From Sirius to Alex Hudson

Hey everyone, what’s positive in your life? I pose this question seriously . . . as of lately I’ve had to get back in connection with what’s positive in my life. It’s amazing how situations make us lose touch of what we love and who we are as individuals. When that happens, we end up either lost or searching for what once was . . . (I’m guilty of “searching” as I type). Before Jai, I was a man with strength, independence and much integrity. Those 3 values also boil down to the three strongest words I’ve heard this week: Honesty, truth and respect.

I mention those three in the denotative meanings (straight from the dictionary). Once I decided to look up and understand these three words, I felt as if I couldn’t go back to some of the things I once leaned on as an excuse in the past. I’m my own man . . . and as such, I’ve chosen to practice those values on a daily. I say practice because no one can exhibit them perfectly other than the man above . . . however, practice makes perfect and through our imperfections we find perfection within. It may not make sense to some but I get it lol.

What I’m saying here, is that I’ve turned another corner in my life. Words now hold more deeper meanings and actions have become the colors to utilize in our artistic palette of life . . . (what will you choose to create?) With that said . . . I’ve decided to paint myself . . . paint my own story so I can look back in my old age and have something to smile about. This goes back to positivity also. Being negative is a disease . . . it gets more attention that positivity and is (sadly) accepted over being positive about things. Going against the grain, I’ve chosen to practice positivity in all that I do.

I’m not formulating some fantasy world for myself by doing this either. Positivity is the same as negativity: it’s a gift and curse . . . only difference is that instead of harping on what’s bringing me down . . . I’d be conscience of what’s keeping me up. I’m sure some will have their own interpretations and views on that and that’s fine . . . that’s what makes us individuals . . . and individuality is key.

I’ll leave you with what I feel is something heavy . . . chew thoroughly.

Honest

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[Origin: 1250–1300; ME honeste < MF < L honestus honorable, equiv. to hones- (var. s. of honōs) honor + -tus adj. suffix]

—Related forms

hon·est·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. just, incorruptible, trusty, trustworthy. 2. fair. 4. straightforward, candid. 5, 9. pure.

—Antonyms 1. dishonest, corrupt.

Truth

1.	the true or actual state of a matter: He tried to find out the truth.

2.	conformity with fact or reality; verity: the truth of a statement.

3.	a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths.

4.	the state or character of being true.

5.	actuality or actual existence.

6.	an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude.

7.	honesty; integrity; truthfulness.

8.	(often initial capital letter) ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived experience: the basic truths of life.

9.	agreement with a standard or original.

10.	accuracy, as of position or adjustment.

11.	Archaic. fidelity or constancy.

—Idiom

12.	in truth, in reality; in fact; actually: In truth, moral decay hastened the decline of the Roman Empire.

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[Origin: bef. 900; ME treuthe, OE tréowth (c. ON tryggth faith). See true, -th¹]

—Related forms

truthless, adjective

truth·less·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. fact. 2. veracity. 7. sincerity, candor, frankness. 10. precision, exactness.

—Antonyms 1. falsehood. 2, 4, 7. falsity.

Respect

1.	a particular, detail, or point (usually prec. by in): to differ in some respect.

2.	relation or reference: inquiries with respect to a route.

3.	esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability: I have great respect for her judgment.

4.	deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment: respect for a suspect’s right to counsel; to show respect for the flag; respect for the elderly.

5.	the condition of being esteemed or honored: to be held in respect.

6.	respects, a formal expression or gesture of greeting, esteem, or friendship: Give my respects to your parents.

7.	favor or partiality.

8.	Archaic. a consideration.

–verb (used with object)

9.	to hold in esteem or honor: I cannot respect a cheat.

10.	to show regard or consideration for: to respect someone’s rights.

11.	to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with: to respect a person’s privacy.

12.	to relate or have reference to.

—Idioms

13.	in respect of, in reference to; in regard to; concerning.

14.	in respect that, Archaic. because of; since.

15.	pay one’s respects, a. to visit in order to welcome, greet, etc.: We paid our respects to the new neighbors. b. to express one’s sympathy, esp. to survivors following a death: We paid our respects to the family.

16.	with respect to, referring to; concerning: with respect to your latest request.

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[Origin: 1300–50; (n.) ME (< OF) < L respectus action of looking back, consideration, regard, equiv. to respec-, var. s. of respicere to look back (re- re- + specere to look) + -tus suffix of v. action; (v.) < L respectus ptp. of respicere]

—Synonyms 1. regard, feature, matter. 2. regard, connection. 3. estimation, reverence, homage, honor. Respect, esteem, veneration imply recognition of personal qualities by approbation, deference, and more or less affection. Respect is commonly the result of admiration and approbation, together with deference: to feel respect for a great scholar. Esteem is deference combined with admiration and often with affection: to hold a friend in great esteem. Veneration is an almost religious attitude of deep respect, reverence, and love, such as we feel for persons or things of outstanding superiority, endeared by long association: veneration for one’s grandparents, for noble traditions. 7. bias, preference. 9. revere, venerate, consider, admire. 10. heed.

swag is in you not in ya pocket

-Ne-Yo