Thursday, October 17, 2013

Time means more than money; and money can't buy time.


Time means more than money; and money can't buy  time.        



                                      By Reggie Smith



Rockets, moon shots, Spend it on the have nots

Money, we make it, Fore we see it you take it

Oh, make you wanna holler, The way they do my life

Make me wanna holler, The way they do my life



Inflation no chance, To increase finance

Bills pile up sky high, Send that boy off to die; Bad breaks, set backs, Natural fact is

I can't pay my taxes; Oh, make me wanna holler, And throw up both my hands



Trigger happy policing, Panic is spreading

God know where we're heading

Oh, make me wanna holler, They don't understand;  This ain't livin', This ain't livin', No, no baby, this ain't livin'.



                       Marvin Gaye







Have you ever been faced with your own mortality? When I was at the end of active addiction to heroin, I thought I wanted to die and wanted time to stop. When I was diagnosed with AIDS, I thought I was going to die and didn't want time to end.  In either case, life was being measured in time.  There have been many moments in my life where I would like to have had the power to stop, rewind, or fast forward time, but I never have figured out how to do that.  When I thought I was facing imminent death, the best I could do is to take my watch off and stop being manipulated by my perception of time.  Every moment we spend here on this plane of existence is truly an opportunity to resolve the questions that life has for each of us.  The blessing of my life is that my “reality” has motivated me to understand more fully what time is, and how I could best use what time is allotted to me.



 



In my opinion, time is a way to mark and measure our human existence.  Time, like pictures, can be useful to look to the past at how our lives and humanity has evolved.  The more time you see, the faster it seems to go. Life is an experiment.  We do not have all the answers, but we make “educated” guesses based on the outcomes of similar experiences we have had or observed.  We often try to predict the future the same way; by guessing what will happen based on what has already happened in past similar situations.  Mostly, our future is predicated on the assumption that we will be here and alive to be a part of it.  As we see on a daily basis all over the world, life often ends abruptly in more ways than we can imagine.  From being bombed by a drone, shot by a deranged sniper, hit by a drunk driver, poisoned by a power hungry dictator, or simply waking up dead from starvation; there are an infinite number of ways for our life clocks to stop.  That is not morbid; it is a fact of life.  So what are we going to do while we are here?



 



In one of my favorite books, “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle, I got a better grasp on the way I am sometimes distracted by my own mind and ego away from the purpose of life.  My mind and ego continually conspire to keep me locked in the past or the future.  The confusion that the past and future creates does not allow me to fully participate in this now moment.  It is in this now moment that my past and future are created.  Everything that is created in this material world begins with a thought.  My mind may think whatever it wants, but I have the ability to change or filter those thoughts into the actions that will manifest whatever I focus on.  Furthermore, like when we pray together or visualize and act together as a group, we have the ability to create an outcome that supersedes probability.  We see that happen all the time in sporting events when fans seemingly will their underdog teams to victory.  So, why do so many spend so much of our most valuable commodity, time, in the pursuit of money



 



Money can’t buy you time.  Recent reports show that income inequality in the United States is at perilously high levels.  Major media is corporate driven, and will not work against it’s own self-interest, so we can't count on them to start or support a movement for change.  Money is energy, and it should be used for the improvement of the lives of those of us here on the planet.  Instead, there are a few with more than they could ever need or use, and many, many more with barely enough to get by.  So, in order to maintain life, the masses are spending too much valuable time trying to get money.  Medications, food, fuel…everything cost moneyNow is the time to change the way business is done.  We live in strange times where greed trumps what is good for the planet and the people. I’m not rich, and I have nothing against those who are, but I am focused on using my time to change the flow of energy.  We must come together to change our priorities.  That would be a great way to use our time, right?  Yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery.  NOW is the time to RISE!






Tuesday, October 1, 2013

When in Rome, speak with the Romans.


I had a great experience while at the United States Conference on AIDS in New Orleans.  I have been participating in the conferences for the past few years of this annual gathering.  This year I went with a minimum of expectations and/or questions.  The focus this year was on how the HIV epidemic is disproportionately affecting the Southeast, and understanding the effects of the so called “treatment cascade” – a study of how people access and maintain treatment for HIV.  With the access to care being a major issue, and the Affordable Healthcare Act changing the lives of many, I hoped to get a sense of how to help make sure more people get the information necessary to make this transition.   My role in the arena of HIV has evolved over the past 25 years from clandestine observer, to an active advocate.  Now, I feel like a grandfather wanting to make sure that I share my experiences and act as a vessel for love and information.  Wisdom has taught me not to burn myself out at these conferences, and to trust that the people and information I attract are exactly what I need.  Most times that means having the faith to follow spirit, not the crowd, believing you are where you are supposed to be.  The magical adventure I had this trip to New Orleans proved, once again, that the universe is perfect.



This year, I had more freedom to move around because our RISE team of bloggers included Dr. Luther A Virgil, Jr. and A’Lexius Culpepper.  They covered much of the technical information from their unique perspectives as a medical provider and case manager respectively.  We are ecstatic to say that you will see their contributions here in RISE regularly as content contributors!  There was a lot of great information shared inside the seminars and symposiums, but how could we come to N'awlins and not go talk to the people?  So our bell captain, Antoine, asked our driver and guide, New Orleans native David Bell, to take producer/videographer, Richard Shabazz and I, to find out how the HIV community has been affected by the trauma of Hurricane Katrina.  Following the theme of the conference, we were interested to see who was (and were not) getting and staying in treatment for HIV.  We were advised not to venture out into the “dangerous community”, but this USCA conference was focused on the south, so we wondered about the real people in the city the committee chose to host it.   After all, the data about HIV doesn't pertain to you if you are not in treatment, and the numbers can never tell the whole story.  As “Project Runway” winner and conference presenter, Mondo, so aptly put it; “if you are not counted, you don’t count”.  There is a great deal of data that has been gathered about who is in treatment, but it is impossible to know much about who is not in treatment.  Despite any and all data, the number that matters most is ONE, and that one is you.  In New Orleans, due to the ongoing catastrophic trauma caused by the floods, it is even harder to know who needs care.  Watch this video {below} of an innerview with residents of the 9th ward, in the shadows of the levies, to see what we found.



