Pre-2011 Public Service Announcement

I'd like to take a moment to touch on a word that I feel has been severely overused over the last year. It's something that everyone claims they have, yet in a lot of cases, they are invisible to most of the people around you. That word is haters.

There is a very common misconception of what a hater is, so it's thrown around loosely as a result. If someone disagrees with something you say, or something you do, it does not make them a hater. If you're a writer, and someone doesn't like your book, or your poem...your article, or your short story, that is not a hater. If you're a singer and someone feels you can't sing, or doesn't like the beat or the lyrics to your song. That does not make that person a hater.

Somewhere down the line we've confused hating with having an opinion or preference. Our skin has gotten so thin that we take constructive criticism as a direct insult instead of using what's been said as a tool for growth and longevity in what we are doing.

There are a lot of times that I see people claiming that they have someone hating on them but there is no evidence of such a person saying or doing anything at all towards them. But...whether your haters are make-believe or authentic, be grateful that someone is paying attention to what you're doing, whether they like it or not. No one should have the power to make you step outside of yourself and your normal routine to negatively address them and what you think they make have said about you.

Keep doing what you do regardless and never stop elevating and gravitating towards your goals. It's up to you to make your dreams come true. That responsibility doesn't rest on the shoulders, or out of the mouths of anyone else.

God Bless you.

-Don Savant

Reminiscing...

I've always heard that you never get over your first love. I never realized how true that statement is until now. I can let go and move forward all I want but something always seems to bring my thoughts back to you. There is something in this heart of mine that's holding on to your memory, when quite frankly, I'd rather forget. What kid of a hold do you have on me? If it weren't for the fact that I did as God said and forgave you, I'd still hate you right now. The thing is though, when I did allow myself to feel that strongly towards you in such a negative way, I could feel the toll it was taking on me so Idid the righteous thing and now...I can't seem to shake you all over again.

-Dazed and Confused...