A thought worth marinating: If you were to die today, what would they mention when telling your history, and what would they choose to negate due its authenticity? Would you even lived a life worth diluting to fit the status quo, or have you always merely existed?
Now that I have you thinking, may we continue...
As of lately I’ve been desperately searching for inspiration, something worth writing about. For something worthy of excitement once again, and this "something" (whatever it is ) to be a driving force, a motivation beyond my responsibilities. I've also been discovering my identity and contrasting such with who I'm deciphering it is that I hope to become. While indulging in such self-discovery, I've found that the more I seek, the more I find my answers in hidden gems, such as this following quote (in which I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share and respond to) .
“Ali didn’t transcend race because he didn’t want to. History indicates we’ll try and forget all that, and one day after his death, there are clear signs that many are already trying to do so. We shouldn’t. We really shouldn’t.” – Mark Strachan senior editor, The Huffington Post” wrote an eye-opening article titled “Don’t Let Muhammad Ali’s Story Get Whitewashed”. With quotes such as “Throughout U.S. History white Americans have toned down the life stories of radical people of so that they can celebrate them as they want them to be, not as they were. It is why we first think of “I have A dream” where we hear the name Martin Luther King Jr., and not his opposition to the Vietnam War. Narratives are altered. Complex people simplified. Revolutionary ideas watered down, wrapped, and packaged with a bow for mainstream America". This quote sends a clear message that we can no longer allow people’s true identity to be washed away into what we deem acceptable as a society. With follow up lines such as “… Still, Ali never relented in his convictions –black until death, first and foremost” left my mind in awe and my bones chilled. I couldn’t shake those word “black until death, first and foremost” and quite frankly I didn’t want to.
I wanted the echo to continue until I found what my soul was in deeper search of, and in all honesty here’s what I found to be true: to be dedicated, completely engrossed in something; a facet of life, an identity to the point you hold all of your convictions to steadfast and relentlessly is a life of passion! A life I want to live always “until death”. A life I hope to never be apart from, and one I hope to never obtain knowledge of (in regards to an existence without).
I thought about the word “Passion” and what it means to embody such.
Passion
Noun:
1.Strong and barely controllable emotion.
. a state or outburst of strong emotion.
. an intense desire or enthusiasm for something.
2. the suffering and death of Jesus.
Some of the synonyms I found to be interesting were “crucifixion”, “suffering”, “agony”, and “martyrdom” (power google search engine). Now I’m fully aware that we may all stand by different religious and spiritual beliefs, however I’m sure we’re all we’re all acquainted with the story/life of Christ, and rather or not you believe in the truths regarding his existence and deity, you must admit to give your life for the salvation of others, exemplifies extreme passion.
I know of no other form that is more worthy, in my own personal life. Suffering is associated with passion because it goes hand and hand. You cannot live a life of passion without having a set of beliefs that you stand by wholeheartedly (and steadfast against opposition that has the objective to falsify what you render to be true). To live a life of passion is to know no other way of living, just as the great Muhammed Ali knew no other way. But to be black, Muslim, and proud to live for the cause of such truths he found.
http://quotesgram.com/muhammad-ali-best-quotes/.
What convictions do you hold so dear, that you'd live your entire life by them? What truths could render you to give your all? Whether it be race, religion, or talents we all have a facet of passion locked up within us. Aspects that fuel our existence and drive the purpose of our lives. May you discover those truths, identities and never transcend them. May you always hold their worth dear; and in moments when others will try to forget, may you always remind them. I pray you make it impossible to negate your value and diligence to your morals and beliefs, because just as Strachan stated once before "[they] shouldn't ... [they] really shouldn't and neither should you.