First, we talked to T. J. Rogers, an administrator at NO AIDS PROJECT, the largest AIDS service organization in New Orleans.  He gave us some wonderful background about how his city is still dealing with the effects of Katrina.  There are many life issues, like food and housing that take priority to HIV.  The people of New Orleans, eight years ago, had the unique experience of being totally displaced due to the floods. Many of the people who lived here and were in treatment were exiled to other cities and have never returned and are now impossible to track.  



I know that most of the people visiting here for the conference from other cities took the opportunity and time to imbibe the food and culture of the city.  I, too, was swept up by the wonderful energy the city displayed surrounding the N.O. Saints NFL football rivalry with the Atlanta Falcons.  Actually, visiting sports stadiums and arenas in different cities is on my bucket list, so putting another check in that column was big fun and very healing for me.  As a vegetarian, I fell in love with the delicious food I was blessed with while here as well.  New Orleans is a unique city, with a distinct culture.  I am very happy that we took the time to get out into the community.  I found the people are very friendly and hospitable, but underneath there is anger, bitterness, and a feeling of betrayal about how they have been systematically pillaged by bureaucracy.  The New Orleans culture is not replaceable, so those displaced experienced trauma, but so have those who are still here in a still broken system. 



Meanwhile, back at the conference, I began to look at what demographic or culture of people is under represented at the conference, and may mirror some of the same issues as the people of New Orleans.  I realized that heterosexual men, especially heterosexual men of color are never a part of any meaningful conversation about HIV.  The infamous “down low” phenomena was the Hurricane Katrina for our particular demographic, because it sent straight men into self imposed exile, and they have yet to recover.  I could count on one hand, the number of hetero men I ran into that were here for the conference.  We will have to change that dramatically if our families are going to thrive, and thrive we must.  The data collected about how many people are in treatment, called the “treatment cascade”, cannot accurately measure those not in treatment.  The Affordable Care Act has the potential to make healthcare available to millions more people, but not if you are hiding and afraid to access it, or being too intimidated to demand it.  I, and others, am committed to making sure heterosexual men are more fully represented.  I pray that you are as well.   



Mental health issues, homophobia, “heterophobia” and stress have created an atmosphere that has fostered the behaviors and attitudes that help perpetuate HIV disease.  We need to be careful about being too insulated when we get together at these conferences to share gratitude, knowledge and information.  Some Republican lead states continue to make a concerted effort to kill “the least of these” by making healthcare inaccessible, and that is unacceptable.  We need think outside the box when it comes to finding ways to heal our communities and ourselves so that the waterfalls of the treatment cascade blesses us all.  We can change the energy, but we need you to be willing to fight through the fear in order to make it happen. Don't go chasing waterfalls.  It is time to RISE.






Saturday, September 28, 2013

Free your mind, and your ass will follow.


In preparation for this years United States Conference on AIDS, I met and spoke at length with some very special people who were hampered by fear about not being able to meet their perceived needs for treating their diagnosed HIV.  America has cut funding, people have outlasted the usefulness of some medications, and stigma causes some into lies or self-imposed emotional exile.  It seems that once again, the synchronicity of life has attracted a few persons and situations to me who were vessels for the information my soul longs to have answered.   Ultimately, I was being confronted with the same question Neo had to answer when Morpheus presented it - would I take the red pill or the blue pill.   Being a human diagnosed with HIV myself, like so many others, I have had to decide whether to remain lost in the distraction and illusion of the Matrix, or seek to know myself beyond the construct of the system of control



Being a seeker of truth, I have found that I am not the HIV or HEP C virus that I am told that I host, I am much more than that.  To be consumed by the diagnosis is debilatating.  Many of my brothers and sister soldiers, including other HIV advocates, case managers, scientist and medical professionals, have bought into the misconceptions or outright lie perpetuated by the system.  The illusions of hopelessness and dependency are cultivated in us from our birth, and the strategy of their perpetuation is built on a history of proven methods for maintaining mind control.  Capitalism, politics, media and religion often feed the fears that keep the masses in check, and HIV has been a prime example of how millions, no, billions of people have been operating on that information dictated by the Matrix.  We are at a time of enlightenment, though, and the "truth" has been activated, and we are moving towards critical mass.



For instance, there was a time not long ago, when the concept of a cure for HIV was rarely thought, and considered heresy to utter.  Our consciousness has evolved and we can now envision that reality.  The AIDS "denialists" and "conspiracy theorist" have had their dissent basically muted by the media's word "smiths".   The artistic world of movies (see C.A. Montague's review of Tyler Perry's "Temptation" in TheBody.com) and song still sometimes portray the HIV experience with stigma, prejudice, and ignorance; yet, thankfully, the human spirit continues to evolve.  Not everyone will be freed from the bondage of self, but strength, hope and experience are fueling our ride on the Nebuchadnezzar.  The images and music that is used to give important information is one way to free minds from bondage.  We shall be free.



