Too Much, But Not Enuf
Posted by Relentless on April 27th, 2014
An interesting life we live you follow who you follow, do who you do, you be who you be and still you won’t have enuf.to give.
Somehow it’s perceived that your life or their life, his life or hers is the prize, the best, or even the most on this earth.
They’ll trick you with cars and diamonds, status and titles, and yet that will mean little 2 nothing if u need somebody’s vitals
Thats right, life is full of tricks, there are traps, cons and hooks And have i told u about the smoke and mirrors? Are u wise to the Jux?
No I cant be there to protect u all Cant even stand by all your stones; Fact of the matter is, at times I just wanna be left alone
But i care enuf to warm u, and even to help u thru times so ruff One things for certain out of this life we cant seem ti get enuf
#relentlessaaron #blackinstagram #conyersgeorgia #publishedauthor #thegormetauthor #urbanlitking #urbanlit #blacktwitter #inspiring #entrepreneur #writer #inspiring #lifecoach #mountvernonnewyork at Conyers, Georgia. Home of Relentless: Author, Publisher, Film Maker
Counting My Blessings
Posted by Relentless on April 27th, 2014
If all you’ve ever known in your life is struggle, then the next calamity or challenge may be lightweight to you. Meanwhile, to the next person who has never experienced such a challenge, paranoia may be the only option.
You Woke up like this??? My Relentless Days & Nights
Posted by Relentless on March 30th, 2014
Last night, I wanted to be entertained by way of the local nightclub. Many of us have been there before, where we step in and we observe the atmosphere on our way to the bathroom (for the ladies) and perhaps to the bar for the men.
Inevitably, we have our drink in hand and we nurse it until the next random act takes place. You will either meet someone you know, or bump into a new random personality. Others of us will say the club experience is about the music or so that we can see some live performance or sporting event on the giant screen. maybe we just wanna be around people, and one or two of you are stalkers. Let's be honest, lol.
So for many of us, especially those hard workers that hammer out 9 to 5 jobs all week all month and all year long. This is our routine; one that livens up the ending or the beginning of our workweek. If you're not doing the club scene, and if you tell yourself you've been there/done that in your life, then perhaps you are at home with family keeping them safe and secure and entertained.
Last night, those of you who don't have family, were resting or entertaining yourselves, or someone else.
And yet there is that other beast among us! I am talking about you! You are the one that was working! You are that voracious reader, absorbing all the information you possibly can to make the best of your time. Last night you were adopting available resources that you found while researching the web. You were up writing new content or fine tuning your PowerPoint presentations and editing so that you may continue to keep your following fueled with inspiration and information and the resources that come from you. Why do I know you so well? Because I am you.
Maybe you too wanted to go out to the club and experience some randomness, but you know that your quality time will result in certain accomplishment, and of course that accomplishment is aligned with your goals, and those goals are aligned with your life's purpose. This is not rocket science. However this is something that requires discipline and definiteness of purpose. In other words, you have got to do the work. As much as I'm saying that to you I am saying it to myself. I have so much to accomplish and yet (like the rest of us) only 24 hours in a day. So I find myself in workhorse mode a lot of the time and that relieves my need for the randomness.
Welcome to a new day with Relentless Aaron, a man who has achieved certain accomplishments, and who uses his abilities and those experiences to fuel new relationships and to grow and inspire the next level of productivity in you.
I’M ALL IN! MAKE MONEY AS YOU NETWORK!
Posted by Relentless on March 24th, 2014
As you all should know, I have been pushing the “Relentless Brand” since 2003, when my first book “Push” was published. Along with writing books it is necessary to market what you write. Coincidentally I have also been highly skilled at video production, filmmaking, graphic design, sound recording and building websites.
THE RELENTLESS AUTHOR GOES CORPORATE: MANAGING THE SIDE HUSTLE
Posted by Relentless on February 15th, 2014
So you wrote a book, or two, or twenty, or THIRTY NINE (like I have) and you’re suddenly realizing that the book business is not giving you what you feel it owes you. After all, look at the mega-success of others who have made great strides in their respective industries, be it Basketball, the Movie business, Ministry or Politics… any of those industries earns you a round of applause for your great accomplishments. So there’s that instant gratification. But what applause do you get as a writer who’s efforts sometimes take years to be released, or who’s earned global acclaim, especially in this failing marketplace? Most writers won’t be featured on ABC World News, or on the cover of the New York Times Arts & Leisure section, or in Time Magazine. It’s just not realistic. So then, what realities will I realize as a writer? What are the possibilities if I’m not aggressive like Relentless is? What is the truth if I don’t land a 14 book/six-figure debut deal like Relentless has? What are my realities if I don’t live in New York where millions of people mill thru the streets, or if I don’t have the connections, the heart, the gumption like Relentless has? Am I just doomed after so many years in school and my greatest desire being a best-selling author?
Those real questions are about to be answered by real answers. Hold onto your hats…
If you are a writer you had better learn to master your craft. But not only that; you had better learn to be innovative and to network with others. Furthermore, you had better come out of that introverted shell that writers are so accustomed to, and you better interact with your audience on real tangible levels, because this is so much the virtual world where real people (YOUR READERS) are savvy enough to look for and want what’s real. You think you need only write the most polarizing commentaries to get attention? Think again. You think blogging until your fingers fall off is going to win you global acclaim? Think again. You think attaching yourself to celebrities is going to earn you equal billing? Think again!!!
