START & FINISH

What’s really good people?

First & foremost of the top, RESPECTS to the men, women and all the innocent lives lost in the Boston tragedy since I last checked in with you all. I make this statement on behalf of millions of my brothers and sisters in ISLAM; our religion does NOT teach, promote nor condone senseless acts of violence on the innocent or anybody for that matter. We practice and adhere to the teachings of peace, tolerance and discipline. I pulled another Whodini act on my peoples last week and for this I apologize. I was called out by two very close people in my life on this recently and for this I make no EXCUSES. I must say since I been playing hooky from you all here on the blogspot I did manage to make very good use of my time by catching up on the Game of Thrones starting with season one. Let me just say as you all know HOMELAND is my favorite show and I will swear and die by it but that Game of Thrones is like a bag of lays potato chips “you just can’t have one”.         

OK people; let me get focused…

One thing I have always prided myself and kept as a standard all my life is the understanding of always finishing whatever I START. Where and how I came to embrace this tenet am not sure; possibly it was inherited, learned over the years or plain & simple that is just how God made “P”. What I do know is there is no room for whiners in my camp and I despise QUITTERS. It is just that every once in a while we all go through that lull or periods of inactivity. Maybe it is boredom, frustration or even fear of failure at times but the minute a moment of doubt slithers in we are all pretty much doomed.

So what are the list of things we often typically start but never finish? Let see how about all of them New Year’s Eve resolutions? The business idea that had us so geeked we were going to make big money but never materialised because what had happened was… How about that infamous diet that promised to help us lose 20 pounds in 15 days but after two days of eating salads and drinking cayenne pepper you were like DEUCES.

These are the everyday battles we fight within ourselves that can easily be corrected with a new found discipline, determination and passion such as the completion of an educational credentialing, marathon, and religious fast. Starting & Finishing is all about ATTITUDE. Do you have the mental fortitude, a little “Stick-To-It-Ness” about you that gets you through those character defining moments? The people we aspire to become that achieve high levels of success in their lives experience failure, adversity and periods of doubt just like anybody else.

To my surprise, I was treated to the Mike Tyson "Undisputed Truth" showing by my wife tonight (FANTASTIC show) and his entire one man show depicted this very same message. Mike gave a good example of how he was taught by his mentor that every great fighter that grew to become a boxing legend at one point or another encountered defeat and adversity before rising to prominence. It is a strong work ethic, great supporting cast and an undying spirit that produces greatness in men and women. This leads to truly ordinary people doing extra-ordinary things. This week’s blog is for those who seize the moment and run with their one opportunity for greatness.   

It is time to Do Something…

We All Pay TAXES

What’s really good people?

For the life of me what in the world is really going on with global warming here in the DMV? How do you go from 50 degree weather straight to 90 degrees outside all in a span of 48hrs? As if I do not have enough problems on my hands with the pollen outside now am going from wearing t-shirts/shorts to sweaters every other day, safe to say I can easily pass for Dave Chappelle’s “Tyrone Biggums” character right about now.

 

OK people; let me get focused…

Customary this time of year on the calendar in the US every April 15^th is commonly referred to as ""Tax Day". Unlike Nigeria where the concept of a tax and paying taxes are as frowned upon like NEPA and Jonathan’s presidency this is no small matter and best be advised that “Uncle Sam” will get that a** if you wanna get cute and not place that check in the mail. Come to think of it I read somewhere a few days back that the Obamas paid over $100k on a $600k salary now that would be a site back home to see senior Nigerian officials actually putting money back into the country rather than swindling funds to remote offshore accounts. Yahooooooooooos!

Now there are several other taxes that many of us growing up have had to pay or will be paying at some point from adolescents into adulthood. I give my man “Uncle Ricky” props for this because he is the one that schooled me to this taught a few months back and it has stuck for some reason. We were celebrating a birthday for one my brother’s god-kid and his point was there are some things that you just have to show up for no matter how tired, conflict in scheduling, sickness etc. in his words “just show up and pay your TAXES”. Yeah, when it comes to the little ones and their B-Days I am a proponent and supporter for showing up and sucking it up.