The master/slave relationship between the mind and spirit has got to continue its momentum towards spirit if we are to be free. In order for that to happen, we will have to see beyond mind and matter.  At present, and for all recorded history,  "mind" appears to have been in control.  I meet many who are diagnosed with, and consciously affected by HIV that are afraid of death. Fear of physical death, or fear of its cousin; suffering, is the power source of the Matrix.   I have literally watched people scare or worry themselves to death. Ironically, no one is gonna get out of here alive.  It is said that we have to die (or be willing to die) mentally; or still the mind, in order to climb Jacob's ladder to the light of the spirit within.  I do not claim to have escaped the Matrix, but I have seen the light.  As brother Martin said..."I may not get there with you; but I want you to know (tonight)...that we as a people will get to the promise land."  So I am blessed to go to this years US Conference on AIDS. I will go to represent those who support me from higher realms, as well as those who are seeking enlightenment and freedom.  I pray to be a vessel of light for those seeking it, and a source of courage to those souls destined to be free.  After all, it's time to resurrect inspirational spiritual experiences; or it's time to RISE!






Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Sometime you must leave home; in order to become king.


Fifty years ago, in 1963, I had an experience that made an indelible mark on my psyche.  At the tender age of six, you might think that the most impressionable thing in my life might have been the beginning of elementary school at P.S. 45 Queens, but for me it was any event that I had the opportunity to share with my now deceased father.  I am fuzzy about the events surrounding my dad taking me to the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, so much so that it wasn't until this week, when I found myself standing in what I know and have always envisioned as the very same place I stood in '63.  Then in 1963, it was to be inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King to think of myself as more than Black, but as a human being that is worthy of giving and receiving love, and the dignity of freedom.  Going back this week to "commemorate" that great day was, on its surface, a way to represent the indignation of my family, community, ancestors, and I; that 50 years later we are still fighting the same battles for Jobs and Freedom.  On a deeper level, I emotionally celebrate the cherished memory of sharing one of the most historically important days the world has known with the man I loved and who brought me into this world; my father, Leroy L. Smith.



How could I possibly have known what would happen in our lives and in the world?  Dr. King and my dad have been gone a long time.  I have healed from the drug addiction that my father tried to help me solve until his dying day.  I have been diagnosed with, and damn near died from, and now live more fruitfully with AIDS.  Still, with four children and six grandchildren, fifty years later here in America we are still fighting for jobs, justice, healthcare and freedom.  I am happy that the pain we are experiencing is motivation for so many to raise the energy of love on the planet, even for a moment.  It takes a moment to start the momentum.  I'm glad to be alive and present for both of the marches.  There are not many that can say the same, not the least of these being Dr. King and my dad.



When I stood on the same spot that I shared with my father half a century ago, this time listening to the impassioned speeches of Martin L. King III and Rev. Al Sharpton, I realized the energy of that day in '63 could never be reproduced.  Their words rang true, but they, nor anyone, could match the eloquence and soaring oratory of Dr. King.  Even at the age of 6, I remember being impressed by Dr. King's mastery of the English language. He seemed to be our energetic spiritual bridge to the next dimension.  The gateway of pure light he channeled for us that day in 1963, in the particular shade of love that we (over 250 thousand) people received it; seems un-reproducible.  How could I possibly appreciate the magnitude of the moment?  What I was able to experience again (to my surprise) was the love and hope of my father, and his desire for a better life for my sister and I.  I also had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the lives of those two men, (and many others) who gave their lives in order to better the lives of their children.



No one really knew at the time how prolific a speech, or a day that would turn out to be in 1963.  Dr. King had to die in order to garner sainthood. He had already been a "King" among men.  I did not know how special a father and son experience it was then, but I do now.  My dad had to leave this land in order to be king too.  Sometimes those closest to you do not appreciate you until you are gone, or until those outside your circle do. 



Who really knows what the tangible results of this years March on Washington will be.  When I was asked by MSNBC's news anchor, Craig Melvyn in an on air interview, if I had been to both marches in 1963 and 2013, all I could think about was what I could say in what I knew would be 15 seconds or less, that could help change the world for my children and grandchildren.  I wanted to hopefully add to what has to continue to become a critical mass of energy needed to shift the paradigm again, like it did in '63.  I'm so tired of fighting this battle, so I pray to be a channel for change.  It is hard to express 50 years of frustration in fifteen seconds, but I believe if we could all touch just one or two with the passion of our purpose, oppression will take another standing eight count like it did fifty years ago.  I will do what Rev. Joseph Lowery exhorted us to do; "commemorate and instigate" so my grandchildren will not have to still fight for jobs, freedom and dignity - 5, 15 or even 50 years from now.  It is time to DO SOMETHING with the motivation of this fierce urgency of now. 






Saturday, September 21, 2013

If nobody moves, everybody gets hurt.


Just because I am procrastinating doesn’t mean the situations in my life stop progressing.  One of the most powerful things I have learned as a result of going through the torrential storms of addiction is that life is a one-day at a time proposition.  I learned that addictions are a disease that is set off by exposure to whatever allergic substance or behavior one is addicted to.  In my case it was nicotine, heroin and cocaine; but at the root, I was addicted to the fear of success, and to the search for love.  The drugs helped me stay stuck in a feedback loop that grew in intensity no matter what I did.  It was not until I was able to break the cycle of obsession and compulsion, and get into a program of positive action, was I able to begin living this wonderful life for the past 28 years.  Even though I am not living in active addiction to drugs, the disease is still silently progressing in the background of my psyche, like King Kong doing push ups in jail.  As long as I am in action patrolling “King Kong’s “cell to keep him imprisoned, I can keep that monkey off my back.  If I stop moving too long, or make the wrong move (like using again), everybody is going to get hurt.



 



As usual, in my life the microcosm reflects the macrocosm.  I mean, when I look at my life like it’s a movie I’m starring in, I observe the twists and turns in the plot.  I see that the story is sometimes a comedy, sometimes a drama, tragedy, or thriller, but it is always an adventure.  There is always a conversation going on in my head between my ego (mind) and my spirit (God).  It seems like the same is happening in the world.  There appears to be a battle between the good and evil.  It is happening locally, nationally, and all around the world, and it has been going on since the beginning of time.  In America, evil is manifesting as voter suppression, denial of women’s reproductive rights, and the perpetuation of poverty; disproportionate incarceration of minorities, and so many other obviously unfair practices.  The political obstinacy that supports the devaluation of the human existence is behaving like King Kong unchained, and we have to find a way to get it back in the cage.



