Don't Let Others Dull Your Shine!

So this weekend, I heard the most wild story about friendship that I have heard in a while. My best friend had to get rid of some very toxic "friends" in her life. I kinda felt her pain, considering these people were her friends for approximately 17 years. My sympathy ended quickly when I heard the following story.

She told me that, four years ago, these so-called "friends" (who aren't in college) made fun of her for choosing to attend Cornell University. Are you as floored as I am? If not, you are as "basic" as the people making fun of her. What type of society are we in where going to a top Ivy League institution is a source of ridicule? We are in a society that has grown accustomed to teen pregnancy and to being labeled "Special Ed" or "Bipolar". But noooooooo, going to a good school is what prompts laughter? And we choose to associate with these creatures? God help us!!! We need to UPGRADE OUR LIVES immediately!

What's even more outrageous was my friend's response to the ridicule. From that point on, instead of telling people that she goes to Cornell University, she began telling people that she goes to a school in upstate New York. WHAT!?!!? NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. This is absolutely ridiculous! As soon as she told me that, I literally screamed her for being intimidated by some "basic" broads. I do not understand why people feel the need to dull their own shine for some "basics" that do not matter. I just don't get it! Hell, I just graduated from Morehouse College. People make fun of Morehouse all of the time, but I do not let it phase me because I know people are ignorant. Most of the time they do not even know that Martin Luther King, Jr. attended Morehouse or never heard of David Satcher, Benjamin Elijah Mays, or any of the other top leaders my institution has produced. I use people's ignorance as a chance to educate them on my prestigious institution.

People need to remember this very famous phrase: "Birds of a feather flock together."

A "basic" person's primary goal in life is to get you on their low level, which is why they criticize all of your accomplishments. "Basic" people have a "flock" mindset: the more negative people the better.

So how do you avoid these "birds"? First, you have to realize that people who try to bring you down ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS!!!! Remove these fools out of your life IMMEDIATELY! The next step goes back to the Lil Wayne confidence I spoke about in the previous post. (click here) You have to know your own self-worth!!!!! You have to KNOW that you are the shit! You have to know that you have been making great decisions in your life. If you are not proud of accomplishments, who else will?

Peace,

Evon

The Gospel According to Lil Wayne

I know what you are thinking. "I know this negro isn't gonna try to defend Lil Wayne."

Welllllll, not really.

Personally, I think Lil Wayne has a lack of morals and a poor role model but that's not my point. The one thing I truly respect about Lil Wayne is his self-confidence.

Take a listen to the following clip...

My favorite line is "I scream fuck the world with a long dick. Motherfucker, I'M ME!" Lil Wayne gives two fucks about your opinion of him. He simply doesn't care. Lil Wayne can look in the mirror and know that he is the shit regardless of what group is protesting or what bullshit some blog is spewing.

Think about it, when is the last time you were able to look yourself in the mirror and feel like you are a million bucks? When is the last time you woke up without a care in the world because you love yourself? When is the last time you just brushed off the negative energy brought on by the throngs?

If you answer is everyday to any of the previous questions, you have what I am talking. My theory is that people who are "basic" will never get to this point because of their lack of self-worth. Few people are born with it and it takes time and a lot of soul-searching to for others. Hell, it took me 21 years! For some of us, we needed spiritual englightenment via church services, religous texts, etc. For others, it took a drastic moment in our lives to realize how special we are. My thing is it does not matter how you "recieved" this gift of self-worth. We know we the shit! This is a gift! Don't be ashamed! Thanks Lil Wayne.

Here's a small task for you this evening: Close your eyes and think about your accomplishments thus far.

Introduction

Hello all,

My name is Evon Burton and I am the creator of the "Upgrade Ya Life" blog. I am born and raised in the historic city of Philadelphia and a Proud recent graduate from Morehouse College. Simply put, "Upgrade Ya Life" is a fight against "basic"-dom. A fight against low-aim. A fight for morality. A fight for having great character.

Over these past few weeks, I have never been so empowered to do a project like this.

Why? Because I have come to realize that people do not understand the gravity of the choices they make. For example, I went to a cookout a couple of weeks ago that was filled with marijuana and alcohol and this 21 year old girl partook in the drunken activities while her child was on her lap. (cough, Basic!) This is unaccpetable and should not be condoned. Ironically, today, Pastor Waller of Enon Tabernacle (www.enontab.org) preached about not selling yourself short. Too many people are busy trying to fit in with the "in" crowd that they are not realizing that their bad decisions will fuck up the rest of their lives.

I want to use this blog to address the problems that our communities are facing. I want to address our community's admiration of complacency. I want to address our community's admiration of unsupportive parenting. STDs are running rampid and Black men are still filling prisons. We can no longer afford to be making these same "downgrading" decisions. We need to "Upgrade Our Lives."

I want this to be a public discussion. Please feel free to comment on ANYTHING that is being posted. If you feel like my opinion on a certain issue is "Basic", I would love to hear your point of view. Also, if you have a pressing issue that you want to talk about, please percieve this blog as the perfect place to expose your feelings.

Thank you for your attention and I look forward to hearing your POV!

Evon