Inside from the Inside

“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”
- Marcus Aurelius Antonius

You cannot make a choice if you do not know of other possibilities.

A Critique is not a Criticism, unless…

“You will miss more by not seeing than by not knowing.”
~Dr. Eugene W. Adams

(The essential essence universally applicable, distilled after innumerable painstaking hours that uncovered the secret of simplifying the complex. Spoken as succinctly as read and without fanfare. Yet this man’s freely shared wisdom has anchored more than one Sentient.)

Seeing and Listening are to looking and hearing what the Sun is to Pluto: very distant.
That gap harbors the unknowing Knowns.

A Proverb is the horse which can carry one swiftly to the discovery of ideas.
~Yoruba Proverb

“Ideas are the product of connections, both logical and illogical. Effective creativity is a merger of these logical and illogical thoughts together to form revolutionary new strategies and plans. Sadly, most Americans focus only on what has already been developed by others.” – Dave Lakhani

The friend within the man is that part of him
which belongs to you and opens to you a
door which never, perhaps, is opened to
another. Such a friend is true, and all he says
is true; and he loves you even if he hates you
in other mansions of his heart.
The Wisdom of the Sands
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

A friend is one who knows all about you
and still likes you.
entry within Apples of Gold

“Are you spiritual?”

Thank you for asking…most simply assume.

It’s a matter of context, isn’t it?
For example, consider ‘Love.’

If I say, ‘I love my pet,’ your understanding, definition or concept of love hinges on two things: First, do you know what a pet is and second, do you agree with the minimal level of care and attention that the concept of pet ownership includes?

Now consider ‘love’ in the setting of man and woman—

“Alright now…Preach on, Brother!”

Shaking his head while looking down and smiling, he continues.

The unenlightened man will play at love to get sex while the unenlightened woman will play at sex to get love.

Some say this as if it’s a bad thing.

I say otherwise.

There are four cornerstones to a successful, fulfilling relationship.

First, you must know your non-negotiables and never ever relinquish any in response to any outside influence.
If each can live with and honor the other’s non-negotiables, then the path appears and the foot is made ready.

(Once, the boys tried to get on my case, saying, “Yo, Homes. What’s up with That?!” to which I simply replied, “It’s what my Ba-by, likes. You got a problem with that?” A fool replied. That mistake never happened again.
Let’s just say he can hit high notes like nobody’s business… as I said, some things are non-negotiable.)

Second, investigate and know the similarities between the two of you. Invest the time wisely.

Success is in the plenty, not two of many.

Third is that which remains after these first. Such provides areas for individual and/or joint growth and for future re-evaluation.

The God-factor MUST appear here, if it has not in the first two.
You cannot expect long term fulfillment without this factor fully vetted.
Pro or con is not the issue; the subject is.

A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.            ~Muhammad Ali

Fourth is the cement of the deal: Can we play? Play is big, Real Big!! It is life’s spice.

Baby Girl’s attracted because I’ve got game. And I’m certainly attracted because she’s got game. You’ve got to have game or you’re dead in the water.

Game is huge…game is the deciding factor of attraction.

So, within the parameters of Dr. Gary Smalley’s advice,* we play.
All the time.

Play forms failure into focus.
Play converts criticism into coached advice.
Play makes of attitude what nothing else can.

Say I rub your feet—

“C’mon, now!“

When you awake you are delighted beyond measure. Later you do something I like and you whisper, “This is for that foot massage.”

Do you really think I won’t become a foot-rubbing fool? You got to be kidding! I’ll rub feet 24/7! That’s what I’m talking about.
Sheeee…Son!

When my focus is the joy and pleasure and delight and comfort of my Lady, play in this context is without limitation. If that play gives the reward of her pleasure and her peace and mine as well, how could my heart not be in it?

Focus is easily uncovered.
‘nuff said.

“So, you be a Playa, huh?”

Well, you know what they say ‘bout the shoe…

“Well, Slick, you still haven’t answered my original question: ‘Are you spiritual?’”

Smiling like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, our hero eked a sultry whisper,

Happy Valentine’s…

Followed by, Yeah, Ba-by…on the inside.