renatocardoso.com/en/means-of-internal-communication/

Misconceptions (PART 2)... People

Where is this tree?

I mean, what city, state or country......?

Can't guess?

It's Namibia.

As I was saying a few days ago in my last post, we people have some strange misconceptions about many places in the world. We like to judge things based on what the media or on what others say. But many times we have not even gathered enough info (I mean rock solid info) to make a fair judgement. And that is what leads to misconceptions or wrong impressions of people, places and things.

The one area of misconception that I wanna focus on today is with people. Many times a person draws an opinion about a person based on what someone else told them about that person. But they never even took the time to get to know that person for themselves. They haven't checked if the other persons information is true or not. They are not really 100%, but they act like they are.

Who gives us the right to draw up conclusions about others? Who told you that you know the whole story because you've heard a little bit? How dare you think that you can say a person has done this or that, or is like this or that, if you don't even know them.

We need to be more careful. Because just like we can be misinformed by the media... We can for sure be misinformed by other people.

And that can lead to MAJOR misconceptions.

Just think about it.



Equívocos (PARTE 2)... Pessoas

Onde está esta árvore?

Quero dizer, em que cidade, estado ou país.....?

Não consegue adivinhar?

Em Namíbia.

Como eu estava dizendo alguns dias atrás no meu último post, nós temos algumas ideias estranhas e erradas sobre muitos lugares do mundo. Nós gostamos de julgar as coisas baseados no que a mídia ou no que os outros falam. Mas muitas vezes nós nem coletamos informormações suficientes (eu quero dizer informação sólida) para fazer um julgamento justo. E é isso que leva a preconceitos e impressões erradas sobre pessoas, lugares e coisas.

O tipo de equívoco no qual eu quero focar hoje é em relação às pessoas. Muitas vezes uma pessoa projeta uma opinião sobre outra pessoa baseada no que alguém contou para ela sobre essa pessoa. Mas ela nunca procurou conhecer a pessoa por si mesma. Ela não checou se a informação que ela recebeu é verdadeira ou não. Ela não é exatamente 100%, mas age como se fosse.

Quem nos dá o direito de concluir coisas a respeito de outras pessoas? Quem disse pra você que você conhece a história toda se ouvir apenas um pedacinho dela? Como você ousa pensar que pode dizer que uma pessoa fez isso ou aquilo, ou é assim ou assado, se você nem a conhece?

Nós precisamos ser mais cuidadosos. Porque assim como nós podemos ser mal informados pela mídia... Nós podemos ser mal informados por outras pessoas.

E isso pode levar a MAIORES equívocos.

Pense sobre isso.

Misconceptions (part 1)- I'm sorry Africa

Since I arrived in Africa over a week ago, I have dealt with this issue quite a lot. 

I have come to realize that we so often draw conclusions based on huge misconceptions. It's actually really sad the way we can see a small piece of the picture and assume we know the whole story. 

I for one know I am guilty of this. 

Just for example, for my whole life I thought (please don't laugh at me) that Africa was so so poor that there was nothing nice there. I thought that only South Africa had "some" good things. But the rest of the country, I was sure had only dirt roads, and people walked or drove the worst cars in the world. And that there would be lions and giraffes all in the middle of the streets, and many other things. But it wasn't because I imagined all of these things, or wanted to judge the country wrong. It's because of what I've always seen in the media. 

They paint a picture that everyone in Africa is starving and dying and that there is nothing good there. But that is a bunch of garbage. I saw many beautiful things and places in just three countries so far. And by the way Windhoek and Gaborone in Namibia and Botswana had roads that were more organized and clean and neat that many American roads. 

Take a look. This is Namibia behind me. Does it look horrible?

Again, does this look horrible?

Here is the city center of Maputo, Mozambique. Are these dirt roads?

So the point is, that it was a total misconception. Of course there are some people struggling and hungry, but that is not the majority in some countries of Africa. 

So what is the main point of this... 

That I will tell you in the next post. Just know that it will be worth reading.