This is your wake up call!
And the truth is you’re not ready to stand in a foot of snow in a NYC blizzard to sell books. The truth is you’re not willing to stand in the 101° heat, soaking-wet to sell books in New Orleans. And I would imagine that 99% of you would never consider boarding prison buses to deal with, negotiate with and encourage women who are heading up to prisons to see their brothers, uncles and husbands. And even if you’re willing to do all of that, you still now need to bear the burden of an industry that has nearly gone belly up but for the advent of electronic publishing. Walmart has pushed the books to the back of the store across the county. Small book stores have folded and diversified to the point that they’re no longer a “book store” but a variety store. Electronic publishing is to the book industry what Napster and file-sharing is to the music industry. Just call it the death-knell. Most every publisher is lying to you about numbers, and like the existing book store shelf space, best-seller list positioning is purchased. And so in these challenging times you had better situate a “side hustle. “Furthermore, your side hustle had better be close to, if not a major part of the brand that you have begun in your writing career.
You see, if your side hustle is somehow attached to your book writing then you will sell books by default. Because of course you have ordered books from your publisher right? And you always have books in your bag, on your person or in your car trunk, right? Because, after all, we are not just writers but we are also marketeers correct? We are not only promoters but we are actually writing “what we know” and sharing experiences that might be of interest to others. Essentially we (more than everything else) are RESOURCEFUL, aren’t we? Did you just think you would write a book and that it would somehow fly into the hands of those who might be interested? The most successful authors are those who have careers. Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, George Stephanopoulos, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and a slush pile of sports legends are all best-selling authors by default. They have earned their audiences in whatever capacity, and their popularity has sold their message. Their message happens to be in a book. Sidenote, some folks share their message on CD or in newspapers or over the airwaves, on t-shirts, even. But, perhaps you are an author who shares their message through the vehicle known as the perfect bound book.
Well, if you look at these successful models then you understand that their foremost initiative is in their career while YOUR foremost mission or desire might be writing books. Did you ever consider flipping the script? Did you ever consider that whatever it is you master, (that very thing that you share in your books), just might be where your focus SHOULD be? And if your focus is on mastering your craft then quite frankly you will be a best seller in some way, shape or form. Even if you’re a best selling author on your residential street, that is an accomplishment. But I encourage you to make certain you have identified your purpose in life and books will sell by default.
Over a year ago I began East Atlanta Multimedia Inc., an institution that embodies all of my skillsets, including graphic design and book writing and book publishing and film and video production and audio production and brand building, event production and websites and on and on. Thank God I have mastered these various multimedia skills, because if I was to keep a roof over my head and clothes on my back and food in my mouth based on the mega debut book deal, the one that made history six or seven or eight years ago… If I was to count on my popularity in news features and radio features and TV features and the fame surrounding an author of dozens of books… if I was to rely solely on fans and awards and networking and hearsay and all of the hype that goes with being “and established author”… if I was to rely on all of that and didn’t have so many other skills to rely on, folks I might as well put a gun to my head. This world is ever-changing and no one/nowhere could be prepared for the very next thing to happen in life. You can try and forecast it, but that very next thing could very well impact the industry. That very next thing could impact your life, such as a divorce or a death, a car accident or some other life-changing circumstance. There’s an old song that says “you not you’ve got to know when to hold and know when to fold.”
But my song is different: is goes: “you’ve got to be prepared for ‘come what may.’ And all day, that calls for a side hustle, a “Plan B” or even (in some cases) an “Exit Strategy.”
So master and incorporate your skill sets folks, weigh your options and get it together so that your revenue stream supports your passion. Your passion is tied to your purpose and your purpose is tied to your perseverance. Your passion, your purpose and your perseverance will carry you through any (or most) of life’s perils. i’m done here #Relentless
https://www.eastatlantamultimedia.net
Curt Boogie – A Dedication To My Friend, Curtis Southerland
Posted by Relentless on February 8th, 2014
It was just a year ago that one of my best friends passed on. This is the first brother in my life who I cared so much about and who left me way too soon. Unfortunately, there is no family member or relative who I have felt a closer affinity to than my sister Julie and my good friend Curtis Southerland. From my perspective, I know that I am here to hold down everyone who has supported me through the years, everyone who has been consistent in the Gilmore grind, the 1000 Friends grind, the Superstar USA grind, and now this, my Relentless grind. Curtis Southerland, who I affectionately named “Curt BOOGIE” was one of the few who have been there by my side the longest. If my life was cordoned off into eras, there would be the “club era,” the “magazine era,” the “TV show era,” and the “book era.” I’m now here in the “Starbucks era,” started back in the Bronx, My. Vernon and Harlem; and Curtis had been there through all of my “eras.”Even though he was living up north and that I had moved down south we stayed in close contact. He let me know what he was doing and was critical about everything that I was doing and vice versa.He always encouraged me to stay on my writing We were brothers, always there for each other. And as I mentioned, no matter if I hit the lottery or whether there was a movie premiere or some big boom of success to come into my life, Curtis Southerland would be there to experience the joy. However, I guess I take it for granted that my good friends will be there when it all comes to a head. And that’s just not the case. My friend was taken way too soon. He was younger than me, very brilliant and a sort of young counsel. His funeral was the first funeral I attended as an adult. I never realized how short and how precious life was until I lost my friend. I struggle for air even now thinking about it, and I’m glad that you all cannot see me because I am stuttering, sniveling fool typing this. But to you who care I say, all those people that I touch through the years and how we “virtually” stay connected does not begin to reflect how grateful I am to you and how much this life means to me and how very important it is for me to bring the baton over the finish line in the most significant ways. I’m carrying the torch for you all. I am carrying the torch for my friends and loved ones. I am carrying the torch Curtis Southerland. they say you never know when it’s your time. But it’s way different to hear it and say it as opposed to experiencing it. Thank you my friend. #relentless
Don’t Bother Writing (Unless Your Life Depends On It!)
