Weighing Speaking Things into Fruition an Eli Manning Story...

If you are into football, you heard about it. A question was asked, and an answer was given. Eli Manning was asked, "Do you feel you are an elite quarterback, in the same class with Tom Brady?" He answered back with what I have always thought as the most acceptable answer, "“I consider myself in that class,” Manning said assuredly.

What other answer should we have expected from Eli? Should he have said that he doesn't quite match up, should he have said he wasn't elite? When you are asked your worth, do you shoot for the stars or do you aim for the trees? What if Eli Manning had said he wasn't elite, would he be a second time Super Bowl MVP today? I think his chances would have decreased significantly.  For how can you bring forth greatness if you don't believe it exists in you?

One of the aspects of believing in yourself, I was taught by my older brother Anthony, at a very young age in reference to basketball.  He told me, "Jamees if you practice hard, and know that you have practiced harder than anyone else, it is easy to believe you deserve to be on the court, that you deserve to take the last shot, that you deserve to say you are one of the best players."  What many people do not know about Eli is how hard working he is beyond practice, how he works with his receivers beyond the call of duty.  This is how he was able to win a second championship with a different set of receivers, and how he constantly helps to make a name for unknown receivers.  It is the practice and the hard work that allows you to believe and speak things into fruition. 

However practice is behind the scenes, and so many do not see this side of greatness.  So instead my younger brother Jerome and I scoped the backlash Eli received for answering this question honestly.  He received snickers from panelists, hands thrown up in disbelief, and angry comparisons spewing out of the mouths of nonbelievers. He was even discredited for the Super Bowl championship he already won. (In my opinion, there was no need for that.) But this type of feedback happens, especially when you believe in yourself when others are not quite convinced.  This happens when you dare to write history in advance when others can not see it. This happens when you speak things into fruition.

Eli Manning wrote history, he created a story and he became to everyone else what he already knew he was an Elite Quarterback.  Not only that, he did it in a way that proved that his first Championship was not a fluke. And while I mentioned the word fluke, let me clearly define it as an accidental advantage, stroke of good luck, a chance happening. All those who have won a Super Bowl, and have attempted to win any competitive game knows that a bit of luck is definitely involved underneath a skill set. However, in the NFL playoffs, when you are battling the best of the best in one of the most competitive games out there a fluke happening could only help so much.

A fluke could be defined as Baltimore missing a kick that would have sent them into overtime, allowing The Patriots to participate in this year's Super Bowl. However, a fluke is not a game winning drive when a touchdown is needed. No matter how you twist and turn that scenario, skills had to be involved. I say all that to say this, for those who thought it was a fluke before, they were able to see what a fluke could not produce which is a repeat winning drive for a touchdown to win the Super Bowl against the Patriots.

I love Brady, and his second lost to Eli Manning doesn't take away from his elite status.  But what it does, is confirm Eli Manning's place right beside him.  Many play on Eli's name, saying you can't spell Elite without Eli, but my favorite play on words is the fact you can't spell Believe without Eli. 

I learned a lot from Eli this year, I learned what it truly means to believe in yourself when others don't.  I learned to speak the truth about who I believe I am and perhaps it can come true. Thanks a lot Eli Manning and the NY Giants for a fantastic, fantasy year, that was in no way a fluke! And for helping me to learn that Speaking Things into Fruition is worth a ton, a serious priority for all.

Weighing Speaking Things into Fruition
Submitted by: Jamees Wright

Weight Total: 1 Ton Priority

Weighing REVEAL Volunteering

Last week I had the pleasure to volunteer at the REVEAL VALENTINE'S MAKEOVER EVENT!

REVEAL is a grassroots movement in New York City that aims to foster uplifting experiences for women healing from domestic violence. 

And that they did!  This group of volunteers, helped to pamper these women who were unfortunately, cruelly taken advantage of at least one time in their lives. 

These handpicked women were pampered with free jewelry, skin care, outfit(s), makeup, hair styling and more! It was one day for them to feel like a queen.  They were also given gift bags to be admired by the stars, filled with items from Revlon, Maybelline, Fructis, Avon and more!

