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 money!  Now 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!

Think globally, but act personally.

President Obama has recently been accused of campaigning while in office. I understand what he is doing though. He has his roots in community organizing, and that means getting people to come together and advocate for themselves.  Because power seems to concede nothing, collective action will have to happen in order for us to change the world.  It will take a concerted effort to change the status quo, because they are entrenched in their position and fortified by greed.  The majority of us see the need for change, but it will take all of us to help create it.



Like Michael Jackson said, in order to change the world you have to begin with the man in the mirror. As we all know, it takes work to change our own ways.  One way we can create individual discipline and change is by looking at what we eat. When you think about it, we are just as entrenched in the way that we eat as the status quo is entrenched in not changing.  Both realities are driven by addictive behaviors.  Many of us are locked in negative patterns that are having negative effects on our health, by the bondage of self that we've created around the foods that we eat. I believe that if we could change the way that we eat, we could actually change the world.



We already know that the foods we eat are causing a great deal of sickness, just like we know that the reason we have not come together to change the availability of nutritious food for everyone is because we have not been disciplined enough to demand change. When we become activist for a change in things like our acceptance of things like genetically modified foods and food desserts, we will demand change with one voice.  In that regard, we would be creating change on a global level by changing our individual actions.

The first step though it isn't changing the world is changing ourselves. Often I get stuck in destructive patterns out of fear of being able to change. I get lazy and comfortable doing things that are not in my best interest of personal discipline, I am learning not to let perfection be the enemy of progress.

 

I would like to be a part of positive change in the world, which is why we created RISE. Here we get an opportunity to talk about some of the things that we can do to change world, but we realize that it all begins with changing ourselves. I believe that changing the way that we eat is one way that we can create the discipline and health we will need to employ the collective action necessary to change the status quo, so we will discuss here some of the healing solutions that we can do to make a difference. Join us as we RISE for Wellness, Awareness, and Recovery, won't you?

 

 

ABOUT RISE 4 WAR - The Multimedia Magazine

ABOUT RISE 4 WAR - The Multimedia Magazine

“It is imperative that we participate in our own survival, because if we do not do so, we will most certainly be complicit in our own demise” Reggie Smith – Editor-in-chief

Now is the time for us to raise our consciousness about our responsibility for our own wellness.  There is very little, if anything, preventing us from heightening our awareness about how we can recover from the multitude of maladies that are plaguing minority communities.  Data overwhelmingly supports the need, and desire for information and resources that will help to create an atmosphere for healing. The Affordable Care Act is ushering in a shift in the paradigm as it pertains to wellness care.  Among low-income patients, access to primary care is associated with better preventive care, better management of chronic conditions, and reduced mortality.

“RISE” multimedia news and education magazine will be delivered in an interactive format, which includes audio, and video interviews, featured articles, and reported information concerning local individuals and organizations in the wellness arena.

 “RISE” – multimedia news and education magazine will provide the following opportunities for promotional consideration to those select products, services and businesses that fit into the vision and format we have created:

• Community awareness through cross promotional campaigns


• Direct access to a niche market of expanding demographic
   
• Hypertext brand logo placement used in email campaigns using individual segments 


• Hypertext brand logo placement used in websites
  
• Hypertext brand logo placement used in online TV programs
   
• Product placement opportunities

• Access to comprehensive campaign analytics

Join us as we “RISE” for Wellness, Awareness & Recovery (WAR) from HIV, Hepatitis, Diabetes, Addictions, and many of the other maladies that plague our community! 

We intend to be entertaining, informative and interactive. 

We plan to provide resources that you can use to enhance the quality of your life. 

We hope you enjoy and egage with us…here in “RISE”!

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