For now, I would just like to say sorry to all the African people and to the country itself for judging wrongly. 

Equívocos (parte 1) - Me desculpe, África

Desde que eu cheguei na África, há mais de uma semana, eu lidei muito com essa questão.

Eu percebi que nós muitas vezes concluímos coisas baseados em conceitos muito errados. Na verdade é muito triste como muitas vezes vemos uma pequena parte da figura e a partir dela assumimos que sabemos de toda a história.

Eu, particularmente, sei que sou culpado nesse ponto.

Só um exemplo, por toda a minha vida eu pensei (por favor, não ria de mim) que a África fosse tão, mas tão pobre que não existisse nada de legal lá. Eu pensava que somente a África do Sul tivesse "algumas" coisas boas. Mas o resto do território, eu tinha certeza de que só tinha vias sujas, e de que as pessoas andavam a pé ou dirigiam os piores carros do mundo. E de que haveria leões e girafas no meio das ruas, e muitas outras coisas. Mas isso não acontecia porque eu queria imaginar essas coisas ou porque eu queria julgar o continente de forma errada. Isso acontecia por causa do que eu sempre via na mídia.

Eles pintam uma figura de que todo mundo na África está passando fome e morrendo e de que não há nada de bom lá. Mas isso é tudo porcaria. Eu vi muitas coisas e lugares bonitos, e até agora só estive em três países. Falando nisso, Windhoek e Gaborone na Namíbia e em Botswana têm rodovias mais organizadas e limpas do que muitas rodovias americanas.

- Dê uma olhada. Essa é Namíbia atrás de mim. Isso parece horrível?
- De novo, isso parece horrível?
- Este é o centro da cidade de Maputo, Moçambique. Essas vias estão sujas?


O ponto a que quero chegar é que tudo foi um grande equívoco. Claro que existem algumas pessoas lutando e famintas, mas isso não acontece com a maioria em alguns países da África.

Então qual é o objetivo principal disso...

Eu vou dizer no próximo post. Saiba apenas que vai valer a pena ler.

Por enquanto eu gostaria apenas de pedir desculpas para todos os africanos e para o continente todo por julgar erroneamente.

Mozambique

Check this post out. It's definitely worth a read. Nice pics and a good video.

In the kitchen with Elise: Being welcomed by Mozambique: For this 'Shoulda Been Dead' tour we are now in Mozambique, Africa. An amazing Country from what I have seen so far. Yesterday ...

There are still good people in this world

I know we can not trust anyone 100%, because people will let you down. 

But one thing I have learned over the years is to give people the benefit of the doubt until they have proved that they are not good. 

I am not saying to be a fool, but there are people in the world who are honest, who truly care, who want the best for others etc. You can not live your life being suspicious of everyone. It's about having good eyes. Choosing to see the best in others. 

I don't care what anyone thinks, I have been messed over a lot in life, but I still choose to see the best in people. 

I have been traveling a lot around the world recently, and I have meet many nice people. People who are truly good at heart (please don't go religious on me and start quoting "no one is good...."). 

There are people who don't even know you or have any obligation to you, but they treat you like you are someone worth caring for. And it shocked me sometimes. But this is a fact. I have meet many people that shocked me. They were so naturally kind and caring. And of course I have meet other really awful people, but I can't judge the rest of the world because of them. 

In a nutshell, give everyone a fair chance. 

Ainda existem boas pessoas nesse mundo

(Na imagem: Eu acredito em pessoas boas)