Now there are other taxes that men/women pay all the time. The most popular one for the fellas is taking a LOSS an “L” for short when your homeboy is bout to spit game at a female and you gotta play along as if you are interested in the ugly friend as the designated wing man. Boy this can be painful especially when everybody has that understanding but noooooooooo the ugly chick always wants to talk your ear off for some reason. Com’on ma you know I gotta a WIFE! Lol.

Now women are pros at this too now because the really skilled professional "jersey chasers" who know how to play the game have a way to make a dumb a** show-off type dude agree to foolishness such as buying several rounds of shots/drinks for a whole party of females just to try to get at the headliner who is the leader of the pack. This is what I call TRICKIN – the act of acquiring material possessions at all cost to in hopes of winning a female over and her affection.

The one thing that I know about taxes is this; you gonna pay and you best pay the piper sooner than later. So in order to avoid a penalty or possible fees always take control of the situation by attacking it head-on. So go to that kid’s B-Day party and get there early before you start receiving them angry text messages, go ahead and get a couple of shots in you and make that ugly girl feel good about herself and take her on the dance floor and show her a good time because the two of you are stuck together until your mates figure out if they have a match or not. And oh yes; the next time a female pressures you to buy all of her of friends a round of shots, play it cool and just act like its no big deal. Just pretend you have to use the bathroom, track down the server and remind her that you are with the big mouth life of the party big shot guy in the club and she should put the bill on his tab.

See you all next April 15^th.

Nigeria's INVISIBLE Healthcare

What’s really good people?

So let me quickly tell you all about how my young nephew “Ash Baba” got me with a very convincing April fool’s Day joke this week. This silly kid was so good and clever that when he called me all hysterical on the phone talking all reckless that he really got me worried like REALLY REALLY concerned. Man when it comes to kids I was always taught to assume and the worst and over-react since you can always do damage control afterwards if necessary. By the time this kid got to telling me he was pranking me, I was so upset and angry with him that I think I wanted to put him in “Time Out” for like FOREVER or maybe I can just take away all of his toy privileges for 18 months that will teach him a good lesson for next year.

  

OK people; let me get focused…

I was all ready to write on something totally light this week but I just could not get over a prevailing issue in Nigeria that continues to discourage and disappoint all at the same time. Rather than work to improve the quality of health care available to the people, Nigeria has now become a country of the first flight out of town will do when it comes to seeking and getting medical attention. I mean what does it say about the medical practice of our country when I continue to read about Patience Jonathan (Goodluck’s wife) continuing to seek treatment in Europe for her ongoing surgical procedures. Are you telling me that nobody in Nigeria is qualified enough to meet her medical needs?

According to the Nigerian Medical Association, over 5,000 Nigerians travel overseas monthly for medical treatment. That is an estimated loss of $500m annually. For years now I have been reading and hearing about all the brilliant and talented young Nigerian doctors our country is producing so where are they because apparently they do not reside in Nigeria? Nigerian International football great and hero Nwankwo Kanu has also chimed in on this matter saying that the rush to seek medical treatment abroad is gradually killing the health sector of our country due to the loss of billions of dollars to other countries. Kanu is one of very few Nigerians who actually did something to help remedy this crisis by helping to start his Kanu Heart Foundation that combat issues of heart disease in young children.    

It is my personal opinion that the true issue and concern not only stems from the inadequate and deplorable facilities and conditions to work and care for patients under but also that old colonial complex stigma that Nigerians are all too well known for plays a major part. As long as we continue to hold the white man as the “Mr. Know & Fix it All” psychological our practitioners do not stand a chance in any sector let alone healthcare. I honestly and truthfully do not hold it against anyone; it is your business what you decide to do with your money in order to care for self and family. My worry is what and where do the people who do not have the money go when in need of serious medical attention?  

The reality of the situation is Nigerians in its current state remains willing to suffer and sacrifice for an improved social equality, human rights, public safety and good governance. We have grown too comfortable with an out of sight out of mind approach to handling all of our affairs. Let us work to do right by those in need of our support and attention.

Time to Take Care of One Another