 



The good thing is that pain is often the greatest motivation for action and change.  When we get sick and tired of being sick and tired, we are most liable to take the action steps necessary to change.  Racism and classism are like addictions.  Those outwardly ugly behaviors have been generally suppressed and “in recovery” for some time, but the election of President Obama has reignited the radical behavior of the insurgents (Conservatives).  They are a minority, but their irrational actions are affecting the energy of the country and the world.  In the balance of things, there is more good than evil in this world.  Like addictive behavior, evil does not stop, even after it has been contained.  Evil just continues to grow while waiting for its release.  It does as much destruction as possible until it is subdued.  It is easier to stay free than it is to get free.  We should be vigilant personally and socially, and willing to do whatever necessary to keep the monkey in its cage and off of our backs. 



 



We thought we had done all the marching necessary to realize the dream of equality for all, but obviously not.  Sometimes it seems that marches are not enough, and in Syria, Egypt and so many other places in the world, that is tragically true.  In Texas, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan and so many states in America, King Kong is loose and wreaking havoc.  HIV services for my brothers and sisters are being cut by virtue of inaction.  As a result, everybody, except the greedy, are being hurt.  On a personal level, I will take the positive action necessary to stay clean, on a social level, I am going to Washington D.C. on August 24th for the 50th anniversary of the March for Jobs and Freedom.  Evil (King Kong) never dies, it just multiplies; but love heals all.  So, I have to be vigilant in an effort to put that insurgent ape back in its cage before it destroys everything.  I hope to see you there.





Tuesday, September 17, 2013

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed person rules.


There are a few things that I have learned as a result of having survived drug addiction, AIDS hospice, the verge of death, and parenthood.  I’ve learned that good and bad are relative to the time, place, and perspective I might be in.  What I mean is, what may seem “bad” today or yesterday may prove to be “good” in a future time and place (or vice versa).  Many of those learned experiences have taken on a different flavor based on what my attitude has been.  The feelings I experienced while going through those situations in my life were both very high, and very low, but I have learned to develop an attitude of gratitude about them, and try to pass on those wisdoms learned.  My attitude is that sharing those experiences is our opportunity to be of service to humankind.



Recently, I have had the opportunity to test whether or not a positive outlook, and a meditative look within, could actually prove to be a healing force in the physical world.  I have been challenged by a condition diagnosed as extreme dry eyes since October of last year.  It has mainly plagued my left eye, causing me to have sand-like grit covering my cornea, causing irritation and making it very hard to focus in that eye.  It has affected my quality of life, and ability to work and play, so it would be easy to be frustrated (and I have been at times).  My experience, though, is that everything happens for a reason, so I have been forced to look inwards – figuratively and literally.  As a result, meditation, or a third-eye focus, is what “life” is forcing me to do.  Doing so has helped my frustration about my eyes, helped me to improve my attitude, and seemingly put me in a better position for healing.



Developing an “attitude of gratitude”, or what we will consider to be a positive attitude, has been a process.  It has obviously, in retrospect, been one of my life lessons to do so.  That epiphany is based on the pain that motivated my decision to try practicing a positive outlook how life was treating me.  Earlier in my life, even before my trials and tribulations, I thought I was a positive person, but it seemed like every time I tried to do the right thing, two bad things would happen to me.  I found it easy to blame life and others for my troubles, but nothing truly changed until I took responsibility for the part I was playing in my circumstance.  There is evidence that using affirmations has a positive effect on healing.  Many people, myself included, can attest to the fact that how we filter our minds thoughts affects our physical and emotional wellness.  Our attitudes are one of the things we can actually control.



In spiritual texts like the bible it says; “The light of the body is the (third) eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.”  I have noticed that the endocrine system mirrors the chakra system, and the third eye is the pineal gland.  I am told that the toxic parts of medications, like the one’s most of take, as well as processed foods, aluminum in toothpaste and deodorant, chemicals, and other environmental factors, are adding to the calcification of our pineal gland.  The pineal gland produces serotonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.  Could it be that there is so much more Alzheimer’s and other mental illness because we are both sleep deprived and cut off from the spiritual realm at the third eye?  How have you been sleeping lately?  How is your memory?  These are the questions I am asking myself in search of the cause of what doctors have yet been able to heal.  



So, my attitude is I’d rather have sight in one eye than none, especially if that is my inner vision.  My eyes are healing perfectly, and I’m learning the lessons that I created this experience for.  The doctors cannot find the cause of my physical illness.  I think I will try to cleanse my body, mind and spirit.






Saturday, September 14, 2013

When our ship comes in, we will be on it.


I recently bought a new road bicycle with the intention of paying a lot more attention to getting in shape. I had been envisioning taking my first long ride to the barbershop, which is about 5 miles away from my home. Once I finally got out on the road, there were some very steep downhill roads involved on the way to the barbershop. When I got to the top of the largest hill where it was the point of no return, I started to think about what it was going to take for me to get home. I wasn't sure that I had what it took to make it back up the hill, but I decided that if I had no guts, I would get no glory.  My mind was generating fear and self-doubt, but my spirit encouraged me to have faith.  I did not want to have a “should have; would have” story, so I listened to my spirit and went for it.



As it turned out, I found another way home that was much better then coming back up the hills. Accepting the personal challenge was a very satisfying accomplishment, and I'm glad I did not punk out.  I enjoy watching the adventure of life unfold.  So often I am amazed at what happens when I listen to, and act on my spirit and intuition.  My mind will filter my feelings with fear and judgment in order to color my thoughts and actions.  I've come to know that I'm responsible for putting energy into life, but the outcome is never guaranteed.  I have learned to accept that everything happens for a reason, and it is up to me to make the best out of everything that I manifest each moment.