    Eu sei que nós não podemos confiar completamente em ninguém, porque as pessoas vão nos decepcionar. Mas uma coisa que eu aprendi com o passar dos anos é que devemos dar o benefício da dúvida para as pessoas até que elas provem que não são boas.
    Eu não estou dizendo que devemos ser bobos, mas há pessoas no mundo que são honestas, que verdadeiramente se importam, que querem o melhor para os outros etc. Você não pode passar toda a sua vida suspeitando de todos. A ideia é ter bons olhos. Escolher ver o melhor nos outros.
    Eu não me importo com o que ninguém pensa, eu já fui muito maltratado, mas eu ainda prefiro ver o melhor nas pessoas. Eu tenho viajado muito pelo mundo recentemente e conheci muitas pessoas legais. Pessoas que são verdadeiramente boas de coração (por favor, não banque o religioso agora citando "ninguém é bom...").
    Existem pessoas que nem te conhecem e nem têm nenhuma obrigação com você, mas elas te tratam como alguém por quem vale a pena se importar. E isso me surpreende às vezes. Mas isso é um fato. Eu conheci muitas pessoas que me surpreenderam. Elas foram gentis e se importaram  de uma maneira muito natural. E claro, eu conheci outras pessoas realmente terríveis, mas eu não posso julgar o resto do mundo por causa delas.
    Resumindo, dê uma chance justa para todos.

BeLIEve

Some people say that in the middle of the word believe is the word lie, so you can't really believe in anything, because the word itself has lie in the middle. 

But if you take away the E (which to me stands for what EVERYONE else thinks) then believe becomes to BE, Live 

Which means to not just say you believe it, but to BE it, meaning it has to be a part of who you are.

And

LIVE it. 

Don't just talk about what you "believe" in. And don't follow what everyone else thinks about your faith or belief (if it is right of course), but Be it an Live it. Let it drive you.

Just remember, you need to first get rid of the E (everyone else's opinions).

Jamaican- Micheal Jackson

Here is one of the performances at the Montego Bay event. I cut it short, but you can get an idea. It was pretty nice. Leave your comments on what you think.

Montego Bay- Jamaica Event Highlights

This past Saturday, in Montego Bay Jamaica, we managed to gather about 1,000 youth for the Shoulda Been Dead event. So far we have done the event in many places, including 5 other countries, and it has always been well received. 

But here in Jamaica was a bit different. As in other places, it was well received, but there is such a great need for this type of event here, that I have not seen until now. The youth all over the world are suffering, but the amount of youth suffering serious family problems here, astonished me. 

There are so many young ladies who were raped by a family member or who are forced to sell their body, because the PARENT wants them to. Young guys who are being taught to get money, no matter how they have to get it... And many other things. This place, really needs help. 

But besides the horrors of many youth in Jamaica, the country is also very beautiful, with many very polite and hospitable people. This trip so far has been extremely helpful.

Here are some highlights of the Montego Bay event. 

Close to 1,000 youth gathered. 

YPG Montego Bay

Youth Leader in Jamaica

Me together with the leader of the country

We found some identical twins. Both got the book. 

Me and the Mrs. Tired after I finished signing books

A great performance by the youth there. It was "dance/poetry"

The event was extremely successful. I believe that many youth people made big decisions that day, to change their lives.

Please, keep your eyes on the page for more feedback from Jamaica. We have a big event this Saturday at Emancipation Park- Kingston Jamaica.

I hope to see you there.



Montego Bay - Jamaica
Destaques do evento

No último sábado, em Montego Bay, Jamaica, nós conseguimos alcançar cerca de 1000 jovens para o evento Eu Deveria Estar Morto. Até agora nós realizamos o evento em vários lugares, incluindo 5 outros países, e tem sido sempre bem recebido.

Mas na Jamaica foi um pouco diferente. Como nos outros lugares, o evento foi bem recebido, mas existe uma necessidade tão grande desse tipo de evento aqui, como eu não tinha visto até agora. Jovens de todos os lugares do mundo estão sofrendo, mas a quantidade de jovens sofrendo com sérios problemas familiares aqui me surpreendeu.

Há muitas jovens que foram estupradas por um membro da família pu que foram forçadas a vender seus corpos, porque os PAIS querem que eles façam isso. Jovens rapazes que foram ensinados a conseguir dinheiro, não importa o que eles tenham que fazer para isso... E muitas outras coisas. Este lugar realmente precisa de ajuda. Mas além dos horrores enfrentados por muitos jovens na Jamaica, o país também muito bonito, com muitas pessoas muito educadas e hospitaleiras. Essa viagem tem sido até agora extremamente útil.
Aqui estão alguns destaques do evento de Montego Bay.

