Inspiraelevation

There is a lot you will need in life to succeed

One of those rare gems is that of true friendship.

But you must make sure they are true friends.

True friends provide the pillars of support you need to stand strong during the toughest storm.

However,

“Sometimes my vision is a little hazy.

I can’t tell who I should trust or just who I let trust me.

What about your friends.

Will they stand their ground

Will they let you down again

What about your friends are they gonna be low down

Will they ever be around or will the turn their backs on you? –TLC

What about your friends?

“True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides its evils.” -Baltasar Gracian

Do you have someone on your side that you can confide in?

Do you have someone who will spot you when the weight gets a little heavy?

Do you  have someone who will extend a hand when you have fallen in a pit of despair?

Someone, who will help you sew back together the pieces of the tattered cloth of life when its been rended by pain and hurt

Not everyone who surrounds you or claims such a title are deserving of so.

Remember, Ceaser was robbed of life by his dearest friend

“Et Tu Brute?” To mean and you Brutus

My great-aunt had a saying “Friends are few and far between”

Many so called friends are merely posers who have ingratiated themselves in your life for their means.

It is only by examination can one be found to be true or inauthentic.

Let us begin

Traits you may recognize

There are some who are back stabbers

• They are cordial to a point.
• They are merely in your presence for superficial means.
• They are deeply envious.
• When given the opportunity, they will inflict undue pain upon your persons.
• At their center they are selfish; and they want what you have.

“They smile in your face

All the time want to take your place.”

Backstabbers. – The O’Jay’s

Talebearers

There are some who are expert weavers of tales.

One may refer to them as gossipers.

• They are only looking for good stories.
• There is nothing sacred to such.
• Your life and its experience is material.
• They are not trustworthy and they are not loyal.
• You are a means to an end.

Perhaps, they cannot help it.

Beware, of who you confide in.

Beware, of who confides in you the secrets of others.

If they will expose the secrets of others for so small a price, they will do the same of  you.

Two-faced

There are some that are duplicitous in nature.

Their true intent is always hidden behind a facade.

This is what many refer to as two-faced.

The face they show you, and the face they show to others is never the same.

Remember, integrity is when actions align with words.

Hater/Negative Nelly

There are haters.

• They thrive off negativity.
• The  misery of others bring them satisfaction.
• They are sly and snide.
• They may appear to be great to you; but they carry around a spirit of insufficiency and lack
• They hate everything outside of themselves and their circle.

If you have a friend that thrives off negativity, release them.

Their negativity can and will rub off on you.

The Consumer

There are  some who are Piranha’s.

• You are their ends.
• You are their meal ticket.
• They always need something from you, but have nothing to give in return.
• They feed off your generosity.
• They will consume you to get what they want.
• They will bleed you dry.

The dependent

There is the leech.

• The leech is highly dependent and has an unhealthy attachment to you.
• They feed off your emotionalism.
• They don’t recognize boundaries.
• They have expectations that are extremely high.
• They expect you to always be there when they are in need, and for you to come to their aide at a drop of hat.
• They will make you feel less than a person for not.

The Beauty

There is the Debutante or Rico Suave, also known as Mr. Debonair.

To them, you are their ugly duckling.

Your friendship is one of toleration.

They hang with you just under the assumption that you are lesser than them and make them look good.

Remember,

The socialite

• Your position is the basis for your relationship.
• Outside of work you have no commonalities.
• If you were to lose your position, you would lose your attachment.

There is the apparition.

• By all practical purposes they don’t exist.
• Secretly, they have no concern for you.
• You are their last resort, when there is no one else they can call they call you
• If you see them in  public, when around others, they will not acknowledge your existence or your friendship
•  Later  they will apologize profusely for their oversight.

True friend

• Has no expectations.
• Push you to be better
• Happy for your achievements.
• Loveth at all times even when you seem un-lovable.
• No underlying agenda.
• You don’t complete them; and they don’t complete you. They complement you.
• They know when to give you space, but remain available.
• They are loyal, trustworthy, earnest, and honest.

What about your friends?

Do they fit the definition of true friends, or are they only friend by name.
If not true you must cut them loose.

Who you associate with does as much to define you, as you do with your own words.

“Strive to have friends, for life without friends is like life on a desert island…to find one real friend in a lifetime is good fortune; to keep him is a blessing”- Baltasar Gracian

But make sure they are true.

There is an edge

A precipice of which none should cross

Beyond that precipice trod the likes of the walking dead

With every appearance of living, but merely shells of their former selves

The insides are hollowed an empty.

The price paid for too many hurts, too many scars, wounded deep, with no reprieve.

Too many withdrawals have been made and not enough deposits.

You can recognize them by their hollow stares

Voices without a conscience.

No will to do what is right, but to that which is expedient

To do what is best for self

That which feels good

In the end, never satiated

Thus. the emptiness grows until it becomes a big abysmal hole incapable of being filled.

like a consuming fire never burning out but consuming everything in its path

Moved only by lust and desire,

Trying to feel something for more than a second, minute, an hour.

The basis of all addictions.

Don’t draw to close to the edge.

It is so important to fill your lives with light, and  with goodness that you not be overtaken by darkness, by the walking dead.

Whatever things are pure, lovely, or  just , think on these things, surround your self with these things, immerse yourself in these things,

lest the darkness overtake you.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. – Philippians 4:8

Once you let in the darkness it will spread like a virus.

Make a choice everyday a conscience choice to remain in the ranks of the living

Independence

Unchained and unfettered.

Independence; it is what we seek.

To be independent in our thinking.

To be independent in our living.

To be responsible for our personal growth and failures.

To be free of dependency.

Nothing is sweeter or more complex than independence.

It is as sweet as the nectar which free flows from a  beehive.

In our pursuit for happiness and achievement liberation is everything.

It is worth fighting for.

Often, one has to fight to maintain and sustain that, which is beautiful.

Everyone must fight.

Liberty is as necessary as the air we breathe.

Cutting a supply of air leads to asphyxiation, death by deprivation.

This must not be.

It is the responsibility of all to uphold the paradigms of;  liberty and justice.

This means constantly preparing oneself to stand up against things that stand in the way of independence.

This is one of the most important duties that one will undertake in his or her life time.

The quest for Independence as a nation was a necessary means to establishing due freedom from tyranny for the collective

At least for the right to pursue such without oppression.

However, the fight did not end there.

Thus, the fight for liberty and independence continues, yet on a different battlefield..

It is not yet time to lay down for there is still so much to fight for. There are still so many victories to be won.

While we celebrate the independence of the nation forget not, that as long as men remain in bonds whether it be physical or in the mind there is still a war to be raged.

Until all are liberated, and free we must not  settle.

Still we fight.

Our fight is not merely a collective one but a personal one.

One must wage, his her own, war daily to remain free and independent in thought and being.

Pressing Forward

Let this day’s celebrations serve as a reminder of what has been done, what has been conquered, and what is yet left to do.

Let it renew in you a spirit of duty, pride, and of purpose.

Let it stir up in you a passion for the greater good and forward progression.

That this day, and tomorrow you will be led to commitment, to walk forward arming thyself with knowledge,

Let it draw from your lips a promise, that you will fight daily with honor and staunch courage for personal liberation of mind and being,

That you  may work toward true liberation of the whole. We as a collective will have many more victories to celebrate.