This week, I wanted to share the one belief that has given me an unshakable, unbreakable unquestionable, ultimately unconditional self-worth. I went by the river from a nice spot and recorded what you're about to hear. So take a listen. Let me know what you think. And especially for you, If you are struggling with finding self-worth and just being you. Alright, take a listen.

################# In the face of rapid change, people are unsure of the world and doubt who we are. We realized we sheltered ourselves in the commutes to and from work. We stayed busy to hide our pain pretending everything was all good. Now that normal is gone. We are left with ourselves. We are left with our pain. And we are strangers to ourselves. There are many roles that I play, and in all these roles that I play. I imagine reflect study and write about life in a way that empowers truth. So people feel inspired to act and discover who they are. This truth may convince people of their inherent self-worth. This truth may show people how to create a society that systemically works for everyone. It's a truth that seeks to bring clarity and awaken our deepest sense of who we are. Because when we empower truth. We inspire ourselves to discover who we are and impact this world. Join my email list at DesmondSpann.com

This week I am sharing a ritual of mine. On my birthday one thing that I do is write. I like to think of it as my New Year reflection.

Sometimes the writing is just prose other times are writing turns into a poem. I touch on the themes of gratitude, hip hop, fear, death, prejudice, and health. The writing that I do every year on my birthday swirls around the themes that are top of mind throughout my entire year of life. Enjoy!

This week, I thought this would be an excellent time to take you through something that I've been working on for the last month or two. You know how sometimes, you put a lot of energy and effort into creating a vision; then, you get caught up in the busywork. You start forgetting to ask yourself the question, what is this really for?

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Side note: I recorded this episode before the verdict for the killing of Breonna Taylor. I am saddened, and I am wondering what else is it going to take? No matter what the actions of the people in the system say, Black Lives Matter and the struggle goes on. I'm sure there will be more reflections on this, but in the meantime, I hope this episode can provide some inspiration to act.

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In the face of rapid change, people are unsure of the world and doubt who we are. We realized we sheltered ourselves in the commutes to and from work. We stayed busy to hide our pain pretending everything was all good. Now that normal is gone.

We are left with ourselves.

We are left with our pain.

And we are strangers to ourselves.

There are many roles that I play, and in all these roles that I play.

I imagine reflect study and write about life in a way that empowers truth. So people feel inspired to act and discover who they are. This truth may convince people of their inherent self-worth. This truth may show people how to create a society that systemically works for everyone. It's a truth that seeks to bring clarity and awaken our deepest sense of who we are. Because when we empower truth. We inspire ourselves to discover who we are and impact this world.

Join my email list at

DesmondSpann.com

This week, I'm talking about how creativity can solve racism.

And I'm also sharing some poems from Des Write Bars (on Amazon, yeah I know)

I thought this week would be an early reflection episode. But then I thumb through my old poems in the book. And I found four verses that I found for many verses that speak to these times.

In this episode, I reflect on the relationship between fear and truth.

This week hear why Randal Wyatt makes fun of me and what happens when people fear less.

Here's what I'm reflecting on this week:

Why you get in arguments about movie

Why no one feels what you're saying

What you really want to know about anyone

Jacob Blake

This week if you want to be an artist every day but the business of life gets in your way, I can relate.

I went through that struggle this week but luckily I develop some practices that keep me creative even in busy weeks like this one. As a result, I am able to share three pieces in this episode.

I have a question for you, which one would you write to? Or Which one would you like me to continue to develop?

I like all three but school is starting and you know how it is. We have to learn to prioritize.

I like episodes like this one where we get to work together as a community of artists to grow our creative flow.

If you can just let me know in the comments:

Which one would you write to?

What comes to your mind and heart for you with this piece?

Here are the pieces:

1

Strike a match to the daylight burns

Treating night like the ash on scorch earth

Running blaze the essence of the second

Pressure place to make time worth the weight

2

Dodge dirty a look more than a right hook but can't dodge the book thrown at my jaw

being booked before a break in law

No breaking spines

No folded corner creases on my pages

Just scuffs on the cover.

Scoff at a brother from the others' mothers

Left us to fend in gutters

Defend their shutters on windows eyes closed

You safe in here as the storms blow

Deny your ears when the rattles grow

Stones to pebbles

trunk debris

on concrete

on broken streets

3

Flash from the past.  Task from the class.

Back of the facts.  Flask under mask

Whack on the track. Stock falling flat.

Pack up them caps. Smacked for the flack.

If you can just let me know in the comments:

Which one would you write to?

What comes to your mind and heart for you with this piece?

It's verse 2 of Weirdo Vs. Trollbot. This song is almost finished. I'm struggling with the hook which is why I am sharing the verses first. I have an idea for the hook but it's stretch from my usual delivery so I don't know if I'll like it. But why am I talking about the hook? lol

I'll share a little about the influences, the meta-levels, and how I bite myself in this episode. 

And if I can find it I'll share a conversation I had about the Rhyme Masters Crew Community that better explains the vision. Let's hope that I found it. :)

Enjoy.