- Cerca de 1000 jovens alcançados.
- Força Jovem de Montego Bay
- Lider do Força Jovem na Jamaica
- Eu junto com os líderes do país
- Nós encontramos gêmeas identicas. Ambas adquiriram o livro.
- Eu e minha esposa. Cansados depois de terminar de assinar livros.
- Uma ótima apresentação dos jovens daqui. Foi uma dança/poesia

O evento foi extremamente bem sucedido. Eu acredito que muitos jovens tomaram grandes decisões nesse dia para mudar suas vidas.

Por favor, fique de olho no blog para mais notícias da Jamaica. Nós teremos um grande evento neste sábado no Emancipation Park - Kingston Jamaica.

Espero te ver lá.

Jamaican cuisine and more- By my wife Elise

Go to the link below and check out a nice article my wife wrote about Jamaica. It is really good. I will post something about this wonderful experience tomorrow.

In the kitchen with Elise: Jamaican cuisine and more: As I am here in Jamaica. I get the privilege of trying all types of Jamaican cuisine. I am being well fed by an excellent Jamaican cook '...

Headed to Jamaica...

Here is a word, not just for Jamaicans, but for everyone.


Em direção à Jamaica

Olá para todos que normalmente visitam o blog "Shoulda been dead". Sou eu, Damien, estou aqui no aeroporto prestes a viajar para a Jamaica. Acredito que daqui a 30 minutos entrarei no voo, então como eu estou aqui resolvi aproveitar esse  tempo livre para mandar uma rápida mensagem. Minha esposa está aqui comigo e está insistindo para que eu diga que ela está aqui.
(Esposa: eu quero dizer 'oi')

Ok, então para todos que estão em Kingston e Montego Bay, vocês precisam ir para esses eventos. Montego Bay, eu estarei aí este sábado, 22 de setembro, às 15:00, na Montego Bay Comunity College. Vai ser um grande evento, me disseram que colocaram cartazes em todo o lugar. E no próximo sábado, 28/09, eu estarei em Kingston. Esse evento vai ser no Emancipation Park, número 4, Park Boulevard, Kingston. Vocês realmente precisam ir conferir. Talvez você esteja lutando contra um problema como vício (você pode ouvir isso porque eu estou em um aeroporto), ou tenha problemas na família, precise de alguns conselhos. Talvez você vem fazendo algumas escolhas ruins ou até mesmo você que está fazendo tudo certo e quer continuar fazendo tudo certo. Venha, confira. Eu tenho certeza de que haverá palavras que vão te encorajar e inspirar.

E para o restante de vocês que não estão na Jamaica, depois da Jamaica eu passarei por Namíbia,  Moçambique, Botswana, Àfrica do Sul e depois irei para Portugal e (I coundn't understand this last place).  Esses são os próximos lugares da lista e também estarei em Nova Iorque. Força Jovem de Nova Iorque, prepare-se pois eu estarei aí em breve para falar com todos vocês também.

Todos os jovens, não importa de onde sejam, eu quero encorajar vocês a permanecerem confiantes, mantenha sua cabeça erguida. Às vezes fica muito difícil continuar fazendo a coisa certa, nós ficamos muito tentados a fazer coisas negativas, a voltar aos nossos costumes antigos. Muitos de nós fomos envolvidos com coisas muito ruins no passado e muitas coisas querem te arrastar de volta para aquele passado. Não vale a pena olhar para trás. Siga em frente, de verdade. Eu aprendi essa expressão no Brasil, a Força Jovem diz "Para ou continua?". Eu acho que essa é uma pergunta muito importante porque muitas vezes você vai ser tentado a parar. Parar de fazer o bem, parar de fazer o certo, parar de lutar o bom combate, todos vocês entendem claramente o que isso significa. Você não pode parar. Você tem que continuar, não importa quão difícil as coisas fiquem. Às vezes parece que sua cabeça vai explodir, você se sente frustrado, você se sente irritado e muitos de vocês sentem vontade de desistir nesses momentos. Não desista, não seja um desses. Continue lutando, continue seguindo em frente, continue determinado. Você vai conseguir, você vai fazer algo bom com a sua vida. Ok?

