You can't block the blessings!

Recently one of my friends broke the news to me that she would be joining a part of the arm forces. To say I was surprised is definitely an understatement. It seems like it just came out of nowhere. Why was she making this decision? Could she possibly have to go to Iraq? Why is another one of our young black great minds going to go to the armed forces to serve a country that barely shows that they care about her? Those were some of the few questions that came to my mind. The selfish part of me wanted to take her and shake her and say what the hell are you thinking. Don't do it! I thought for a second what good would that do. I definitely couldn't provide her with other alternatives. This was someone who had went to college and got the degree and still wasn't getting what she should have got with that college degree. So I said to her, "I support your decision. I wish you the best and if you are happy with it then I am."

Wait did I just say that? Yes, I did. I remember one of our mutual friends saying I don't want her to go. I thought that's just the selfish side of you. Sure you want our friend to do what is best for her. I said to her, "I, personally, don't want her to go, but I do feel like she has thought about this and I support her decision."

Many times friends come to me for advice. One thing I try to keep in mind is that I need to give them advice that is best for them and not for me! That means many times I have to say things that my heart may not be fully behind. One thing I am encouraging all to do is to not block the blessings!

Many people ask me why did you go so far away for college. Sure I wanted to stay very close to my family, but I knew I couldn't achieve what I desired by staying there. I went out on a limb and ended up in North Carolina. Never once did I hear my mom discourage me from doing this. I know that it wasn't the place that she wanted me to end up, but she never once discouraged me from doing what I felt was best for me. I now realize that she didn't want to block my blessings!

So I am saying to all my readers, when people come to you for advice or a friend is thinking about taking a risk or making a career move. Don't block their blessings. Try and give them advice that you know is best for them.

I am America's Nightmare...