TIME IS NOW

Cue Dancing Machine by the Jackson 5. Real music right there folks. Follow me on Twitter @Big_Dusty and get at me on Facebook.com/bigdusty…STRAIGHT TO IT!

Lately the big talk around the news has been about gay marriage. Now I’ve done my share of blogging around this issue. Even did a controversial blog on the “f-word” that is used for gay people. I think I went a little too far on that blog but I won’t delete it because it’s already been read for one, and for two, I can’t take it back. It was already typed. It kills me when famous people delete tweets like it wasn’t said. You already tweeted it people, even if you deleted it, you can guarantee somebody read it and already took a picture of the tweet. You can’t take it back. All you can do is apologize for it and move on with your life. I’ve said some things and done some things that I wish that I could take back. I missed out on opportunity after opportunity that I can’t get back. One of my trainers at work said this morning, you can possibly get back money, but you can’t get back time. That’s true. No matter what you do, you can’t get the time you wasted or missed back.

 I used to regret the things I did in the past. I mean I used to think of my past and little stop walking and try to shake my head to shake the memories away. I’d regret the opportunities I missed out. Regret is nothing but a setback. Move forward. Sorry for my mistakes. Sorry for my mess ups. Today I will strive to do better than I did yesterday. Yesterday I may have messed up, but today I got another chance. Don’t focus on regrets. Focus on the fact that you’re alive another day and it’s another chance. Think about it like this. The wages of sin is death. The payment for the sins you’ve committed or commit is death. Yet, you’re still alive. Chance. Grasp to this chance that you’re getting and take advantage! Run for your dreams. Run for your new reality. Your current reality doesn’t dictate your future reality.

If you’re tired of doing things the same way, if you’re tired of falling in the same trap, falling for the same sin…here’s a thought. Change. Change the way you do things. Change the way you live. You obviously know what to do to fall into the trap, now use this new day to avoid. Today start a new habit of not doing the current habits that you know is wrong.

Couple of days ago, the trainer was asking us if any of us have ever had a significant other or ever had a date. I don’t know for sure, but I must have been the only one in class shaking my head no to the questions. Now the old me would’ve started crying from depression. Crying from being hurt from all the eyes looking at me. But…I know there’s a reason that I’ve been single. There’s a reason I haven’t been on a date. There’s a reason that I’ve never been invited to parties. There’s a reason people never came to the parties I planned. There’s no reason to cry about it. There’s no reason to dwell on it. Today is a new day. New day, new chances. New day, new opportunities. In less than 2 weeks, I’ll be turning 25. What am I doing for my birthday? Maybe something. Maybe nothing. But rather I have a party or not, it’s not going to change the fact that God would have blessed  me to see another year. I know what God has done for me over this past year alone. 24 has been a year of experience. 25 I’m looking for better. New. I’m looking for new. If you want to ride with me, there’s plenty of room. If you don’t want to ride, I’m going to keep moving, don’t hurt yourself jumping out. I love me. If none of y’all love me, I love me. That was the problem. I didn’t love myself. I didn’t find myself worth anything. I thought throwing a party for my birthday would have people like me. I thought inviting people to a barbecue would have people like me. When nobody showed up, when my sister had to invite her friends so people would be there, and all I had planned was to watch movies….I didn’t love me. Look at me now.

I got readers out there that feel the same way. I got some readers out there that have been through. This blog is not so I can preach to myself. This is for all of you that have regret. This is for all of you that have been a screw up. This is for all of you that have been a loner. This is for all of you that felt that nobody cared about you. Learn to love yourself. Learn to like yourself. Find worth in yourself. Don’t look for worth from other people. Don’t get me wrong, when people say they’re proud of me, I smile. It makes me feel good. When I hear people say that God is proud of me. I smile. It makes me feel good. Now I can say, I’m proud of me. I love me. My heart now smiles. I feel good.

Stay Saved,

Walk Your Own Path

I don’t watch Oprah much or not at all. I never was a big fan of hers, and really got turned off when she denied Christ. So safe to say, it would have to be something interesting for me to watch it.

