The Donkey

I opened my eyes, motionless, just listening to the sounds around me..... I was awake. I laid there, just relaxing.....then I started to think about the donkey. Yes, the mule.....relative of the horse....yes, the donkey.

Have you ever noticed how the donkey works really hard and is most times weighed down with burden, yet in those burdensome times it still trod on? So there I was, musing that the donkey is really a hard worker....then I thought about the donkey getting some rest...and it shocked me almost when I realized that the donkey sleeps standing up. I have never seen a donkey laying down to sleep. After a long journey of hauling load the donkey will catch a quick snooze STANDING UP. How can you properly sleep standing up? Doesn't the donkey's feet get tired? So, deeply intrigued, I got up and typed into google "donkeys sleep standing". My research led me to information that says the donkey sleeps standing to remain alert in the event of a predatory attack as well as to keep its muscles in a state that readily allows movement and activity. I read, then I reflected on the gained knowledge with a hummed "oooohhhhh" accompanied by an educated nod of the head. So essentially the donkey sleeps standing to keep itself prepared for when its master throws the market baskets over its back much mental preparation is not needed to get cracking. The donkey sleeps prepared for future activities. Now that's an admirable characteristic.

I wont start sleeping standing ....but I'll definitely think of the donkey when tiredness, frustration, disappointment or heartbreak begin to cloud my mind and laziness creeps in. I will think of how the donkey refuse to fall to its knees and stomach when tired instead it chooses to rejuvenate itself and prepare for future events while still maintaining consciousness of the present. Not just merely throwing in the towel and lounging until the next event rolls up. I have gained new respect for the donkey.....even the gray brute that kicked me when I was a child.

Death - A post for my Ethnicity Beauty Concepts' family.

I'm going to talk about a topic that humans on a whole generally fear to speak on.

Death. It is inevitable .....but what frightens me most about it is that I don't know when it will strike. 

If I should die tonight in my sleep, I would want to be remembered as that chirpy soul that brought light to everyone I interacted with, and some peop

le may find this desire to always be the chirpy girl repulsive and cheesy. However, that is MY desire. I want to inspire others as much as I can, and the first step, which is sooooo easy, is to share happiness with others. If I can infect someone with my happiness I am sure it will inspire them to be happy, even if its just in that moment. Now, no-one on Planet Earth can constantly be happy, but I find that since I had....subconsciously....made this desire a duty of mine, it has been much easier to control those moments of sadness or anger or whatever.... even without noticing. The "duty" sends a "feel good" toxin to my brain and when I think about people (.....GENERALLY) the "feel good-ness" infects my actions. I love saying good morning to my EBC family, I love looking up a relevant quote that I think may be helpful, I love finding stuff to share that may make you laugh .....and I love the fact that this passion flows through me so naturally and effortlessly. For as long as I can remember, I have always been that crazy friend who made everyone smile, but I never realized before that I actually feed off the energy I get from making others happy.

I shall confess to you, when I wake in the mornings it is important for me to log on and say good morning to you just as I do with my immediate family and friends..... sometimes if I wake "too early" I will wait until a more friendly time when I know most of you are likely to see the post. At times when I don't get to say good morning I actually feel guilty....just as though I would feel if I didn't say morning to my immediate family/ friends.

An acquaintance of mine was recently robbed of her life and all I keep thinking about her is her humility and pleasant countenance despite the high esteem that she had earned herself over her lifetime. The day of the incident I was thinking about her humble nature. Just the humility she possessed was enough to make me cry.....and I thought to myself this is how I want to be remembered. If people cry when I die, it should be a respectable 'cry' that inspire change in the person as opposed to just merely being a sorrowful 'cry'. I want to be grounded in humility and bring light and joy to every person I interact with, and in that moment, when I was having these thoughts I was not fearful of death.

So I have resolved to continue being 'cheesely' chirpy, to continue flooding you with happy thoughts and wishes, to continue being loving towards you because I do love you and even though we are an extended family, you ARE my family...you ARE my 'bread providing family'...without you there will be no me....or at least....not a FED me, and as easy as that is to be taken for granted, it is an important factor to remain mindful of and be humbled by.

How do you want to be remembered when you die? I urge you to work towards ensuring that is how you will be remembered.

- Sincerely, Naj
RIP CMG, ♥