Posted by Relentless on February 3rd, 2014
Yesterday a friend of mine expressed to me that she wanted to write stories. She also asked how she could reach a larger audience. (gee, I wonder what made her ask me that question?) #winkwink
Folks there are levels to success. But at the same time, we must realize that success is subjective.
Success for some people means expensive rims on their car or a shiny watch, or some kind of fancy name on their motor vehicle. On the other hand, some feel success is living off the land, in a cabin up in the woods where they might visit the grocery store once a week for a few items, right before they feed a mule and right after they’ve done their fishing for the week. Here’s the trick; if you have a dream of your own that you want to fulfill, then you’d better focus on meeting that desire, instead of being part of someone else’s. Because you’re giving your own precious time away. Right now so many millions of people are watching a football game, even while their dreams, goals and desires float off like vapor or else lay there unrealized. But lets also realize that many people would rather not experience massive success with the bright lights and their name up on billboards. many of us enjoy the simplicity of “following,” and being part of “the crowd.”Since I have experienced what I’ll call “semi-success,” as it relates to commercial appeal and celebrity-ish, I can tell you firsthand that it is overrated. When you get to that space where you are incredibly popular, that’s when you find yourself insulated from others. You can’t even walk to the local deli alone. People hound you; your privacy is extinguished, and eventually somebody says something foul, or 2 people are fighting over you, attracting a small crowd that eventually grows into a mob. And now there’s make-shift security rushing you to safety. The truth is that there is simply not enough time in the day to satisfy so many minds, bodies, questions and answers. You get stuck in front rows and in VIP areas and behind velvet ropes where everything is mostly phony and contrived; set up to be impressive to all of those onlookers. “Smoke & Mirrors,” I call it. But for a long time I have realized that the juice of life is amongst those people. The substance and the pain and the desire is amongst those “other” people. The fans. Those wanton souls yearning to achieve more and to come up out of the traps that they are stuck in.
Think about it this way, if you had 20 children in your house could you truly love them all the same? They would have to line up for hugs and kisses and food and to get their shoe laces tied… attention attention attention. Give one child more attention then the other and that is suddenly the “privileged” child. The less children you have, the more freedom you have, and the more you get to enjoy life and perhaps pursue your purpose in life. But those children bring with them a responsibility that weighs on your shoulders. Many of you know this so I’m not telling you anything that you don’t already understand. And so, look at success and the levels of success as those children that you give birth to. Sure you can give birth to a child but you also want to give exclusive attention to that child.
The “massive success” that you wish for? It is much greater and more richer an experience when it is tempered to a modest degree. I’m talking about remembering names and being able to hug people who admire your work. I’m talking about spending quality time with other human beings.
This cat I know who purchased a number of my books and sees me all the time said that I was “the most popular author in Conyers, Ga.” And he is most likely right, even though he was making a joke to say that I am not popular (at all?) in the global sense of the word or meaning. Hell, I could go to many a small town and be “the most popular author.” So, that was quite funny. I think about this equation sometimes, knowing that the field that I’ve chosen isn’t an easy one to earn popularity… it doesn’t come with the measure of popularity that, say a basketball star carries or a rap star enjoys. But thank God I have no craving whatsoever for that kind of success. I like my comfortable world and my peace of mind and my own massive levels of productivity. In the end, I will be judged, not by BS AfAm award shows where comrades in the industry pat one another on the back. Award shows (especially regarding writers) are ALL PAID-FOR APPRECIATION & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. You will not receive one unless you PAY SOMEBODY, SOMEWAY/SOMEHOW. Dame Dash confirms this:
Hollywood Walk of Fame/perfect example. Last I heard (and this was years ago), it was $1,500 to “get on.” I don’t need that kind of fame or branding. Instead, take account of my contributions to others. Such real involvement is gonna require exclusivity. Many a popular artist can never claim my level of contribution and daily engagement to community that I enjoy. They can go and bring a truck full of turkeys to a neighborhood or they could visit a hospital… Great publicity, all of it. But, they could never give the exclusive attention I give… the exclusive advice that I give, how I help people exclusively and consistently. With success, things become so large and get so out of hand at that point, you have time only for your own existence as well as the existence of your family and those in your close circle. You end up paying their bills and answering their questions and satisfying their needs so that they keep your machine running smoothly. Sometimes, doing all of this simply buys you friendship, love or a support system. You can’t even tell if they’d be there under other circumstances. That’s a whole different walk of life for me. I understand it, I have no problem with others experiencing it, but it is not for me. If I produce a book or movie that satisfies someone’s desire for entertainment, that is an achievement much less rewarding to me then, say using my popularity and personal energy to collect clothes and canned foods for those in need. Naturally, the book or movie would be documented and made known in the annals of history. Thats that superficial success. Because its noted and recorded somewhere thats supposed to “mean something.”