Eu vou postar mais vídeos, vou tentar colocar fotos e tudo o mais na página do facebook e também no blog nos próximos dias. Aliás, você me vê representando o Texas com meu boné? Eu nunca esqueço do Texas. 'T' representa The Texas Rangers. Todos vocês fiquem firmes, cuidem-se e até a próxima. Deus abençoe vocês, tchau.

The Cost

The cost of victory is sacrifice.

The cost of good health is exercise and healthy eating.

The cost of salvation is faith and total surrender. 

The cost to be a loser...

Do nothing.



O preço

O preço da vitória é o sacrifício.

O preço de uma boa saúde são exercícios e uma alimentação saudável.

O preço da salvação é a fé e a entrega total.

O preço para ser um perdedor...

Não faça nada.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

To all of you who follow this blog, I have something very simple to say to you.

Life is not full of flowers and cupcakes everyday. Life has a tendency of throwing some good, some bad, and some downright ugly things at us.

So when you are having a good day... Be thankful, but also prepared. Because not everyday will be that way.

When you are having a bad day... Be patient, because tomorrow will come, and it will be better.

And when you're having a downright ugly day... Be strong, because character is made in moments of difficulty.

Fight against every thought that tries to convince you to live by how you feel. Feelings come and go, but determination breaks through the good, the bad and the ugly.




O bom, o mau e o feio

Para todos vocês que seguem meu blog, eu tenho algo muito simples para lhes dizer.

A vida não é cheia de flores e cupcakes todos os dias. A vida tende a apresentar coisas boas, coisas ruins e algumas coisas terrivelmente feias para nós.

Então quando você estiver tendo um dia bom... Seja grato, mas também esteja preparado. Porque não vai ser assim todos os dias.

Quando você estiver tendo um dia ruim... Seja paciente, porque amanhã vai chegar, e vai ser melhor.

E quando você estiver tendo um dia terrivelmente feio... Seja forte, porque o caráter é moldado em momentos de dificuldade.

Lute contra todo pensamento que tenta te convencer de viver pelo que você sente. Sentimentos vêm e vão, mas a determinação ultrapassa o bom, o ruim e o feio.

SBD Event performance from France- Check it out.

Here is the performance from the France Youth Group. It is about 10mins, but it tells a story through the dance. I really liked it. Check it out.

DO you believe you can?????

What's your biggest limitation? 

What's your biggest fear?

What's the biggest threat that you face?

What's the scariest thing you know?

It's not death,

pain,

loss

or tragedy. 

The most disastrous force that exist, outside of evil itself

is a subtle enemy called DOUBT. 

Whether it's doubt about God or doubt about self,

it distracts, paralyzes and kills dreams and dreamers. 

So watch out!

Do you believe you can do something?

Do you have faith that God is with you?

Are you ready to fight and pay the price for what you want?

So go ahead, dive in. 

The mountain doesn't look so big from the top. 

25,000 Youth Rescued in Brazil in ONE day!

Nearly a week ago, in one day we hit two cities back to back and spoke to about 25,000 youth. I teamed up with the "Where U Going" Team in Brazil (South America), who are better known as the "Dose Maid Forte" Team which literally means (A Stronger Dose). The idea is to raise awareness that drugs and crime are not the "strongest" or best way to solve your problems. There is a positive escape. And that is the direction that the Youth Power Group and I are aiming to share with people.

Check out some of the photos of the events below. 

Below is a picture of Rio de Janeiro Brazil where 10,000 youth gathered to receive help to break free from drugs, crime, prostitution, etc. The response was amazing. 

