Dream Big and Love the Process

I watched an inspiring message today that brought forth many emotions, reminding me that if I do something, there's a chance to succeed or fail.  Either way, at the very least, I tried. That's all that truly matters. 

Life is a series of choices: speak up or shut up, say yes or say no, go for a run or lay on the couch. We all have 24 hours in a day. Some choose to fill every second of the day, while others choose to waste it all away (It's my inner rapper).

The results of our choices are somewhat predictable, but often times unpredictable as well.  The ripple effect of our decisions go on for years and ultimately affect the rest of our lives.  The problem is when we fail to realize that our actions also affect those around us, especially our loved ones.  Actions carry heavy weight compared to our words or thoughts, so we need to think carefully so that our words lead to actions that are worthy of our loved one's attention.  Mindfulness is key to a healthy life experience.

Since I always speak my mind, blogging is super easy. I've never been the journaling type, but I do love writing. Blogging to me is a hybrid of the two expressions. It's also great that I ramble because there's always a million things on my mind at any given moment, so I hope that at least one sentence means something to somebody. That is my wish. I dream big, live out loud, speak passionately, and very rarely apologize unless I'm severely wrong. 

If you need an honest opinion on a topic/situation, I'm your guy. Let's talk possibility, be real, and be human. Life is a choice, choose wisely

Appreciation

Thankful Reminders

At the moment, I work at a care home.  There are a variety of residents that live in the facility.  People range from complete independence to complete care, including emotional support and step by step prompts.  Talking with these folks can be like putting together a puzzle; some of their words must be pieced together in order to gather a complete, comprehensible story.

Today was slower pace in terms of physical labor.  I worked in the memory care unit with residents who suffer from dementia and alzheimer's disease.  At first glance, these people seem to be completely lost. There is no depth beyond their eyes.  It can be extremely hard to relate and communicate with these individuals at times.  Then it dawned on me:  regardless of mental ability and emotional stability, every human needs to be cared for and deserving of love.

In that spirit, I talk to them like friends and relatives.  It's extremely liberating for me to feel wanted and also to support people who can't take care of themselves.  This may seem selfish to some, but it helps me to feel validated and useful.

I took care of this woman tonight whom can't take care of herself at all.  She needed help using the restroom, getting washed up, and placed in her bed for the evening.  After I had snuggled her into blankets at said good night, she thanked me.  I told her she was welcome.  Then she said, "thank you for being so nice".  It literally broke my heart.  Thoughts rushed throughout my brain:  are other aides treating her well or is she just being appreciative?

It becomes to discern whether or not these residents are expressing coherent thoughts or saying things based on past experiences.  It's not always easy, but the job can be very rewarding.  These people trust me to care for them and I love taking care of them.  The way I see it, it's a win-win.

This world needs more compassion and empathy.  Please donate to an alzheimer's fund or volunteer at a local care home. It's so wonderful to see outsiders who care enough to reach out to people who have contributed to our society for many decades.  We would want the same for ourselves, so do it for those who have put in the time.

This is my wish for a better world.
Best wishes all,

Tyrus

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Walk With Me

Perspective Over Opinion

I'd like to take this time out to send kudos out to those who are dealing with physical challenges/mental disorders OR those dealing with loved ones under these circumstances.

I've always been a person who could get along with many groups of people.  Gender, physical capabilities, sexual preferences, political stances, religion choices, etc. have never been able to stop me from being a friend to somebody. Character, class, positive attitude, respect for the human condition, and empathy are much more detrimental to me.

It's hard to be open-minded at times, but it's preferable over losing out on a relationship of any kind because of a difference that doesn't matter in the scheme of life.  Is it really important that a person chooses to dress vintage, consignment, or Valentino?  Better yet, does it matter that a person is gay, straight or somewhere in between?

Modern world or not, people should be accepted whether they have Down Syndrome, bipolar disorder, are paraplegic, or have HIV.  We are all on this planet to co-exist.  Acceptance is key in an already chaotic atmosphere known as Earth.  Sure, it's alright to disagree with a sexual preference.  Does it mean you should avoid a wonderfully giving person because of that preference or pre-disposition?  My opinion is no.