But the lives that I touch personally will grow and mature and live on thanks to experiencing me and my initiatives and my personal power and my intention to see them do better and live better. When I speak amongst community groups or school groups and raise their level of awareness by sharing my story and what’s possible for a person that is a recluse at the bottom of the totem pole… when I explain to them how I was able to lift myself up and move to the top of my field… when I share these experiences with others and see them grow and mature as a result of my wisdom, only then do I feel successful. A football game can’t do that and (let’s keep it all the way real) some song or rap tune can’t do it either.
So, success to me is not about numbers but about substance. No matter how much or how little money you make, how fancy or tattered your clothes are… no matter how many cars you have, or if you have no car at all, you have the same 24 hours in a day that I do, or that he does, or she does. You are THAT equal to the man living in a car, or the woman living in the penthouse, or that of some rich guy in some mansion on 500 acres. In fact, you make be just one paycheck away from that reality, one way or the other.
I hope that my friend gets her writing to a point that she masters the field she’s so into. And I hope that she finds her readership and I hope that they encourage her and inspire her and praise her as my readership does for my work. But ultimately, I’d be glad just to be one of hundreds or dozens who read her work since I know how brilliant she is and that others would be just as interested. To me, that wouldn’t make her anymore or any less successful in her life, whether she has the resources to promote the hell out of it, or not.
Just today a husband and wife had me captive within a half hour conversation/praising my work. He was getting on me (kidding, really) about how my book had his wife engrossed during their long drive to New York, and he was blaming me for how my book kept her glued to the pages instead of her watching the road and making sure that he stayed awake. There is no greater love than that! lol one more thing, success cannot be measured by popularity because many times popularity is a result of money spent and corporations pushing the project to make their profit. It could be simply “who you know.” How many singers and movies and books do we know that have been published and forged ahead past most every one of their comrades but for the dollars that were spent to promote them. How many of those projects was pure trash? There you have a half-assed writer or singer or performer, forged to the forefront where the public is brainwashed to believe that this is “great material.” #yawn So many movies that make it to Netflix that are absolute garbage as it relates to content and creativity and even the technical film work.There is NO MORE CENSORSHIP FOR QUALITY FILM! So many corny TV shows and music and albums… And yes, in my industry, there is plenty garbage that people see as books. and that garbage is right there on the shelves in Walmart. It’s as if the writer watched a TV show and transcribed what they saw with a few flips of the script.
Today success and achievement cannot be judged by people and how they are encouraged to spend their money. A dollar is NOT a vote, since hucksters (would-be authors) con people everyday into spending money for words and images on paper. A lot of times that can be manufactured by a simple relationship between someone who has the money and another person who has that awful content. Now there’s a “partnership” that wants to see the “content” in as many hands as possible, and they will create whatever noise necessary to make that happen.
So the answer again, is to master your craft be the best you can be at what it is that you do/enjoy that process and let the chips fall where they may. Find your audience, satisfy them and expect your greatness to be received however, whenever and by whomever. #relentless
— feeling blessed.
BECAUSE I’M HAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPY!
Posted by Relentless on January 29th, 2014
BRILLIANT SONG, BUT ALSO A BRILLIANT CONCEPT, TO CREATE NUMEROUS VIDEOS FOR THE SAME SONG. WATCH EM ALL AND YOU CAN’T HELP BUT TO BE HAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPY! #relentless
Sex That Never Happened – by Relentless Aaron
Posted by Relentless on January 27th, 2014
THIS NEVER HAPPENED! I didn’t get a text 3 hours ago. The text never said “I’m unhappy. For Ten years” And I never replied “TEN YEARS WITHOUT SEX???” And this wasn’t a reader/no really… It wasn’t that fan-sex I could write a few more books about. That would be too easy. Yes, she bought a book from me recently; or, if this was real she WOULD have bought a book from me, but for all intents and purposes she said (or never said) “I didn’t even read it yet.”No, I can’t tell you the woman’s name because it never really happened and so I don’t really know her name. And she never said “Oops my husband’s coming, see you in a few.” On top of all that, I never gave her my address and never did she roll up in her expensive new SUV… And I didn’t give her a hug to greet her. I also did not welcome her with the question “so when did you decide you wanted to fuck me?” She never stepped up into my crib and she never said “oh what a surprise this is. Not what I expected but exactly what I would expect from you because you’re so different.” By the way I never asked her “So is this another fan I’m meeting, and am I going to take advantage of you?”