For instance, I went to see the movie "Fruitvale Station" recently and was touched by the movie on many levels.  I saw myself, and then more profoundly, I saw my son in the life of Oscar Grant.  He is the young man that was shot to death by an Oakland police officer at the aforementioned Fruitvale train station.  Seeing the re-enactment of how that happened was painful enough, but the confluence of events that led up to his shooting was so easily identifiable that I felt like I had lost my own child when it was said and done.  I am emotionally affected even now as I write.  As parents, my wife and I were devastated by the reality that Oscar’s mother, in a well intentioned, fact based attempt to save her son from hurt, harm or danger, suggested that he and his friends take the train instead of drive on New Years eve.  In trying to evade a predictable, potentially negative outcome, Oscar ended up irrationally losing his life.



I’m sure Trayvon Martin’s parents, and the parents of so many of our youth who have been tragically harmed or killed in spite of our attempts as parents to protect them, constantly question what thing they could have said or done to create a reality different from the one the are living.  My wife and I immediately thought about how we are constantly trying to protect our kids and grandkids.  We are responsible for that effort, but as a father who has lost a child at birth, and a father to murder, I know that when the ship comes in, we will be on it.  Our task in life is to work towards the kind of emotional maturity that will allow us to have faith in the still small voice within, and acceptance of the infallibility of the law of karma, in spite of what we may think.  Apprehension based on facts is wise.  Fear is the source of much that ails us.  Love and faith can heal all.  We are all stars in the movie that is our lives.  Let’s play our roles as best we can, just for today.






Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Will you believe me or your lying eyes?


 


by Reggie Smith


"'Cause what I wanna do and what I'd like to tell you;  May not be as you see.   As you live today, what I wanna say-  Be ever wonderful in your own sweet way."   



Earth, Wind & Fire

 



Muhammad Ali would say, "Float like a butterfly sting like a bee; you can't hit what you can’t see."   I have always been inspired by his ability to stand up for what he believes in, and his ability to create his own reality. His stance against the Viet Nam war flew in the face of social acceptability, but proved to be prophetic, in my humble opinion.  I always admired how Muhammad Ali stayed true to his destiny, no matter what.  Muhammad Ali put his faith and principles ahead of his own safety and security.  Similarly, like with many other struggles for social change, the gay community also had to take a stance and fight for the lives of everyone diagnosed with HIV so that the ruling class were not easily able to dismiss those (of us) who were afflicted with the disease.  It’s too bad that we are quietly losing much of what was paid for with the lives of many, because "priorities", and supposedly finite resources have fueled fear and greed have flourished once again. 



When all is said and done, the American medical system is set up for profit, not for wellness.  This is the reason many people living with chronic illnesses suffer and/or die in America.   After living with HIV for over 25 years, it's infuriating to see how access to services have deteriorated for people accessing public health.  When HIV was perceived as a “gay disease”, money was being fought for and put into services that are no longer available for the poor. Now, the majority of people with HIV are people of color, and not necessarily gay.  I hope that those who helped win the battle have not become the greedy and fearful.



There is still a great deal of trauma and stigma, hurt, fear and ignorance surrounding HIV, but the money to treat chronic disease is moving to a larger market of hepatitis C.  The Hep C virus is covertly having a devastating effect on the world community, and it’s estimated that over 3.5 million Americans have been exposed.  So, if we do not learn from our experiences with HIV, and take care of the people who are diagnosed and affected, we are doomed to repeat many of the same mistakes.  There is too much at stake for all affected communities to be divided by greed.



Maybe “Obamacarewill help the poor and middle income afford treatment.  At present, there is a hole that those who cannot afford the deductible are falling into that is about five feet deep.  It’s not deep enough to die in, but one can hardly breathe or see your way out of the financial grave the costs dig for us.  As a person living with medical coverage, there are things I’m not exposed to and do not generally see unless someone shares it.  It seems evil that some legislators and others would work so hard to deny human rights and dignity from people seeking it.  Most media does not work hard enough to expose that evil because it, too, is a corporation looking to grow profits.   Corporations are not really people, but they pay people to create laws that cause pain.  Real people are suffering so that corporations and stockholders can profit.  Instead of Black and gay people fighting each other for crumbs, we should change the game of capitalism so that it serves the unmet needs of the people.



At the core of the effort to oppress and deny human rights to Americans is an organization we never see called The American Legislative Exchange Council.  ALEC is an organization that is spending a great deal of money to make sure that corporate interest trump the interest of regular people like us.  Wikipedia say “ALEC is not a lobby; it is not a front group. It is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, behind closed doors, corporations hand state legislators the changes to the law they desire that directly benefit their bottom line.  ALEC legislation affecting healthcare for Americans includes proposals to weaken the regulation of medicine by the Food and Drug Administration, privatize Medicare and Medicaid, repeal important laws that expand public access to health care, and bar the families of Americans injured or killed by drugs that are recalled from holding drug companies accountable for the loss of beloved parents, partners, or children.  If we really take a good look at things we will see, we’ve got little choice but to work together for change.





Friday, August 23, 2013

You can pick your friends; not your race.


by Reggie Smith


"We demand a chance to do things for ourselves; we're tired of beating our heads against a wall, and working for someone else"



"We're people, we like the birds and the bees; we'd rather die on our feet, than be living on our knees."  Say it loud...