Below is a picture of Sao Paulo Brazil where the same event was held on the same day 5 hrs later, in a hall that fit 6,000. But the turn out was 15,000 so we had to put people in the parking area downstairs.

Here is the parking area filled with nearly 4,000 youth eager to hear the message story of my life and the message of hope.

Below is one happy youth member taking a picture after getting his book autographed. 

The events on August 25th, 2012 were a great success. I only hope that there will be many more opportunities such as these to reach out to the masses and let them know that no matter how bad your life is, no matter how many terrible decisions you've made, no matter your past. There is a "Stronger Dose" available than any other drug. There is hope and there is a way out. 

Brazil has been great...

Here is another video with some updates on how things are going over here in Brazil. To write everything out would take too long, so I decided to do a video. Check it out and leave your comments.

What I'm doing in Brazil...

Here is a short video to let you guys know what I have been up to in Brazil.

NEVER FORGET- 1992 DEREK REDMOND AND THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT (DAD HELPS HIM ACROSS THE FIN...

I firmly believe that we should never forget the good examples that we see. This is the perfect example of what love really is. You don't just say you love someone, you do everything you can to help them in their time of greatest need. This is the right spirit.

Take your own advice.

First of all... DO NOT follow the above example!

Now with that being said... I was thinking about my last post (Just Calm Down) today, and I had an opportunity to apply my own advice.

I was here preparing for a trip out of the country and suddenly I realized how many things need to get done before I go. But the catch is that I only have a day left before I travel. So I had two choices:

A) freak out and go into a frenzy trying to fix everything at once

B) Calm down and do one thing at a time

Thankfully I chose option B. I calmed down, and focused on one thing at a time. And funny enough, I got many more things done that I thought I would. Including finding time to write this blog.

So take my word on this one. You can take control of your life and your day and see great things happen. Just do it.

P.S. I know this wasn't really about taking your own advice, but I took my own, so you should get the point. What you tell others to do, make sure you do it too.

Just Calm Down

You see this picture... Look at this child for a moment... Does this baby look stressed or worried???

No way. This child looks at peace. Oh, if us bigger people could learn to have the same peace throughout our busy lives.

I have a word of advice for you today. Some days are going to be hectic and full of obligations to fulfill, deadlines to meet, school work to turn it, etc. And on those days it feels like there just isn't enough hours in the day. But in spite of the busy rat-race called life that we live in, we need to learn to calm down.

Stressing yourself out is not going to solve things any quicker.

So when there are 1,000 things to do and 5 minutes to do them (or so it seems), just take a deep breath, calm down and think... "What do I need to do first"? "What is the priority (meaning it CAN NOT go undone)"? And do that. You can not fix the whole world in one minute. So focus on what you can do.


Now this is very important... What about if you don't finish everything today?

Well.........

That's what tomorrow is for.

Take it from Bruce, he was a fighter

Legendary fighter Bruce Lee once said this about his fighting style Jeet Kune Do:


"Approach Jeet Kune Do with the idea of mastering the will. Forget about winning and losing; forget about pride and pain. Let your opponent graze your skin and you smash into his flesh; let him smash into your flesh and you fracture his bones; let him fracture your bones and you take his life! Do not be concerned with your escaping safely – lay your life before him!"




The idea is if you get hit, strike harder. So I am not promoting physical retaliation. What I am using this quote to say, is when life hits us hard or when evil hits us hard... we have to strike back even harder. We can not bend or break or cower. We must fight, strike back and believe that we will win. Do not worry about the pain you may have to suffer, pain comes with sacrifice. Pain comes with battle. Pain is a part of any war. So the war for a better life is no different. It will come with some pain. But strike back, and strike hard. 


Look at Bruce Lee in the picture above... Does he look afraid?
If he wasn't afraid to fight people, why should we be afraid to fight for our lives?

Check you, before you check me

Something I have never liked and I try to avoid doing myself, is judging others about things that I still do.