I never asked that question and she never replied with “you don’t have to take anything because I’m giving it to you.” And I never said “oh my” afterwords. I never indulged in smalltalk and my mind was not focused on what those big jugs looked like unleashed and smothering me. Furthermore, I never expressed to her that she had such kissable lips and I never indulged in a first kiss, especially after meeting her so randomly. Since I might have been sitting down, she never got on her knees to see eye-to-eye with me and her hands did not wander to my nether regions. Again, let me be clear that this never happened and we never tongue-wrestled. Never.So she never said “when you gonna show me the rest of your place?” And since this never happened, I really could not show her 12 bedrooms, a pool, and the Jacuzzi. I could never do that because it is not possible, because its all in my imagination. If we were to arrive in my bedroom we would have to get past the kitchen and her questions about my cooking. But since this is all a fantasy, that didn’t happen either. I never bent her over my bed or pulled her top off or unleashed the beasts she calls breasts. I never did that just like I never spanked her and never turned out all of the lights except for the black light over my bed.
No, that was not me hobbling out of my sweat pants, through my home to turn on my Maxwell channel on Pandora. That was not me. This did not happen. It’s all a figment of my imagination. Back in the bedroom she was not moaning and I did not reach between her legs and feel an oven. I did not do that, it did not happen because this is all a fantasy.
In fact I am just a great big liar and these things do not happen to me. I am just a feeble, demented introvert who people think is boring, who is a failure, who thinks he lives what he writes. Furthermore, the truth is, I’m a hard-working man and have no time for such shenanigans.
After we got dressed, or if this had been the scenario, she did not stutter and stammer and experience loss of breath. She did not do that while uttering “wow wow wow wow wow” for at least five minutes. She did not do that because this did not happen. As a matter of fact I did not tell her “you need to get up outta here. And you need to remember this did not happen.” And no she did not say “oh but u can bet this is gonna happen again!” If this were to happen I would give my visitor a hug and get back to work. But since it didn’t happen I’m glad I’ve been productive for the last few minutes and glad I could share my sheer imagination with you. And remember, please… This is all just one great big lie. #relentless— in Conyers, GA.
THE NEXT DAY, I received this message:
I’m guessing, since she knows I’m a writer and that I told her I’d be writing about this, she wanted to import her thoughts. So, in the name of expression/hers, here it go.
“I thought I had seen and done it all….and then there was Relentless. I bought his book to please him but didn’t think he would end up pleasing me. Plus I know how it is being an artist trying to get you’re stuff out there and make a living. Guess we’re kind of kindred spirits in that respect…and a few others. As I read his posts I began to get an inside view to his personality. Cool, determined, hard working, driven, Relentless. What I wasn’t expecting was his desire for companionship. One would think such a fine brother with all those good qualities would be otherwise occupied. One would think. Birthday boy let the cat out of the bag by expressing his need for sexual fulfillment. An area i am well versed, yet in great need of as well. Kindred spirits. I went out on a limb, risking rejection to make that connection. We met. We talked quite easily and comfortably. The atmosphere was warm, secluded, perfect. I did everything that was asked of me. Obedient. On my knees I came within centimeters of his soft lips. Warm atmosphere turned fervent. A kiss so passionate I’ll keep longing to repeat. We migrated to a cozy enclave that made it effortless to release all inhibitions. And that we did. His length and girth rendered me speechless. The things he did with his fingers are truly a mystery. What skill. The feeling of him entering me…priceless. And then there was that one thing….yeah that thing…new, foreign, crazy, surprising… And now I know why he is called Relentless.”
Latest Internet Broadcasts – Relentless Radio – January 2014
Posted by Relentless on January 17th, 2014
Black Pain – Redux
Posted by Relentless on January 14th, 2014
“NO PROBLEM BOO. YOU TAKE CARE”
“THAT’S OKAY. NEVERMIND. YOU BE BLESSED”
“DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT. I’LL BE ALRIGHT.”
NO, THIS IS NOT AN INSTANCE OF YOU TELLING YOURSELF “IF I CAN’T GET IT DONE RIGHT, I’LL DO IT MYSELF” No it ain’t that.
This is us perpetuating something known as “Black Pain.”
“ARE YOU EXPERIENCING BLACK PAIN? ARE YOU MORE COMFORTABLE WITH GOING WHITE, EVEN IF (FOR YOU) IT DOESN’T FEEL “RIGHT?” ARE YOU SUDDENLY IN DENIAL, MORE COMFORTABLE WITH TELLING YOUR FRIEND “NEVERMIND, THANK YOU. I GOT IT”
AS APPOSED TO, “CAN WE DISCUSS THIS SO THAT WE EXPERIENCE A WIN -WIN AND MAINTAIN OUR VALUED RELATIONSHIP?” DOES THAT SWITCH ON YOUR MIND’S WALL TURN YOUR BRAIN TO DARKNESS BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE? BECAUSE YOU’RE SO USED TO AND BRAINWASHED BY THIS GO-HARD WORLD WITH ITS GO-HARD OVERTONES, SO MUCH SO THAT IT HAS TRANSFORMED YOU INTO AN UNREASONABLE WENCH? IF THIS IS YOU, CALL 999-9999 FOR THE PILL TO FIX IT ALL! THATS 999-9999 FOR THE PILL TO FIX ALL YOUR BLACK PAIN/THAT IS, YOUR HATRED OF YOUR OWN PEOPLE.”