Abstract thinking runs my perspective.  Artistic ability, visual stimuli, multi-tasking, and a free spirited attitude control my every ounce of being.  I choose to be accepting and appreciate character over a person's personal preference or disability.  

Love one another and choose character.

Best,

Tyrus

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Gratitude

List Out Happy Events

Two weeks ago, I started a gratitude list on a piece of paper along with a pen.  I know what you're probably thinking...who does this anymore?  This guy. Let me explain why.

Too many people these days rely on technology to communicate their feelings, social skills, opinions, hate, love, and everything in between.  Pen and paper have allowed me to express myself in a way that communicates to my soul.  There are no comments, likes, or shares in the process.  The only person am in competition is with the person I was yesterday.  Pen to paper is known to effectively transfer information from visual to mental processing more easily and is ingrained deeper into memory.

In an ongoing effort to remain grateful, I list at least three items in the morning upon waking up.  The first day, it was somewhat difficult to think of three things (pretty sad).  This set off a light bulb in my head that said, "You need to be doing this more than ever Ty".  As days passed, it became easier to think of more and more in which to be grateful.  It's known that the more one is grateful, the more there is to be grateful for.

I've been increasingly depressed since I can remember.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.  This gratitude list has shown me several things including:

1) I'm an extremely resilient person to have survived this long with     emotional issues.

2) Even in the darkest moments, there are plenty of reasons to be         grateful.

3) There are plenty of individuals who have it worse than I do.

4) I'm a loving, supportive person of those less fortunate,             children, the elderly, and dogs.

5) I have gifts that are unique to me. There is no other Tyrus.

I could go on forever.  This dude has the gift of gab and I could speak for weeks on end if I could be sleep deprived long enough to accomplish the tasks at hand.

Everyone deserves to be loved.  So if you're reading this and feel like your life has no purpose, please trust me when I say that life is worth it and the problems you're facing are temporary.  Don't get me wrong, this doesn't minimize your current situation.  It's just that sometimes it takes time to get through a tunnel of darkness, especially with heavy traffic.  Yes, your proverbial cars tires might be flat, but there's always a spare in the trunk or someone nearby in the traffic to help fix the damaged tires.

Keep going and never give up.  It's not over until the end, and end doesn't mean there's not a detour to take on a different path.

Best wishes all,

Tyrus

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Living It Up in a Corn Field

Road Trip to Indiana

Summer time is finally upon us and the weather is starting to transform my whole being.  The flowers are blossoming, the grass is growing again, the birds are chirping, and I'm done hibernating inside under a warm comforter.

 

My sister and I decided this was a perfect opportunity to venture into Indiana.  Half our family lives in the corn state, so we have no problem finding things to do.  My niece and nephew came along with us, and they are little spit fires, so they definitely kept us busy.  They were able to run across acres of field in our grandparents back yard without worry of high traffic rates and other dangers.  It's more care free living in the good 'ol country.

 

There's nothing better than spending time with children and our elderly grandparents.  The kids are great at occupying us (and sometimes driving us bonkers), while our grandparents are wonderful at keeping our lives in perspective.

 

Land for Days

It's so peaceful here.  I can think, breathe, and take all of the nature and scenery into every ounce of my being.  This doesn't happen enough in the city.  I lived in Ann Arbor for several years.  The lifestyles in the city are so much more distracting and fast-paced.  That makes it more difficult to appreciate the small things.  Don't get me wrong, the city is wonderful.  It's also great to slow down.

 

When I was a child, Indiana seemed more boring than it is today.  Apparently go-go-go was more preferable at an impressionable age.  It's with age that I want to stop and smell the roses more often.  Rushing around is no longer my go-to method.

 

So in conclusion, I'm a city boy at heart, but I love the country as well.  The city is my prime time & I'll save the country for the golden years.

 

Crisp Sunset

Live your best life,

 

Tyrus

Life is short; make the best of every situation

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Optimal Living

Healthy Food

Food prepping allows my body and mind to connect. I make healthier choices when I take the time to prep my meals in advance.

