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Editorial/Column
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he one thing that I've
learned during my limited amount of time here on Earth is that life is too short to be miserable. It is also too short to worry about what other people think whenever you engage in things that bring you happi- ness.
Every day it seems that I talk to someone who, con- sciously or subconsciously, lives for the approval of oth- ers. They act a certain way, dress in certain styles and avoid certain activities sim- ply because they don't want to be perceived as odd or viewed negatively by their peers.
What most of these indi- viduals don't realize is that once they begin making de- cisions based on someone else's standards, they inad- vertently give up their free- doms and make themselves
prisoners to public opinion. They become willing hostages who are incapable of escaping their self-created boxes solely because they lack the courage to not give a damn.
I am sure everyone has come across individuals who fit this description. Whether it's the friend who hates his job, but refuses to quit be- cause it allows him a level of status, or the woman who re- luctantly marries her live-in boyfriend to avoid being gos- siped about, or the smart kid who refuses to apply himself in school because he doesn't want his knuckle-headed friends to see him as a nerd. We've all witnessed people hold themselves back or re- main in depressing situa- tions in order to be liked or accepted.
This is why I admire those eccentric characters
we often refer to as "weir- does." They march to the beats of their own drums and are able to live their best lives because they couldn’t care less about what anyone thinks of them.
What they seem to have figured out, and what many of us have yet to compre- hend, is that it doesn't mat- ter what you do in this world, save cats, feed the hungry, cure cancer, etc., someone will always find something bad to say about you. And what good does it do to constantly worry about the opinion of those who are going to hate you regardless?
With that being the case, it only makes sense to do whatever it is that brings you the most joy. After all, we only get one shot at this thing so we might as well work at making ourselves happy because trying to please everyone else is as im- possible as it is a huge waste of time and energy.
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Com- pany. You can contact Mr. Barr at: cbar- ronice@gmail.com.
Just Do You
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C. Blythe Andrews 1901-1977 (1945)
C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. 1930-2010 (1977)
Tampa’s Best Kept Secret
ould it surprise you to know that for the past
five mayoral races in the City of Tampa, the winner of each race was not determined by the ballots of South Tampa. But by the presence or absence of Tampa’s most best kept secret: registered Black voters.
Think about it, as Tampa approaches a mayoral run- off that will most certainly determine the political and social direction of this city for decades to come. No doubt, you already detect a peculiar energy in this pres- ent mayoral competition unseen in previous events. Black people are talking out loud, casting their bread upon the water of the two candidates who – at least one of them – promise that Black people’s agenda in Tampa will have an equal say and response in the shap- ing of our overall community dynamic.
Yet, somehow and someone has discovered a glar- ing Achilles heel about Tampa’s Black “sleeping giant.” History has revealed that for some dark, unknown rea- son, the majority of Tampa’s Black voting giants would rather sleep than vote. But now that is about to change. . . . isn’t it?
East Tampa, West Tampa, to arms! More simplisti- cally, don’t let daylight touch your face wherein you have not cast an early ballot or showed up on the day of reconnecting to stand in line and claim your ances- tral legacy. Your children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are watching. The future is waiting.
Wake up, Best Kept Secret. Go to the polls and be a secret no more!
Creating Sweet Success
mpowered Greet-
ings. Creating your lifestyle of sweet success will require you to keep your eyes on the prize by develop- ing your vision. When you are excited about your vision it minimizes the need for someone else to push you into your purpose, because your vision will be strong enough to pull you to your place of destiny.
As you allow the power of your vision to be stronger than the pain of your past and more promising than your present situation, it will propel you to get properly positioned to achieve every- thing you have seen on the canvas of your mind to cre- ate your year of sweet suc- cess.
The belief in your vision will cause the things that you cannot see to become visible. Your vision will give
you hope against hopeless situations. Your laser focus on your vision will manifest what others thought was im- possible into possibilities beyond the foreseeable.
Holding fast to your vi- sion means that you are trusting the process when others may have given up and taken a path of less re- sistance. The extent of your endurance will render the extent of your desired re- sults.
It was vision that caused Tyler Perry to go from writing letters to himself to writing stage plays, screen plays movies and sit coms.
It was vision that took Steve Harvey from being homeless to a household name.
It was the power of vision that allowed Oprah Win- frey to become a Media Powerhouse and Cathy
Hughes a Broadcasting Ar- chitect. It will be your vision that will make you create your sweet success.
To gain more insight on creating a year of sweet suc- cess by activating your vi- sion let’s stay connected on social media.
About Selphenia Selphenia Nichols Simmons is hailed as “The Queen of Success.” As a Life and Business Success Coach, she inspires Christian women and entrepreneurs to go from being a mess to
making massive profits. Selphenia’s no-non- sense business strategies take individuals and organi- zations from scratch, or any-
where in
Success.
available
churches, schools, universi- ties, business organizations, retreats and conferences.
between, to Selphenia is to speak at
To request Selphenia to speak or train at your up- coming event, call (813) 603-0088.
Get connected. Join Selphenia on Social Media for some daily motivation. Facebook: Selphenia Nichols Success Coach To Women; Instagram: Selphenia; and Twitter: queenofsuccess1.
Meeting
Woman’s Program Invites Mentors To Attend Meeting
On Thursday, April 25th, the Gulf Coast JFCS will host a meet- ing inviting women to become mentors. The program will take place at the Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services Center, 3550 W. Waters Avenue, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
In order to become a mentor, the person must be over the age of 21; pass a level-2 background screening and drug test; must have a current driver’s license and car insurance, must complete an 18- hour Mentor Training Program, and must be willing to donate 10 hours per month to the program.
Those interested in becoming a mentor can contact Ms. Mary Velasquez at (813) 930-7103; or by email at Mary.Velasquez@gcjfcs.org
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TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5