As a host throughout the event, I transferred 4 women from station to station. Each woman was different, and dealing with their struggles in their own unique way.  However, they shared an appreciation for the event, an uplifted spirit within their journey and a smile that I will remember forever.

All that said, I believe what gave me the most joy, was watching the volunteers. These volunteers gave 100%, they worked as a team all for the benefit of others. This is what I admired the most and is the vision that I hope will encourage others to volunteer at a charity of their choice. Give 100% and make others happy, even if it's one day at a time!

 

Weighing REVEAL Volunteering
Submitted by: Jamees Wright

Weight Total: 600lbs Good Decision

Weighing Girl's Night Out

I just recently had a girl’s night out with some very old friends, new friends and friends to be, the one thing we all had in common was that we were all women. We weren’t the same age or nationality, but it was clear that we were all females. And we made the effort to get together. It made me question, “What is the value of a girl’s night out?”

Well first let me start at the very beginning. Who organized this event? It takes a special woman to organize a girl’s night out, someone with good intentions in mind, and who understands the value of a night with just the girls. And it’s not an easy feat. Point proven when it was asked during our dinner who would organize the next event, no one volunteered. So sometimes it’s the same person who organizes all the events, like I said she is a special woman with a clear understanding of the importance of getting together with her girls.

I perused the email blasts daily as the event was fine tuned, there was an excitement, a common interest, suggestions, jokes, references, we were communicating and getting together well before the dinner even took place. It was virtual fun, all done electronically. However, it’s actually showing up to the restaurant, seeing an array of beautiful smiling faces upon your arrival that can make a tough and trying week melt before your eyes.

It’s a wonderful thing to have a man’s eyes look upon you in interest or admiration, but to have a group of ladies smiling because you’re in their presence has its own unique charm. These women like you for you, and usually there is no hidden agenda, they enjoy your company, and you enjoy theirs and that is why the extra effort was made to get together. It’s even better when you’re not going boy shopping, which we weren’t it was all about the company of women who enjoy each other...how fun!

This specific occasion was only a dinner but in this short time, I learned so much. I learned about one newlywed and her plans on starting a family, another making a move to buy a place in Queens, another interviewed by Marie Claire Magazine because of her successful Ice Cream Shop. I also got some things off my chest, shared ideas, gained support and new energy towards my dreams and goals and hopefully the same was felt by others.

We also conducted a Secret Santa post dinner. As the women opened their gifts, you could see women who put real thought into their gifts. Women who thought like women and gave like women and who wanted to make another woman happy. It was said at the end of the dinner that the event was fun and successful. I thought about it on my journey home, and I had to agree this event was everything I had hoped it to be and more. I can’t wait to do it again.

In commemoration of this thought, I am volunteering to organize the next event. Why, you may ask because I truly feel that a girl’s night out weighs a ton, it’s a priority.

Weighing Girl's Night Out
Submitted by: Jamees Wright
Weight Total: 1 Ton Priority

Weighing Defensive Living

Lately, while driving, I've noticed repeatedly that if I lived life like I am supposed to drive, I would avoid many life errors.  I am learning that defensive driving techniques transferred over to life can help me to become more successful in this game of life.

Defensive Driving can equal Defensive Living?

According to the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course, to drive defensively is driving to save lives, time and money in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others. What a great life goal! Everyday we begin our day on what many call the road of life.  Let me ask you, are you defensive living?

You are in the driver seat of your life. It is up to you to learn the techniques of defensive living.  Though other people may not understand how to live a happy helpful life, you must accept it.  And quite frankly,  defensive living is designed for that purpose. If done accurately, it will prepare you for situations when you must interact with those who aren't looking out for your best interest as well as when you find yourself in an atmosphere that can be considered difficult or maybe just a little out of the norm.

Accidents

Car accidents are easy to describe as detrimental, but do we ever view our words or actions towards other people in the same way? Sometimes we have social accidents. Life accidents where we have the option to do the right thing, perhaps save a life, save time and money in spite of our conditions. How about this, have you ever found yourself blaming another for bad moments in our life? How could you have prevented it?