INSTRUCTIONS:
“BLACK PAIN” is a term I learned from Terrie Williams. Terrie is a liaison (I like to call her) to the stars. She handled publicity, and practically managed people like Johnny Cochran, Eddie Murphy, and the long list of celebs we all know. I’m grateful to know Terrie as somewhat of an industry associate, since she happens to be from my hometown, Mt Vernon, since she’s a fellow author who has also received awards at the world’s biggest book convention, since, since I’m friends with her nephew, and since I’ve taxied her thru the streets of NY (once) and should I mention (of course) I’ve also read her first book “Personal Touch.” The book changed my life, as well as so many others. One of Terrie’s other books is called “Black Pain,” ho we hide our problems, pressures and imperfections. While Black Pain has become that terminology that
addresses our saying (to the world at large) “I’m perfectly okay,” (even when we’re not) I’ve seen it as a cancer in another ways, how we adopt that “fuck you I don’t need you” attitude, which often times escalates into beef, or just two parties going their separate ways and not building together for greater rewards. In other words, we don’t know how to communicate, and so we snap and (by default) adopt the “fuck-it/fuck-you/I don’t need you” state of mind.
I’ve seen it in the most PRIZED HUMAN BEINGS, who on one side can show the world their star-attitude, and hidden from the world is the 
ugly side that one or two people might have privilege to experience. Yes, this happens with lovers alot, ESPECIALLY Black lovers. But White folk are SO different! White folk can cuss each other out, and be friends the next day, as if they were from the same parents. White folk will fight one day and buddy-up the next. Hell, White divorce (not in every case) can even find the former Mr & Mrs at a restaurant dining with the new counterparts, as if its one big happy family. Can Black folk get along like that? Maybe in isolated circumstances, where there’s a convenient stream of revenue? Say, like in the Quincy Jones family?
I ALREADY KNOW WHY
I don’t need to ask why we do this because I know well why we do this. We easily adopt to a state of denial because of the pain. it may be the pain of loss or discouragement or some past experience that has shown us hurt for disease. and this disease is horribly viral; it even spreads into other ways and means in how we deal and communicate with one another, other religions and nationalities as well. Blacks frown on Mexicans. And Mexicans speak their language rebelliously or to keep secrets. if it’s not the nationalities or the color lines then it is classizm, where we judge the next person based on how they dress or what car they drive or whether they live in a high-rise, in a mansion, or in a motorhome. Its so much deeper than this surface conversation, precisely when it reaches into the “frames” that we grew up in (the what, where, who and how we believe) and adopted and perpetuated over the decades, even by no fault of our own.
You read months ago where I was in the Jacuzzi with (I’ll call her “SheMan”) and i offered her a book that might help her in her weightlifting
passions, only to have her Black-out and spit a couple of hood-heavy quotes at me: “I ain’t got time fo’ that” and “miss me with that bullshit,” she blurted; a woman clearly brainwashed by reality shows and hiphop radio… #nutcase And that nonsense took place because I offered her a free book???
IT GETS RACIAL
On other occasions things do get colorful. in a Black/White way. i’m in Starbucks a lot and there’s a few pretty Black women (or so they’d like to believe) who will immediately run to the White guy (likely any White guy?) who she assumes can offer her assistance before running to me, the “Black guy,” who respectively may (and I said MAY) have more resources than 3 White guys. Depends on who they are and what those resources are, of course. But the Black woman will pass right by me for something as simple as helping them get online with a computer or, it could be more complicated where I need to go and get my jumper cables to help them get their car started. I mean, Black men have jumper cables too, don’t they? (Not to mention cars.) I remember on one occasion when a guy couldn’t turn his car alarm off and I walked up to his expression that was in fear of me rather than recognizing my ability to assist him. So, no this is not just a male/female practice, but I must admit it will be the females who commit to these acts of bias or they easily surrender to the “default” and practice that they know so well;
a practice that women not only inflict on one another, but one that we also know as “The Willie Lynch Syndrome” whereas light-skinned Blacks and Dark-Skinned Blacks engage in a sort of in-fighting.
I mean, I am keeping in mind that my current surroundings are the deep South, and that the deep South has its own past as well as its own pace and progression, whether you consider that fast or slow is subjective and irrelevant. So much is random today, so I cannot generalize and say that “all of the South is ignorant” or that “all of the South likes to dance or prefers pick up trucks and pork ribs,” but then again certain geographical areas have certain trends and practices. We at least have got to know that. We’ve at least gotta know that there are arteries of hate that exist in our day-to-day surroundings. You’d be blind not to realize it.