Healthier food allows my body to function at an optimal level, balancing nutrition and mobility. 

This is where meditation and yoga come into play. Meditation allows my body, mind, and spirit connect in a way that allows for more efficiency in life: from communication skills to seizing other opportunities that I may otherwise miss, due to lack of sleep, depression, etc.

 Meditation allows for focus and concentration on internal conflicts/resolutions. Different pathways in the brain are formed. I can never, nor want, to go back to my old self. This is a higher form of being, and I choose excellence.

Yoga is very beneficial as well. It's helpful for my musculoskeletal system, which needs improvement. Also, I can feel tension releasing in places I couldn't imagine in my drunken stooper.

 My intention now is to live the best life possible, healthy LIFE so as to assist others in reaching their goals. Giving back is very important in a world full of chaos.

Namaste,

Tyrus

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Vegan Protein Before Workouts

Vegan veggie protein shakes are a great way to fuel up before a workout. This one has a muscle recovery blend of plant based omegas. It's perfect because my body is screaming at me since I started @21dayfixprogram 

I've overcome poor mental and emotional health this year, traveled to my dream place (LA), started a blog and website, got in the past shape of my life. Anything is possible with the right attitude. Consistent exercise is the best thing to do when feeling down and out. Distract the mind, get positive results, and keep trucking on towards those goals. I'm doing it and so can you!

No Meat Zone!

It's been over a month since I've consumed any form of meat, with the exception of seafood.  This would be coined as a pescatarian diet.  Here's why I made the decision:

DISCLAIMER:  Meat isn't necessarily wrong, this is an experiment.

The past 7 years I've been battling increasing insomnia, more difficulty forming ideas, and general lack of energy.  Every prescription drug and over-the-counter remedy have been prescribed and recommended.  I've tried exercise, meditation, yoga, reading before bed, eating a clean diet with virtually no processed foods, you name it.

It would seem as though I was running out of options.  The next decision I could make would be to change some other part of my diet.  I worked for Whole Foods Market for over 3 years and the experience there taught me many valuable health ideas, one of them being special dieting based on allergies.  I learned over time that meat and dairy are the toughest items for the human body to digest.

The next logical step was to eliminate meat from the diet.  The first couple weeks was challenging in the sense that many of my meals consisted of selecting a piece of meat and forming the rest of the meal around the meat choice.  The process in my mind had to reverse in order to make the meal 'seem complete'.

The first selections in the meal were to be vegetables, fruit, and/or starch.  The possibilities of meal options started to unfold left and right.  Come to find out, ridding meat in the diet is surprisingly simple, especially with all the vegan options available in stores.

Fast forward to a little over one month meat-free:
I'm starting to sleep roughly 2 more consecutive hours per night on average, my energy level is more level rather than dipping continuously throughout the day after a meaty meal.  This to me is a successful mission.

To anyone feeling off on a continual basis, I'd suggest starting with your diet.  Along with exercising, making better choices for YOUR body can help mold a more successful future in your health.  Give it a try, there's nothing to lose.

Best to all,

Tyrus

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Mindset

Yesterday proved to be fairly challenging as far as mindset and accomplishing my daily goals of creating a website, blogging, and promoting my social media.

It all started out well.  Everything was flowing, ideas were popping up left and right, the website was working in my favor.  Then, there was something challenging that surfaced with the website developing.  Since this is a new avenue for me, you'd think I would be patient with myself, right?  Not a chance.

I was trying to put social media widget links on my blog.  It requires HTML codes, formatting, the nine.  It took longer than I expected, and it was frustrating.

At the end of what seemed like 2 hours, really only took 45 minutes.  The point is that drama has no place in the world of success.  Mindset is 80% of the battle.  It's extremely crucial in achieving goals.

The website is developed and the process wasn't all that serious.  Now, I have to manage it with a positive attitude.

Here's to success.  Have a great one all of you.

-Tyrus

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Detroit Portfolio

Going into my teenage years, standing in front of a camera was a novelty thought: the attention, preparation, glam, all of it sounded very desirable.