Defensive Living, means preparing and understanding the people around you and appreciating the fact that most hiccups can be avoided if we take the necessary steps to avoid them. We must understand the dangers around us natural and unnatural so that we may prepare for them if they may ever occur.

Tickets

Tickets! Don't they just make you want to scream? We all hate penalties. We don't like when we hear, "You owe us." Especially when we are paying the price for something we don't even want...a parking ticket. Nevertheless, how do we avoid them? The easiest answer is to obey the rules. That is simple enough, and it's true, but there is more to it than that.  Most people want to obey the law, or follow the rules. However, there is an additional step to avoiding tickets, you have to be able to read the signs.

And in reality, the first step to reading signs is to look for them.  When you park you must look for the signs to read, when you are driving on the expressway, or even down the street you have to look for the signs to read so that you don't make a mistake that will reward you with a ticket.

So how does this apply to life? Very easy, look for the signs to read. When you are driving your eyes are supposed to be focused on the road, and when you are living you should also focus on the road of life.  After a while, you begin to recognize situations. For instance, when you get into a residential area, you begin to look for Stop Signs.  In life,  scenarios can begin to become familiar as well, and at that moment don't ignore it, look for the signs, and suddenly you will know what to do. Because what do signs do? They direct you.

In reality, I can probably go through a hundred plus scenarios that demonstrate how driving can reflect life.  I think the point is that when you are driving, for most of us, we get into a serious, focused mode.  We begin to think defensively. We want to be safe. We want to make the right decisions.  If we lived everyday with that mindset of a driver, I think we could be better prepared for life.  Living like you are defensive driving, also known as defensive living is weighed in at 800lbs, not a ton in consideration of those who do not drive...yet.

Weighing Defensive Living
Submitted by: Jamees Wright
Weight Total: 800lbs Important

Weighing Your Sassy Mark

What exactly does it mean to be sassy? Before I looked up the definition, I thought it was a more negative trait than positive. Why? Simply, because of this phrase that many of us have heard pointed at ourselves or others, "Don't be sassy!" I knew from a very early age that whatever it meant to be sassy it was clear that adults didn't want us to be that way, because there was a strong "don't" attached to it.

Recently, I looked further into the word's definition.  To be sassy means to be, impertinent, insolent, saucy, but I think that this might be the definition for those who don't know how to be sassy with class. The second-level definition states that being sassy is to be pert, boldly smart, saucy.  Put simply, to be sassy usually means you have done or said something daringly forward in speech or behavior.  

A lot of times when you speak out or dress differently people will look at you negatively, especially when you are younger or inexperienced.  However, what would we do without these forward thinkers? We can easily remain at the status quo.  But who likes the status quo?  I know I don't.   Maybe you can feel good for a moment but does that mean it can't get better.  Have we ever seen the absolute best?  I don't think so because then we might be forced to ask, what are we living for?

We are living to grow continuously, to keep getting better to find the next-best thing.  We need those who dare to be bold to find their sassy mark in history so that others can learn and make their progression. 

So speaking of mark, what does it really mean to make your mark? To mark something, is to make a visible impression or trace on something.  When you make your Sassy Mark you boldly make a forward-moving statement that leaves an impression.

The key is to make your Sassy Mark tastefully in a way that will not be received as insolent or impertinent. I won't lie, sometimes it will be hard to do this even if you try to introduce something new in a pleasant and inviting way. Many people just don't like change.  So what will they do? Put a negative spin on your differences to discourage any forward movement or variance of the status quo.  At that point, it is up to you to decide the worth of your ploy of change.  And be real with yourself, is it for the betterment or to be destructive or difficult?

When you've answered that question, and you know what you want to introduce is forward movement for an improvement.  You realize that in order to do so you must make your mark and be bold and maybe a bit sassy. I say go for it! Make your Sassy Mark!

In weighing Your Sassy Mark, I believe it to be a priority.  Feel free to make it a necessity, be bold with your forward movements, be fearless with your thoughts around change. If you don't do it, who will?

Weighing Your Sassy Mark
Submitted by: Jamees Wright
Weight Total: 1 Ton Priority