           James Brown





My friend, Dr. Harold Barnes, said something very interesting recently. He said (and I paraphrase) that in some instances we might suffer from "place-ism" (and classism) as well as racism. That is not to say that racism does not exist, only that the circumstances into which you are born may play an even more important role in your ability to succeed in America.  For instance, being born and raised black anywhere in America, especially in the southeastern part of the United States statistically puts one at a distinct disadvantage from one's peers of other races.  People who find themselves in privileged and more favorable circumstances often justify and take pride in something they had no earthly input – their racial identity.  We have nothing to do with picking the race we are born into, so it seems very egotistical that we would behave like one race is better than any other, right?  In many cases, though, we either seek to maintain or escape our economic reality by using race or class to get where we want to be. 

 



As we say around the way, " it ain't where you're from, it's where you're at".  Conversely, no matter where we are born or live, we have the ability to rise above the battlefields of life.  It's amazing how connected we would be if alien life showed up on earth. Certain adversities, usually grave ones, cause nationalities, races, or religions to bond, in spite of prejudices, in order to survive.  Being human is what we all have in common, but the uniqueness of our cultures, religions and races often cause us to be divided.  The color of one’s skin is the most obvious way to prejudge or “profile” people based on our differences.  There is a world caste system based on race that supports greed in order to maintain the status quo.  Many injustices are born from this effort, but there is one connection that is eternally available.  That is our connection to a “higher power” within.  There has, and always will be, conflict in the world.  I truly believe that prayer and meditation can help raise our individual vibration, and together we can raise the planetary frequency and shift the paradigm towards healing.



 



Many systems (political, judicial, religion, health care, etc.) have been co-opted in order to support and maintain control of the masses.  Divide and conquer is a strategy that has been used since the beginning of time.  It is inherent in the fact that we live on a physical plane based on duality.  Energetically, all things are made of positive and negative energy.  We should not expect that the world would change, until we do.

There is much that we do to create an atmosphere that is more conducive to enlightenment, but sometimes, paradoxically, the pursuit of peace becomes too consuming.  I don't mean to sound trite. I only want to suggest that everything that happens on this physical plane begins in the spiritual realm.



 



I say "don't hate the players; change the game".  On a material level, we can boycott businesses, political systems, and oppression successfully to change our circumstances.  By focusing on principles, not personalities, we might be able to balance the value that ego and wealth play in our lives.   On a spiritual level, prayer and meditation is more powerful than fear.  Our approach to many things including healing from disease, and fighting obvious injustice, has been to come up with a physical solution. Meditation and prayer, along with works, has proved to be miraculous in my life. The difference between complaining and sharing is whether or not you are living in the solution.  Having said all of that, I am very glad to be a Black man.  No matter what, if I had a choice of colors, I'd still choose the one I have.






Tuesday, August 20, 2013

When our ship comes in, we will be on it.


 


                                           by Reggie Smith


"People get ready for the train to Jordan

It's picking up passengers from coast to coast

Faith is the key, open the doors and board 'em

There's hope for all among those loved the most."



"There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner

Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own

Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner

For there's no hiding place against the Kingdom's throne."



                               Curtis Mayfield





I recently bought a new road bicycle with the intention of paying a lot more attention to getting in shape. I had been envisioning taking my first long ride to the barbershop, which is about 5 miles away from my home. Once I finally got out on the road, there were some very steep downhill roads involved on the way to the barbershop. When I got to the top of the largest hill where it was the point of no return, I started to think about what it was going to take for me to get home. I wasn't sure that I had what it took to make it back up the hill, but I decided that if I had no guts, I would get no glory.  My mind was generating fear and self-doubt, but my spirit encouraged me to have faith.  I did not want to have a “should have; would have” story, so I listened to my spirit and went for it.



As it turned out, I found another way home that was much better then coming back up the hills. Accepting the personal challenge was a very satisfying accomplishment, and I'm glad I did not punk out.  I enjoy watching the adventure of life unfold.  So often I am amazed at what happens when I listen to, and act on my spirit and intuition.  My mind will filter my feelings with fear and judgment in order to color my thoughts and actions.  I've come to know that I'm responsible for putting energy into life, but the outcome is never guaranteed.  I have learned to accept that everything happens for a reason, and it is up to me to make the best out of everything that I manifest each moment.



For instance, I went to see the movie "Fruitvale Station" recently and was touched by the movie on many levels.  I saw myself, and then more profoundly, I saw my son in the life of Oscar Grant.  He is the young man that was shot to death by an Oakland police officer at the aforementioned Fruitvale train station.  Seeing the re-enactment of how that happened was painful enough, but the confluence of events that led up to his shooting was so easily identifiable that I felt like I had lost my own child when it was said and done.  I am emotionally affected even now as I write.  As parents, my wife and I were devastated by the reality that Oscar’s mother, in a well intentioned, fact based attempt to save her son from hurt, harm or danger, suggested that he and his friends take the train instead of drive on New Years eve.  In trying to evade a predictable, potentially negative outcome, Oscar ended up irrationally losing his life.



I’m sure Trayvon Martin’s parents, and the parents of so many of our youth who have been tragically harmed or killed in spite of our attempts as parents to protect them, constantly question what thing they could have said or done to create a reality different from the one the are living.  My wife and I immediately thought about how we are constantly trying to protect our kids and grandkids.  We are responsible for that effort, but as a father who has lost a child at birth, and a father to murder, I know that when the ship comes in, we will be on it.  Our task in life is to work towards the kind of emotional maturity that will allow us to have faith in the still small voice within, and acceptance of the infallibility of the law of karma, in spite of what we may think.  Apprehension based on facts is wise.  Fear is the source of much that ails us.  Love and faith can heal all.  We are all stars in the movie that is our lives.  Let’s play our roles as best we can, just for today.



The Law of Karma 





 



Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind . . . what we sow is what we reap. And when we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success.



I will put the Law of Karma into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:





1. Today I will witness the choices I make in each moment. And in the mere witnessing of these choices, I will bring them to my conscious awareness. I will know that the best way to prepare for any moment in the future is to be fully conscious in the present.