I love photography and dressing up, so it must be easy, right?  

My friend Janae is a model and was traveling to Detroit for a photo shoot.  We gathered up our outfit changes, and ventured out to the D.

The city of Detroit has a variety of scenery that captivates the attention of my creative eye.  The photographer suggested an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city.  

I had the impression that a photo shoot consisted of a 30 minute segment of shots narrowed down, photoshopped and plastered on cover pages of a magazine.  

As if it were that easy.  The entire shoot lasted around 5 hours, ended up with 240 pictures, those were narrowed down to 20 pictures.  

This doesn't guarantee any sort of promotion, exposure, or revenue of any sort.  

So in short, it was a valuable experience and I'm very proud of myself for going through with it.

Will I be disappointed if I don't end up on the cover of GQ?  Probably not.  Although it would be amazing.

It was still a dream come true nonetheless.

Best life to all,

Tyrus

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Lost in the Fire

Today's modern culture suggests that we are very busy individuals loaded with a multitude of tasks to complete by 9pm, along with a full time job, social obligations, vacations, to do lists, church, summer camps, etc. While we're busy planning the future, our present moments suffers.

Where and when do we find happiness in all of this?  Is anyone truly satisfied with running around tirelessly and to what end?

 Granted, there is a time and place for everything.  Having said that, is there time every single day to complete all the tasks on our lists?  Could this be a self-imposed busyness, or even a very well marketed technique?

Technology has advanced in so many ways this past decade.  We have went from dial-up Internet and landline telephones, to wireless internet, smartphones, and Bluetooth headsets.  Social media is everywhere and people are constantly inter-connected with a click of a button on their wireless devices.

While all of this has brought about many positive aspects including communication with long distance family members and knowledge unsurpassed by any former media such as libraries and snail mail, there are some drawbacks as well:

1.  People in society are losing interpersonal communication techniques

      (Try speaking to a teenager glued to their iPhone)

2. Some are quick to believe anything seen on the Internet/social media platform

      (Conspiracy theories, more followers on Instagram=more friends?)

3.  Auto correct on devices are inhibiting reading and spelling abilities, especially in youth

       (Computing skills are excellent, until it consumes an entire existance)

I was one of the best spellers in my school.  Autocorrect has slowed down my ability to recall these skills.

Not that all of the above mentioned are bad things. It's just some food for thought. Live in the Moment

Time to Bust Out the Grill

Spring time means a few things: flowers are budding, colors are being restored to nature, beach body mode is in full effects, AND time to fire up the outdoor food machine!

The grill brings out the most creative and innermost food cravings in a healthy manner.  Since it's almost time to hit the beaches and frequent bonfires, I want to feel amazing doing it as I want to fill the days with the most possible.  Anybody that has been to Michigan knows that good weather isn't common or consistent, so it's good to be prepared for any semi-non-freezable weather conditions.

The preparation step

Upon spotting baby cremini mushrooms in the fridge, there was an easy choice to make: provolone stuffed buttons of deliciousness.  I yanked out the stems quicker than a whack-a-mole arcade game and proceeded to sprinkle Mrs. Dash and shoved in gobs of provolone deli slices.  I rubbed some olive oil on a pie pan and placed the 'shrooms on promptly.  They were placed in the oven for 10 minutes on 375 degrees.

Here's where the grill comes into play

Cocktail shrimp, parsley, minced garlic and more Mrs. Dash are placed on aluminum foil along with sweet baby peppers and mushroom stems.  Salmon doused in garlic, parsley, and a hefty amount of paprika, complete this grill worthy meal.

Voila! The finished product

It's just as appetizing as it looks to the eye.  As I always say, presentation is key.

Best wishes all,

Tyrus

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Confidence

Another day brings forth an opportunity to make a change or improve on a current project.  Today is a day to improve on a current project, this blog.  It didn't dawn on me until last week that this creative outlet has been ready to use at any given time for a few years now.