I heard Tyler Perry was going to be on, and me being a huge fan of his, this was a definite watch for me. The whole interview was hard for me to watch. It wasn’t because I experienced what he did because thank God I didn’t, but just the graphic and craziness that went on in his life was just unbearable to hear. I literally had chills listening to what came out of his mouth, and it’s amazing that he’s walking tall using his past as a spring for his fame now.

I can’t and don’t even want to imagine what it felt like to go through what he went through. This is why you got to be careful about saying, “I want to be like this guy,” or “I want to be like that guy or gal,” because you have no idea what they went through to get where they are now. I heard Shawn Michaels say this in a shoot interview where he was talking about Vince McMahon. He said, paraphrasing, that a lot of people go to Vince and ask him to “make me a millionaire” but don’t want to do the work.

There’s a phrase I heard a lot growing up that says, “You got to go through to get to.” There’s a lot of truth in that statement. All of us got our own paths to take. Me, myself, personally…I’m having trouble with my own path, so why would I want to walk in Tyler Perry’s shoes, or Donnie McClurkin’s shoes, or any other celebrity. Heck for that matter, I wouldn’t want to walk some of the paths you guys take every day. I think that’s why some people are scared to live out the best of their lives because they know that it’s not going to be a “cakewalk.” I know that’s sort of my thing now. I grew up with this mentality that life was going to be easy. I wish I could go back to that kid and tell him the truth.

Like I said in my blog on Job Core, I do have dreams. For a while I didn’t have dreams. I had dreams when I slept at night, but never had the kind of dreams of what I wanted to do with my life. Now I realize my dreams and aspirations, I’m trying to figure out how to pursue them. Why would I want anybody to walk in my shoes, when I’m still trying to figure out what my shoe size is? Know what I mean?

So don’t wish to be like anybody else. Wish to be like you. If you don’t like you right now, wish to be a better you. How do you be a better you? I really can’t answer that because I’m on the path of becoming a better me as I’m typing this. I’m still trying to figure that out. I do know one thing that helps. Being saved. Having Jesus in my heart. That helps a whole bunch.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

First Impression: Job Corps (Hi, I'm back)

Oofa! Has it really been 2 months since I’ve done the blogging? My fault y’all. I’m going to get back to doing these things on the regular. I did do a blog on wrestling yesterday, but I didn’t post it on here. Here’s the link if you want to read that one: http://bit.ly/ajyOJI

So before I share what’s been going on, let me give a brief history that some of my new readers might not know, and some of my old readers might not remember. I did go to college. I went to college, chose a major that I wasn’t interested in, and some semesters after, I quit. The smart thing would’ve been is to change the major to something that was suitable to enhancing the skills I already had, but I did just the opposite.

Fast forward!! Job corps. As some of you know, I recently went to a meeting to maybe join it. Before the meeting I was hyped up because I was thinking it was going to be awesome. I was going to travel out of state and get some training. I was going to meet some new friends. I was going to possibly meet some of you that I’ve talked to for years online. I was going enhance my skills or find a skill that I’m interested in learning and get a job in that skill and live my life until I die!! I had everybody congratulating me in advance. “Oh, Daniel I have a good feeling about this one!” “Go, Daniel, go!!” *ting*

Ever had a dream or a vision of how something is going to be and then in reality it’s not anything like the dream or vision? Here’s my reality.

So I go up to the place where the meeting was at dressed in slacks and a nice shirt. I had all the stuff I thought I needed in a nice yellow folder thinking how impressed are they going to be, and I walk in! Then I see a young guy around 16-17 wearing a hat, jeans full of holes and a t-shirt with his mom. I see another guy with jeans, and boots on. I sit beside a guy in the waiting room with a long sleeve red shirt on and sneakers. So already I was feeling like I missed a memo. Then I heard that I needed something that I didn’t know I needed. So I walk in with all my stuff in a nice folder, and the fact is I don’t have everything and I’m over dressed. The meeting gets started and it’s like a round table meeting. Basically all who was applying sat a table with the speaker at the head of it. A business meeting like atmosphere. First we watch a video. I’m watching this video and I’m like, hold up! Am I joining a college? They’re talking about staying in dorms with roommates and eating on campus and all that. For up to two years. Remember I didn’t last in college, and that was for a TWO YEAR DEGREE. This is already not looking good. My dream and expectation looked nothing like this.