What I mean is, no one is perfect. And that is no excuse to be horrible, but we need to stop acting like we are better than people. We are not better than anyone else. You are you, and they are who they are. So don't allow a desire to help someone, turn into an opportunity to criticize or judge.

And even if you are going to tell someone they need to fix something... make sure that you have fixed it yourself or at least are in the process of fixing it.

I just honestly think people need to check themselves before checking others. That is the only way things will work out right. And even if you are doing well, then there is no need to smear it in anyones face. Just be happy that you are doing ok and move on. Keep doing good. But let us learn to treat each other with fairness and care. And never stop being willing to help another get better. Just do it the right way.

Practice makes perfect

Today I was watching some young people practice for a play that they will perform on Sunday. And as I watched I began to think, they have been doing this for one month already, every other day or so, coming to practice for this play.. and it still needs a little work.

That is interesting, because in life we normally want everything fast. We don't like to wait or work hard for anything. But we need to. To get the best out of something, it may take time. You may have to wait and go through the course of fighting for it for a while.

Any sports team will tell you that. They practice day after day, doing drill after drill, just to make sure that it comes natural to them (whatever they need to improve on).

And what about the rest of us average people? Shouldn't we practice the things that will help us better ourselves time and time again. I think so.

Push yourself More

I strongly believe you should push yourself harder than anyone else pushes you.

Harder than your teacher,

Harder than your boss,

Harder than your parents,

Harder than your spouse,

Harder than coach,

Harder than your leader,

Harder than personal trainer,

Harder than the motivational DVD,

Harder than the self help books,

Harder than the music drives you,

Harder than the voice of your persecutors.

Harder than anything or anyone can push you...

You have to push you.

Victory is within grasp, but you have to push.

YPG Mission

YPG Mission




I'm sharing this blog post because I truly believe in it. Please take a few minutes to watch. We have got to do something to promote more positivity online.

The Law of Victory- Ray Lewis

Take a few minutes and check out this video.

If this guy can take a GAME so serious, why do so many people find it so hard to take life serious. And commit to things, and sacrifice to make there dreams come true?

That is a question only you can answer.

Go it ALONE.

Don't live your life being afraid of being alone or going it alone.

There is a strength in you to fight harder when you are alone. You will not die, or break, or cave in. You will become even stronger.

I am not talking about cutting off all contact with people, but the moments when no one else can or is willing to help you. You have to help yourself. You have to make good decisions and be strong enough  to fight through the storm. The storm will end, it will pass and you will win. Just keep going.

The secret is to not bury your head in the sand and quit. Keep fighting. Go it alone if you have to. But know that a one man army is better than a team full of cowards.

Video Highlights of my France book tour

Sorry about the video quality. It had to be converted quite a few times. But you should be able to see everything.

Leave your comments.

How to be a CHAMPION... Lesson from LeBron #2

I wrote a message a week or so ago call "Get back in the Saddle". It was talking about getting back up after being knocked down.

Well, I think in this moment, with the NBA Finals victory still a bit fresh, this message is appropriate. The story of LeBron James in this years Finals victory is just that. A "get back in the saddle" type of performance.

Can you imagine leaving a team that you gave recognition (Cavaliers) that just so happen to be in your hometown and going to join two other stars, then promising success and being criticized every step of the way, but almost reaching that success, then at the end choking (meaning freezing up and not taking advantage of the moment) and being defeated in the most embarrassing way, by a team much older and supposedly far less talented than you? And having to endure  a summer full of ruthless, relentless verbal assault against you as a player and your character? Can you imagine the mental strain that puts on a person?

I can.

But how do you bounce back? You need to first off, humble yourself and recognize that some of the criticism is true, then decide to change those things and keep your mouth shut from then on and let your actions speak louder than your words. That is what LeBron did. I can not say if or if not he will win another title. But he got this one, how, by doing a gut check and deciding to bounce back.

The whole team actually had to do that. And you will have to do that in life. There will be times when the pressure seems to hard to bear, and you will need to bounce back. To check your heart and your will and resolve and go after that dream or goal. There is no failure that you can not learn from. No defeat that can not teach you. No loss that can not help you to learn how to gain.

