“Ball so hard. This sh*t weird. We ain’t even ‘posed to be here.
Ball so hard. Since we here. It’s only right that we be fair.” Jay-Z & Kanye West, “Niggas in Paris,” Watch the Throne, 2011

JUSTICE. Do you want the pain of pushing through or the pain of giving up?  This is a question posed on a daily listserve I’m a part of.  The message went on to remind its readers that we have a choice, and that whatever we choose to do in life we must live with it.  I don’t know about you but I’d rather have the pain of pushing through because the ultimate outcome is victory.  Whereas the ultimate result of giving up is more pain: guilt, anxiety, even depression. What about you?  Which one will you choose.

Life is precious. Sometimes we get caught up in the process and forget that on the other side of the peaks and valleys is the prize, and then more peaks and valleys. In the midst of it all we can also forget about the hellos, good-byes, and smiles toward others. These gestures matter. They get us through whatever we are experiencing in life.  The second thing I want to leave you with this morning is to make sure you remember your friends and family when you get caught up with the focus of reaching your own ambitions and plans.  Why? It’s not fair. Not to those who care about you, and definitely not to yourself.

The DDR: The pain that comes with pushing through requires we have loved ones around us. When we become too self-absorbed, something is wrong. Peace.