After the video, the lady running it, starts explaining more about what Job Corps is. She then says that if we don’t say anything and/or ask a question she’s not giving us an application. Okie Dokie. So I don’t say anything the whole time. I can feel some of you right now gasping and saying, “Daniel!” My response, “Ye shall know the truth…” The reason I don’t say anything for one, again, it’s nothing like I expected. Hard work? I expected that. Don’t get me wrong, I was not expecting this to be a cat walk. Another reason I don’t say anything is because I’m listening to all of the other people, and most of them have dropped out of high school. I’m not going to talk bad about them dropping out of high school, so just relax folks. The fact was, I got my high school diploma. I was clean as far as crime goes. I’ve never done drugs. I’ve thought about it, but never did it. I literally felt like I was in a rehab center.

So later on in the meeting, the lady looked at me and said and I quote, “Ask me something.” I didn’t know what to say so I sat and pondered. I didn’t have a question. I didn’t have a statement ready because again none of this was expected. I didn’t know I was in a meeting for basic training, which is what it felt like to me. I didn’t say anything, so she asked me, “Why are you here?” I told her the truth that I’m 23 years old, I don’t want to depend on my parents anymore…blah blah blah. She told me the truth that I looked like a grown man. I don’t know what gave it away; maybe it was the mustache and the beard. Smart woman this one was, but I digress. She told me that if I go through with this, I’d have to go all the way, which I knew and thought I was ready to do.

Anyway, we then get some handouts. Before I go there, we get told what Job Centers are opening. Now, I wanted OUT of familiarity. One center was outside of Ashville, NC. The other center was outside of Orangeburg, SC. Both are 2 ½ hours away. Yikes. Again, not what I expected. Maybe I should stop thinking to much into stuff before actually seeing what it is so I won’t be turned down. Back to the handouts. We get the handouts, and first thing I hear about is Polo shirts and kakis. So now I’m joining a private school. I didn’t say that out loud, but that’s what I was thinking. I don’t mind the khakis but I hate polo shirts with a PASSION. Here’s the allowance: $25 bi-weekly. I get more than that now. Again, not sounding like the dream I was hoping for. Not sounding like what I was praying for. This is sounding like the Army without the exercise and weapons.

I know I know. “Daniel, stop complaining! This is all going to lead to something!” I feel you. I’m with you. Now we get to what I thought would’ve brought me back into accepting to going into this. The occupations offered. Uh…what do I do here? I’m not interested in any of this. “Daniel this is a great opportunity. You have nothing going on. You have no room to complain.” I feel you. I’m with you. You’re right. 100%. Yesterday, I go on the Job Corps website to see if I find something on there that I might be interested in. Uh…

Now I’m stuck. I don’t know what to do. Oh, btw, I forgot to mention that back in college when I chose my major, my mom played a major part. Mom suggested Job Corps to me. I’m not throwing my mom under the bus. For one I love my mom, and I wouldn’t do that to her. She’s just trying to help. Me having nothing going on, I took a shot because it was something.

Back to the meeting, so we get to the point where we fill out the actual application. I haven’t had to write that much cursive since Elementary School. I signed my name so many times. Good Lord! So it came to a point where I had to choose 3 occupations. Remember, I’m not interested in none of this. I have no desire to pursue any of this. So I chose something I might be able to make a go at. Something I’m not that interested in. Remind you of anything? Yeah, this has potential to be a bust!

I know this all sounds like I’m ungrateful. I’m not, ok? I’m not ungrateful. I know and understand that at this point of my life I need to do something. I am 23 years old. I can’t depend on my Mom anymore. I got to come up with something on my own. On the real, I just want God’s will to be done, and if I got to join the Job Corps so be it. I just know, my heart won’t be in it.