Do this, and you too will become a CHAMPION.

A Lesson from LeBron James.

Hi Guys,

I'm not writing this blog post because I am a Miami Heat supporter (though I am). But because of something that I thought about after watching this years NBA Finals.

As I was watching the Finals, I remembered last year (when I also had a chance to watch them) and the difference in the attitudes. Last year D-Wade, Bosh and especially LeBron seemed more arrogant. As he said in his own words "I thought I had to prove something...". And when you come out and play with that attitude, you lose. Because arrogance gets you nowhere. They were like a bunch of high school jocks who wanted to impress the school.

But this time was different. If you notice, each game he had a serious look in his face, he seemed focused, not overly confident, not full of himself, not much show-boating, just pure focus. Focus on one goal, one objective, to WIN. And they got it done!

Now my point to all of you is this. Sometimes in life, we need to learn hard lessons. We need to lose, or go through disappointment in order to bounce back. It adds character to us (if we let it). Sometimes we need to be broken in order to be built up again. And that is what happened with the stars of the Miami Heat. They were broken last year, and they bounced back and rebuilt. That is what you must do it life.

Don't let a bad attitude destroy you. Don't let pride consume you. Don't let rudeness be your way. Be focused on your dream, but leave the celebration for AFTER you have achieved the ultimate goal. Until then, stay quiet. And the victory will be all the more sweet.

(I will write more on this subject on my next post)

Get back in the Saddle

Listen... It's impossible to never mess up or fail or fall off of something that you started. You will go through moments of downs. Just like there will be moments of ups. But one thing you must learn to do is always get back in the saddle as quick as possible.

Don't waste time crying or whimpering over what coulda, shoulda or woulda been. Deal with each day as it comes. If you messed something up yesterday, but you woke up this morning, then there is time to fix what was broken. You have to see that life is a series of moments. When a moment comes you need to embrace it. When a serious moment or opportunity comes, jump at it. Including the opportunity to start over.

That is the interesting thing about new days, each one is like a clean slate if you choose for it to be. No one can make you carry the past. Even if they throw your failures in your face, you choose to either listen to their words or ignore and reject them.

So when it comes to falling down and making mistakes, the most important thing is not the mistake, but how you react to it. You need to get back in the saddle and fight again. Quickly.

Different Countries, Same Personalities

In the last two weeks I had the opportunity to travel to 3 countries that I have never been to.

It wasn't a vacation, but to hold events to help the young people of those countries. The events really went great, but that is not what I want to talk about right now. What I wanna talk about is the people I met.

In most of those countries I came in contact and in some cases even ate with and stayed with people who I do not know at all. But they are apart of the same organization that I am a part of. And the funny thing is, that in every place, they were different people, different nationalities, different ages, but all showed the same love, care and friendliness. I mean, I truly met some of the friendliest, most welcoming people I have ever known.

So what is my point exactly???

The point is, what if I had gone there with a judgmental attitude like, these people don't know me, so I will not be nice to them? Or I will not speak much, because I don't know what they like. I would have missed an opportunity to gain new relationships that may last a lifetime.

So the moral is, do not judge people just because you don't know them. Or you are from a different city, state or country. Give everyone a fair chance, and you will meet some truly great people.

Why I do what I do???

For those who wonder why I do what I do? Or what is the gain or reward in it? Well, it's not money, it's not for recognition, it's not to make a name for myself.

This is why I do what I do: These are the ones that count the most.

" I can't believe that if I didn't start school on April 18 th and went to your book signing I wouldn't be thinking about changing so fast and so quick. I mean right now I would be working the streets and god knows what else. I wouldn't be trying to go into the right path. I would have been dreaming and saying it with no action or motivation."  

Anonymous- (Name intentionally withheld)

This is why this work means so much to me. If we can touch one, we have made progress. 

This is what makes my heart beat each day. The chance to touch another life. I thank God for each one of those opportunities.