2. Whenever I make a choice, I will ask myself two questions: “What are the consequences of this choice that I’m making?” and “Will this choice bring fulfillment and happiness to me and also to those who are affected by this choice?”



3. I will then ask my heart for guidance and be guided by its message of comfort or discomfort. If the choice feels comfortable, I will plunge ahead with abandon. If the choice feels uncomfortable, I will pause and see the consequences of my action with my inner vision. This guidance will enable me to make spontaneously correct choices for myself and for all those around me.



For more; visit the Chopra Center.






Tuesday, August 13, 2013

I want to be loved; is that so wrong?


I  want to be loved; is that so wrong?


 


"I'm so glad I got my own, so glad that I can see; my life's a natural high, the man can't put no thing on me."


               Curtis Mayfield


 


Movies are made to help us identify with situations and feelings we experience in our own lives.   So how do I explain the  way I felt while watching a sappy 'Lifetime like' flick about parenting, step-parenting, dealing with cancer, and navigating the feelings of love?  The lives of the people in the movie "Stepmom" could not have been more different from mine, but the feelings I share with the movies characters are universal.  Life is temporary, but  we all want to be loved and to give love while we are here, right?   In fact, nothing feels better than being part of a circle of love.  The power of love is amazing and miraculous.


 


I have been blessed to have more than one life in this lifetime, and everytime I have been challenged by life, and seemingly down for the count, the love of  friends and family has healed me.   I believe we attract the friends to our life that help us to achieve our cosmic purpose. Family helps us to learn life lessons too!  All are vessels for God (Good Orderly Direction) if we are open minded enough to be conscious of the messages they bring.  I am so grateful to be a part of my soul group.


 


I am extremely impressed with the quality of my friends.  Our bonds are strong, often by virtue of the things we have in common.  Many times, though, conflict or strife has been the road to enlightenment.  For instance, people like me who have had the experience of overcoming addictions "one day at a time" speak a language that communicates on different levels of spirit, and no matter where in the world I may be, I'm sure to never be alone. I wish everyone could enjoy the sense of security that the members of the "no matter what" club possess.  The kind of love we share surpasses the desire for drugs and alcohol, just for today.  The price we have paid to be in the club has been high (no pun intended).


 


 


I enjoy watching the adventure of life unfold.  I know I'm responsible for the effort I put into my life, but there is a certain amount of destiny incorporated in what the outcome is to be. Until we develop our psychic ability, we are dealing with what is right in front of us, and building on our past.  Life takes strength, and we build our bank of strength by giving and receiving love.  If your friends and family had to give a one word description of you what would it be?  If your friends had to lie under oath to help keep you out of jail because of a serious mistake you made, would they? Would you do that for them?  We never know until it happens. I'm grateful that I have had enough love in the bank, and I'm spiritually connected to friends and family so as to be able to deal with whatever life has to offer so far.  I know that  if our friendships say something about who we are, mine are making me look really good.  I will continue to give unconditional love to my friends and family, because the return on that investment has made me a wealthy man.




Saturday, August 10, 2013

Enlightened Sex







Time is relative; Grace is divine.


 



By Reggie Smith



"Where have all the flowers gone; long time passing...long ago.  Where have all the flowers gone; the graveyards?



                    Earth, Wind & Fire



I recently saw a story about a grandson who has publicly forgiven a woman who is on death row for brutally murdering his grandmother almost 30 years ago.  It caught my attention because my father was murdered 35 years ago, and I often wish that he were here to share the last 28 years that I have lived without drugs and alcohol.  Dad was a problem drinker, like me, so it would have been interesting to see if he would have been blessed to experience this way of life without alcohol.  Dad was a policeman, so you would have thought his killer would be severely punished, but his sentence was 3-5 years. My father was 47 at the time of his death.  I'd say he was gone too soon, but when your time comes, you go.  No one is gonna get out of here alive. 



Many of us, though, have lived through experiences that others have not survived.  In my family alone we have me, a long term survivor of HIV, my 80 something year old mother is a cancer survivor, my sister is a recipient of a double lung transplant, my daughter has boy/girl twins, my 33 year old son was born prematurely at 2 pounds, and my godmother has a heart so filled with love, she has gone through two heart pacemakers.  I said years ago that if you could survive until now, we would have replacement body parts to keep us alive for a long time.  That time has come, but only God's grace can determine who gets to stay alive, and who gets to go to the other side.   With the advance of stem cell science, we are able to grow our own body parts, if you can afford to.  Of course, money won't save our lives, but lack of money certainly could be the death of us.  Thank God for the miracles of medicine, but we have to live long enough to be eligible to take advantage of them, right?  I hope to live to see the day we truly have free or affordable healthcare for all. 



Part of participating in our own survival means complimenting our medical care with the effort it takes to be well.  Medical science and pharmaceutical pills seem like the easy way to go, but even taking them takes discipline.  Three things that help me to be more disciplined and compliment the medical treatment I am getting are drinking plenty of water, remembering to breathe deeply, and regularly take time to do some kind of meditative practice.  The meditation can be yoga, walking, cycling, jogging, swimming, or simply sitting still for a period of time.  Whatever I can do to quiet my mind and focus on the darkness at the third eye within (until it turns into light) helps to raise my vibration.  When we are operating at those higher frequencies, we are able to create with less effort.  For me, it is at those frequencies that time seems to collapse and I attract what I am focused on in less time than it would take with much more physical effort.  That is where my synchronicities seem to live.



Grace is the only explanation for why some of us still alive and others have gone on.  I'm grateful for everyday that I can be of service to humanity. I pray to be an instrument of God's will, and a vessel of His/Her word. The body and mind are our temples, and the vehicle with which our spirits operate on this plane. When forgetting is not an option or the thing to do, forgiveness may prove more difficult, but resentments destroy our spirits and cause stress and disease. We are more than capable of seeking and giving forgiveness.  To err is human, but to forgive is divine.  Today I pray for forgiveness, and extend the same to all; including the man who murdered my father.



------------------------------------------------------



The act of forgiveness is the act of returning to present time.





And that's why when one has become a forgiving person,

and has managed to let go of the past, what they've really done is they've shifted their relationship with time.




~ Caroline Myss ~






Saturday, July 6, 2013

Tell me some lies, because the truth is not making sense.



















Rise Multimedia Magazine










































Home

About

News

Broadcasts

Contact













facebook

twitter

linkedin

youtube

google+






Featured Video: Marvelyn's Deciding Moment



(click on arrow to view video)



undefined



New!!  Reply or Comment using video by clicking the link on top!!




















Wellness









Awareness









Recovery









Register Now












Tell me some lies, because the truth is not making sense.



By Reggie Smith



 



" I always feel like somebody's watching me, and I have no privacy...tell me is it just a dream?"



                                  Rockwell



 



When we were kids, I had friends who would invite me over and start gossip about a mutual friend who was hiding in the closet.  The “friend” would see if they could get you to speak ill about the person in the closet. If they succeeded, the person in the closet would jump out and surprise you with the embarrassment of what you said about them behind their back.  That is how I learned not to say something behind someone’s back that I haven't already said to his or her face.  It was a great life lesson because it taught me to practice authenticity.  So now, in this age of information, I expect that my phone, email, and actions are being monitored at all times by the American government, but I'm not afraid to say what I think and feel.  Just because I’m a little paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t listening, right?



As it pertains to spying on us with technology, our government is acting like a cheating spouse who has been caught cheating again.  They know what they have done, but when confronted, they keep lying so they won't have to face the truth and pay the cost of their actions.  It's like we are being told; who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?  If you were in a relationship or marriage that had the guilt America has in its relationship with some of its people, would you trust and forgive?  Nelson Mandela led the truth and reconciliation in South Africa and we need the same thing here in the U.S.  Trust is a big issue when it comes to forgiveness.  Though it is hard to trust our government based on what it has done in the past, I forgive them for what they have done – even if they have not yet had the courage to ask me to.  More importantly, it is essential for me to trust in a power greater than myself (God) in order to find peace within.



The U.S. was built on stolen land and slave labour.  American history is riddled with nefarious deeds that have never been atoned for.  Any illusion of privacy in this day and age is self-deception, so I try to live my life like it’s an open book knowing that almost everything is open to scrutiny.  I embrace the use of technology and wish more of our "have nots" did too, but much of my generation is intimidated by the idea that someone is "all up in their business".  Unfortunately, fear of technology makes it harder for us to share information.  We might as well embrace technology and use it to our advantage.  Nations have changed when people have used technology to organize themselves.



There is healing for all on a spiritual level when we live authentically.  I know there is a difference between being honest and being a damn fool, but a paradox of life is that the more we give of ourselves, the more we receive.  Few things are as rewarding as being a positive part of another's life.  There is peace, healing and freedom in living authentically. Being honest with others and ourselves is the first step in recovering our right relationship with all creation.  There is always someone in our closet, but it doesn't matter when we keep it real.



 



“Spirituality is not to be learned by flight from the world, or by running away from things, or by turning solitary and going apart from the world. Rather, we must learn an inner solitude wherever or with whomsoever we may be. We must learn to penetrate things and find God there.”

�?? Meister Eckhart



 



 



For information about starting a support group for ALL those affected by HIV/Hep C, check out:



HIV AnonymousHCV Anonymous



 



 Post to our Facebook page, RISE the Magazine.



Email Response Form



Your thoughts matter!  Make your comments here!



New!!  Reply or Comment using video by clicking the link on top!!



Here are a few books you might like:





“Surrender To Heal” - 7 Ways to Rise Above the Battlefield of Life -  by Reggie Smith





“From The Crack House to the White House” - by Denise Stokes





“I’m Still Here”  - by Venus Perez  



Subscribe to RISE4WAR.com - a multimedia magazine focused on Wellness, Awareness, & Recovery especially for families affected by HIV/Hep C



PLEASE SIGN UP TO CONTRIBUTE CONTENT, ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCT, SERVICE, EVENT OR ORGANIZATION...OR TO SIMPLY RECEIVE "RISE"!



                     





Please fill out my form!



CALL 678-744-RISE (7473) TO DISCUSS PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES



info@rise4war.com
































Our Sponsors & Supporters

NMCRA

HIV Anonymous

HCV Anonymous

 

Black Golf Wear

 


Music video of The Temptations



"Ball of Confusion"





 



Technology: Where Do You Fit In?







 



Click on the links below to enjoy a continuous"old skool" music mix by DJ "Kind Brother" Reggie Smith



(right-click to download)



Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me (1983).mp3



Labor Day 2012.mp3



Back Room pt.3.mp3



BackRoom #3(1).mp3



Archives





You can play the role; but don't let the role play you





I laugh and I joke, but I don't play





Afraid to die, but scared to live?





Raw sex feels better; but condoms make it last longer





Is it Homophobia or Heterophobia?





Humility is an Acquired Trait





My Mind is Playing Tricks On Me





Are You a Hostage or a Volunteer?





Is Your Sex for Sport or Healing?





Am I a diplomat, or a spy?





We are all bipolar, but to what extreme?





Think Globally, but Act Personally





AIDS Cured or Healed?





One Woman, One Voice





Cash Rules Everything Around Me



 


 





 

RISE Multimedia News and Education Magazine · info@rise4war.com

Reggie Smith · 678-744-RISE (7473) · Skype: ReggieSmith770




reggiesmith770.com