Another thing on the meeting, we were told people can’t be trusted. Be careful what you bring, what you put in your locker because people will steal. Turns out there’s a big lesbian epidemic going on at one of the centers. It seems like one cluster after another. Again, I know it seems like I’m ungrateful and complaining. The question comes up, “Ok, Daniel, not this. Then what? Because you got to do something.” Want the honest answer. I don’t know. I do not know. There it is the truth.

I would love to get paid doing something like this. Blogging. Sharing my thoughts like this. I would love one day to write a novel and have it on top of the best seller list. I would love to one day do something musically, weather its sing and/or play drums. I would love an opportunity to work backstage for a wrestling company because I feel I have a great mind for it. A lot of stuff I would love to do. I would love to do a show on stage. Maybe do a stage play. I’m crazy. I don’t have any sense what so ever, and most of y’all know that. I say all that to let y’all know, I have dreams. I have stuff I want to do. And I think it’s good that I just admitted that stuff on here because it lets me know that I am capable of doing something. I have to ask God forgiveness for lying at the Job Corps meeting because I said that I don’t know what I want to do career wise. After all that stuff I just mentioned, it turns out I have a pretty good idea, huh?

I know this is lengthy but again it has been 2 months, so I just wanted to remind some of you and introduce some of you to what I do and what I can do. I was contemplating on rather to post this or not but it’s going up. Obviously you know that because you’re reading it. People are going to take this either way they want to. I can’t control how people feel. People have always either loved or hated my blogs. I’ve got chastised and praised on the same blog. So that comes with the territory.

Continue to pray for me, and please share your thoughts and opinions. I know you got some. Thanks for reading.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

Ramble Dusty Ramble!!

Well hi! Sorry to my blog readers for the long hiatus. Didn't have anything to write or blog about. If I did think about something, I did a podcast. So for this one I'm just going to wing it. For those looking for something deep, check out the other ones. This one, most likely, won't be deep at all, but who's to say I won't drop nuggets here and there. We shall see. LLLLLLLLLLLLLets go!

Let me talk about my time up here in the Mid-West so far. I will admit that there's been up and downs. My body has felt it. I got a good feelings things are looking up for me though. Spiritually they're looking up, and still hoping for that job as soon as I get off my fluffy butt and look for one. In case you haven't figured it out, or if you just want me to come out and say it, here it is. The same thing I was doing in my last few years in South Carolina, I've basically been doing here in Collinsville, IL. Am I proud of that? No. Now when I say the same thing, I mean as far as job goes. Everything else has been AWESOME!! I do miss Fatz though. Great place. So yeah, lets hope that the job will get going like it's supposed to. I'm going to say this, and I truly mean it. I do not want to move back to South Carolina. I especially don't want to move back to South Carolina with nothing to show. Know what I'm sayin?

Relationship wise. What's going on with that? You just read that I had no job. You figure that one out.

Ok I took a break. As if y'all know or want to know that. Either way, I am back to finishing the blogging of which I started. Make sense? Good.

I really got to push myself to work on this story. It's a good story so far in my opinion. Not only because I'm writing it, ok well that is part of the reason, but I think it's the story line is good. I always like to write stories as if I'm the character and I'm in a particular situation. Anyway, I know God gave me a gift to write, and don't get me wrong, I love writing blogs, but I always wanted to write a story and have it published, you know? Like be that guy on the best seller list. I believe it can happen. But for it to happen at all, I got to get to work. Yes I KNOW i need a job, but I still want to work on this story. I will get it moving again. Y'all read it here. If you see me not working on the story, we'll post a dailybooth picture to prove that me and you really met.

Am I the only one that can't listen to Kim Burrell anymore? I literally can't get myself to enjoy her singing. Ever since I heard about that new album, I was like bump that! It may seem wrong to some of you reading this, but I just don't agree with the fact that she's an assistant pastor, and national leader in the COGIC, and yet has a secular album in the works. AND the fact that Kim Burrell has support from other leaders in the COGIC. To each is his own, but as for me, Kim Burrell in my ears? Not if I can help it. Praise the Lord.

I know this wasn't the most structured blog, but it's all I got for this one, k? k. Thanks for reading. Show your love. Comment. Share your thoughts.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson