DETERMINATION

“Mom, who is that old guy.” That was the question I asked my mom after I met this older gentlemen at the California State Prison. Her reply, “that is your father.” I didn’t know which was more shocking, my father being in jail or him being 50 years older than me.

As my mother and I returned to the bus stop to catch the bus back to our home in Compton, my seven year old mind didn’t know what to think. Even now as I write, I’m not sure what type of relationship I had with my father up until that point, but that trip is for ever cemented in my mind.

A single black mother, an incarcerated father and living in one of the most dangerous cities in America, on the surface, it doesn’t seem like a winning recipe for success.

But for me, I DETERMINED early on that these seemingly concrete obstacles would provide the necessary motivation I needed to succeed in life. There is a saying that goes like this “The bigger the dog chasing you, the faster you will run.” Growing up I had some great challenges, but I made up in my mind, they would not stop me.

In life you don’t get to choose your parents, you don’t choose your starting point and many of the test and trials are out of your control. Nevertheless, there comes a time when you take control for your future.

Many of you reading this blog have faced great challenges in your life and you still allow those past obstacles to dictate your future. What I have learned is how I finish in life is my fault, can’t do anything about the start or the past, but the future is in my hands.

Today I want you to DETERMINE, that the rest of your life is going to be the best of your life. I am far from being a perfect man, husband or father, and to be honest, perfection is not my goal. My goal is to finish better than I started. I want you to DETERMINE, to finish strong, and to finish better than you started as well.

The future is yours for the taken, TAKE IT!!!