Words can have an enormous impact.

I’ve just published a post for Concrete Loop regarding young, black males and suicide, including the recent deaths of two 11-year-olds who committed suicide because they were called gay and taunted at school daily.

Words can hurt or heal, encourage or discourage.

I’m all about positivity, so here are my words to live by. What are yours?

“One writes out of one thing only—one’s own experience. Everything depends on how relentlessly one forces from the experience the last drop, sweet or bitter, it can possibly give.”
- James Baldwin

I’ve mentioned it many times, but writing has always been a cathartic and expressive experience for me. I hate I haven’t written more lately.

“In the world and at home, you have the opportunity and the responsibility to help make the choices which will determine the greatness of this nation…You live in the most privileged nation on earth. You are the most privileged citizen of that privileged nation; for you have been given the opportunity to study and learn…You can use your enormous privilege and opportunity to seek purely private pleasure and gain. But history will judge you, and as the years pass, you will ultimately judge yourself, on the extent to which you have used your gifts to lighten and enrich the lives of your fellow man. In your hands, not with presidents or leaders, is the future of your world and the fulfillment of the best qualities of your own…”
- Speech to the University of California, Oct. 23, 1966, Robert F. Kennedy

I discovered this shortly before graduating last year. It immediately caught my attention, as I was still deciding what I wanted to do with my life, although I knew I wanted to do good and do well.

“The status of a person is not how much money they have or what they do for a living — the real importance of a person is how they treat everybody, particularly the people who are deemed lower than them in society.”
- J. Dakar

This is from a J. Dakar On commentary piece, which is actually comprised of something I wrote years ago titled “The Mandate”. The words are timeless, though, and state my thoughts on elitism and such.

“The measure of a man, sir, is not in money, position, station or possessions. These things mean nothing. The measure of a man is in his character, wisdom, ability, aliveness, intimacy, creativity, courage, fearlessness, perspective, independence and maturity…”
- Mark W. B. Brinton

Although I don’t remember how I came across this one, it describes who I aspire to be.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
- Romans 12:2

No explanation really needed for that one, is there?

Post Title Download: Anthony David – “More Than Words” (ft. India.Arie) from Acey Deucy

Related Entries:

1. Lust for Life
2. How I Do