SPECIFICS
I know two specific incidents where a woman has passed over me to either ask for advice or help or resources from a White guy, only to have that same man turn to ask me for the help/information/ resources that she wanted from him! A few other Black women seem to have it in their constitution where they refuse to talk to Black men. Instead of smile when they pass… instead of engage in any conversation for whatever reason, those same women will easily surrender or submit to conversation with Mr. White, even if I happened to personally know him to be a pervert. Funny also, how the same women frown upon other Black women their tastes and clothes or coffee. Again, so many variations to this puzzle, and too broad and too complex to address it all in short report. But it is interesting to see the expressions on the faces of OTHER women when they see me engaging with upward-mobile/progressive women who DO know me and who DO speak to me and show me love. (hugs, kisses, etc)
The expressions change at that point: “what does she know that I don’t know?”
Family, there are just so many levels to how people interact. however, at least in this note I am addressing our “Black pain.”because where Terrie says her “Black Pain” is that hidden hurt that festers inside of us/even when we are very hurt, hidden by our smiles and such, our “Black Pain” as a people is also hidden, and carries a heavy burden and yet (at least to me) so very obvious.
I DON’T DO BUSINESS WITH BLACK PEOPLE
I have a client who is a black man, stuck in his ways, his fancy car and traditional ways and means; and the day we met he told me straight up “I usually do not do business with black people.” By the way he’s still a client to this day, so I must have some extreme talent to overcome his personal cancer. #takingbow But we have all seen many occasions where Black women refuse to date Black men. Forget about the Law of Correspondence that keeps us all together, clustered and in agreement with one another, whether you are a group of doctors, farmers, lawyers, a group of Blacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanics or Africans… Forget all of that common, everyday practice that has been in existence since the beginning of time. Sure, go deep into your denials and your futile fight… that uphill climb. Forget all of that scientific fact.
What this boils down to is very clear to me. I could dissect situations like these all day long and weed out the seeds of bias and hatred, jealousy, envy and even misery. I receive none of that however because (as you may already know) I have been there and done that in my life. I am successful, traveled, connected, skilled, and a sponge of good and bad experiences. It’s also easy for me to pick out the confused
folk, and I can easily give them a pass because they know not what or why they do what they do. I either love them like they are, or love them from a distance. For me, its “live & let live.” Always.
LESSONS
Meanwhile, all of these encounters, have however taught me so much about human beings. when you get here to where I am in life you can look at things with that transparent power, its a resource unlike any other. You begin to accept people for who and how they are. If some random Black woman mows me down to get to the “other guy,” and decides to try and milk that his brain for information he may not even have, then so be it. Maybe he has time to ponder about the things she’s pondering about. And they both can wonder and ponder together. They both can go into the great blue “wonder,” so to speak. In some instances they may be saving me quality time because I see that as an important resource of mine. Time and time well-spent. Thats time I give to my clients; when they pay me to do this, I do this, this and THAT. Even if they are unappreciative, eventually they see it. On the other hand, you could be allowing me room to concentrate on the work I’m doing. either way, I look at it all and laugh and I make assessments and it all accumulates and broadens my perspective on life and how people tick. And let’s keep it real, understanding how people tick is what makes a great writer; a great creator.
MY REMEDY FOR YOUR PAIN
So while you read this, and if you’re lookin for typos, but for your want to criticize me, I should say: you’re welcome, thank u and I appreciate u. My life is not about embracing your issues or your lack of communication. If I can’t help you then I’ll do just like the Romans and surrender to this “Black Pain practice;” I’ll “mind my business and be on my way. And do I feel slighted by the woman running away from me? Do I feel hurt that she has gravitated to where she feels there are resources? Am I bothered when you go into default mode and say “to hell with him and his talent and his experience I can get it somewhere else?” or “I don’t do business with Black people…” or “I don’t date Black men;” am I concerned that you have accepted the practice of miscommunication and have easily embraced your Black pain-default switch? Family, I am neither slighted, bothered or concerned with why we act the way we do. Again, I merely laugh at it and learn from it and groom my own understanding of how you to pick.
Somebody out there is saying “he thinks he knows it all.”
And you know what, considering my successes and my failures, my strong relationships and my weak ones, my firm following and my fickle fellowship, you’re absolutely right: I do know it all. I know all there is to know about me, what I want in my life, and how I choose to deal with others. What I don’t know, I am learning by enjoying it as if this life was all improv, preparing me in my scripted, continued navigation thru the dark and the light. I know I went in deep on disparities in communication amongst our own, but that’s what it is folks. This is our truth. The comics tell jokes about it. The movies dramatize it. I write it in all of its painful detail. If you fit the shoe, it’s yours. You own it. whatcha gonna do about it? You gonna change the way you communicate? Hmmm… not if you’re set in your ways!
Family, I’ll tell you this: If we don’t start looking at people for who they are as a whole, as opposed to some shallow perspective, such as what they wear or how they look, then we are performing at a shallow rate of humanity. if we don’t start communicating a little better instead of cowering into the corner when communication goes sour, then we really don’t know how to love. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what color you are, what age you are, or what your sex and religion is… it doesn’t matter if you live in New York or Atlanta, Cali or Boston… It only matters that you are part of the light.