So why has it taken this long to start posting blogs?  Mindset.  It was in my head that my voice wouldn't make a difference to anyone in this online world.  Instead of blogging I would go shopping, exercise endlessly, or party like I would never socialize again.  Boy was I extremely wrong! This guy has an uncanny ability to speak to anybody, relate to the masses, and to inspire many. Writing has always been a passion of mine, combined with the necessity to be heard.  This is the definition of online journaling (blogging) in my mind and it's such a liberating feeling to have an outlet that can be called my very own.

It is surprisingly more challenging to express feelings through media rather than through voice.  As they say, practice makes perfect right?

Creativity comes in many shapes and forms, mine being varied.  This brain never takes a break, as you'll notice pretty quickly that I tend to ramble and speak to no end...and you know what?  THAT'S OK.  This whole 'sharing my life' thing becomes easier the more that I'm willing to open up and let the world shine in.  There's a lot that each and every one of us has to offer, and this is my wonderful way to offer something that I hope can be of some use.

I woke up as an uncle today, woke up to see another 24 hours, went to the park, ate pizza, took a nap, got inspired to write this...and it's only halfway through the day.

Today's a new start, no matter how daunting it may seem at the moment.  At the start of this blog, I was in a cloudy mood.  Now, the thought put into typing this, has distracted me long enough to have accomplished something.

Have a great life.

Tyrus

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I made it to Los Angeles!

Goodbye Michigan, hello new home

The flight to LA may seem daunting to most, being across the country and all, but it went by pretty quickly.  I'm an extremely social person and talked with people everywhere I went:  the airport, passengers on the plane, the taxi driver, random dogs that passed by, you name it.  The flight seemed to last a couple hours max, of course there was a nap involved (my favorite) 

Five star suite, yes.  Amenities out of this world, check.  An adventure to remember, absolutely.  I even found time to work out despite all the excitement.  Since the suite was in the downtown area of LA, it allowed plenty of opportunity to explore.  There was a Whole Foods was nearby, a cultural melting pot, and yours truly.  This was bound to be a wonderful trip.

The original intention in traveling to Los Angeles was to move there permanently.  I had a couple places lined up to tour and see if the roommates and I would be compatible.  These places were not at all what I expected.  They were very small, crowded, and had no privacy whatsoever.  Apparently, moving across the country is more difficult than I had anticipated.  I guess that's the thing about expectations; it allows more room for disappointment.  One of the places I checked out was going to be rented out by a man who already had a couple roommates (in a two bedroom apartment).  I was willing to deal with it as it was in an awesome area.  This guy however was very wishy-washy.  It was very disappointing.  So instead of sitting around analyzing the situation, it was time for an adventure!

This new found perspective brought me to the streets of Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive.  It was everything I had dreamed it to be and it perfectly matched the photos I had seen on Google- there's an app for that ;)  People everywhere dressed to the nine and a plethora of fancy cars to last a lifetime of visual hunger.  My budget didn't allow for spending much, so I flocked over to the residential area with homes and fancy gardens for days. Loved it.

Venturing on to the edge of Beverly Hills, I mingled onto the streets of West Hollywood.  The rainbow street signs were a huge indicator that it was going to be a glorious time.  Eccentric, outgoing people are my thing!  A dear friend of mine loves the Bravo Show 'Vanderpump Rules' which means I was obligated to waltz on into Sur and then Pump.  This whole scene was a prime opportunity to Snapchat and Instagram everything, literally (sorry fan base, I mean, you're welcome My Insta Life)
 I ended up spending the entire evening in West Hollywood, which felt like 2 seconds.  My night ended up at The Abbey with newly found friends. I'll be frequenting this little gem of an area.

The next day, Hollywood was my main goal.  It was like Las Vegas without the casinos, more artistic, out loud and proud, funtastic adventure.  That's the best way to describe it.  There was a guy doing flips over 4 volunteers, people in full makeup dressed up as movie characters.  The Joker was my fav. as I love Heath Ledger and demented roles in film.

With enough entertainment to last a lifetime, multiple RedBulls would definitely keep me up for days in Hollywood.

The flight home was bittersweet, as I never wanted to leave.  It's all good though because I had such an amazing time and ran into some great people.

Best wishes to all and may your dreams come true.

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