#Relentless #terriewilliams #blackpain
Burning Desire by Relentless Aaron
Posted by Relentless on January 7th, 2014
After a time the two drinks we had shared inside the restaurant began to wear, however I could feel myself turning to
putty in Dante’s hands. Even while we were still parked in his truck I could sense sorrow from aura; no tears, just the whole head-down and filled with remorse. It had a powerful effect on me, whereas I just wanted to lean over and hug this man, someone I hardly knew. One thing I did know was that I had to stop pretending. I’m way less than the scandalous bitch I sometimes project, and for the most part I like to keep it real at all times. So, maybe this was something like Universal Law—what comes around, goes around.
I eventually reached over and rubbed Dante’s hand, tryin’ to sooth him. Then I reached for his shoulders. It was the first time we got to really connect, so I felt that trembling when I get all nervous with a guy. I hesitated and took big swallows of air at that point.
“You okay, Dante’? You need anything? Anything I can do?”
He cleared his throat and didn’t look at me straight on. His hand went to his face so that I couldn’t see his eyes. I could only imagine the pain that he’d endured in the past months, and I got to askin’ myself why I had to test him like I did. Damn. My hands automatically rubbed more of him until I was feeling up his neck. My other hand smoothed along the opposite side of his face. Eventually, I pulled him into my embrace. It was a little difficult in the front of the truck with the emergency break and all, but damned if I wasn’t gonna maneuver here to try’n make things better.
“It’s gonna be alright, boo. I didn’t mean to come at you so hard,” I said. “And I should know better, because I been there.”
Dante’ hugged me tighter and I felt his empathy towards my past issues, but I wasn’t interested in talking about my past; since that would confuse things. After all, wasn’t this moment all about Dante’? Pacifying his sorrows.
At least ten minutes of cuddling passed before I broke down. No act here. Dante’ really had an impact on me.
I couldn’t help what came out of my mouth next:
“Do you want some company tonight?”
New Live Broadcast – Saturday Night Live with Relentless
Posted by Relentless on January 5th, 2014
Just Chillin in Starbucks, and Look What Happens?! It’s Called Attraction!
Posted by Relentless on January 3rd, 2014
Interesting thing about marketing, brand-building and having “the formula:” it seems everything (yes, EVERYTHING) tends to fall into place like clockwork. Dr. Wilder (my chiropractor/client of all people) says this morning (right after “cracking” my neck and back) “You have the formula, and you’re lucky. Just continue giving people value.” I think about that and it really sticks. That is what I do everyday; I give “value.” I go above and beyond the call of duty. I am quite “selfless.” and the love in return is unmatched. I don’t know how to explain it, and I care not to. This has happened all my life, how I’m this “magnet” of energy that draws “goodness & mercy.” When I was supposed to die, I didn’t. When I was supposed to lose, I won. When it seemed like there was no answer, an answer came. I can ball it up into what I call “my secret.” But that might be too commercial for you to accept. (Some of you, anyhow.) But the truth is in the results, the response and the blessings that come with all that. I have been in the absolute most remote places on the planet, and I have been blessed in those places. I have been dealt the most death-defying odds over and over and over again. I use to have sleep apnea, and have crashed vehicles 5 times. FIVE. No, scratch that… it was FOUR times. The FIFTH TIME, I actually recognized how I was falling asleep, and I let my niece/a licensed driver to take the wheel. In the passengers seat, knocked out, I hear a crash, I’m jolted into the reality that we were in that FIFTH accident. Yes, (John Wayne voice) “get the fuck outta here death!” There was the time I randomly climbed Bear Mountain in upstate NY… just took a random drive, off season, found myself climbing up the mountain… 3 hours later I run into a devoted Relentless Reader AT THE TOP! Just WILD!
And then there is the press… it’s as if THEY are hunting ME!
Even if by coincidence, the New York Times article, the Daily News Article… both of those feature stories were RANDOM! I was minding my business, on the corner of 58th street, selling books, when the NYT Reporter, Cory, seized MY moment and jumped on the Relentless historic bandwagon. The Daily News reporter did the same when I was on the corner of 34th & 7th selling books. BOOM. Page 11. And for the record, you either gotta kill somebody, or BE killed to get on any of those first 10 pages of one of the worlds largest newspapers.
Well, the trend carries on; in 2010, WORLDS away from NYC, in Conyers Georgia, some of the locals call the police because I’m in Starbucks too much, because my computer’s too big, and because my motor home is too big. Well, that sent the police callin, which subsequently sent the newspaper reporter over, and that resulted in a front page article in the Rockdale Citizen, a paper where many racist, unfriendly remarks were posted in the un-policed/unbridled OpEd section. That article, complete with photo, made it to the front page of the paper on Christmas day 2010. (Exhale) And now this, the other day… I thought nothing of it when the kid walked up to me and asked “What are your wishes for the New Year?” And here we go again, back in the paper. I get press and I don’t even try. I wish I could find a dedicated woman as easy. Just sayin! #relentless
I Know You Very Well…
Posted by Relentless on January 2nd, 2014
I know you very well, even though we’ve never met. Your voice is my melody, even though its merely digital. I feel your heartbeat against my face, its the tempo of my fantasies. No playing, I’d rather keep you as my living, breathing dream come true than screw it all up in real-life. Just felt like going there today, glad you are my song #relentless