Another Reason to Play the Game of Holding On

The federal government of the United States is on shutdown.  I will quote an India Arie song title Come Back to the Middle – that is what our men and women in Congress must do.  “To get to the top, you must come back to the middle.”  

I don’t know about other parts of the country, but here in Washington, DC, people are just holding on.  Holding on to hope, holding on to the dream of going back to a workplace that will be slightly different from the one they left.  Holding on to the hope that the Washington Redskins can beat the Dallas Cowboys so that we can restore some pride in DC.  Right now the DC government is also hostage to the federal shutdown because the budget of this city must by endorsed by the U.S. Congress.  

Holding on is the game we must play right now.  What would it look like if a majority of the federal workers decided not to take this limbo anymore?  Would we have a revolution in 2013?

“This is not the time to give up, don't lie in defeat. You have to hold on and be strong. Greater things are ahead.” Unknown

Honoring the Past, Envisioning the Future

As thousands ascend upon Washington, DC for a week of celebration of 50 years since the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, I am reminded why it is crucial to honor the past and envision the future.  Many of the concerns of 50 years ago – expansion of jobs for the unemployed and displaced workers; voting rights for the marginal voter; and freedom to walk our streets without fear of being negatively profiled – still exist in 2013. 

A new energy is being galvanized by a new generation – one that’s much more visibly diverse in terms of culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and methods of learning.  The dot.com generation would benefit from taking their eyes off of their smartphones sometimes and looking at what is physically around them.  Instead of creating a virtual world where you create the life and image you want, take a look around and intently question why the haves and the have nots are further apart.  Technology is helpful, but it also creates a wider chasm between those who can afford to “upgrade” every time the newest gadget comes out and those who can’t.  Who would have envisioned a world, 50 years ago, where you never even have to enter a classroom to receive a diploma meant to improve your prospects in life?

So, let’s honor those who sacrificed 50 years ago and in these times so that we may have the privilege of marching for a more just world. Let us march in 2013 for a future that exhibits more patience, generosity and support for our fellow man.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won. 

From Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson

Building a Legacy

I’ve often thought about what I would like to leave as my legacy when I’m gone.  Combining my 2 passions – reading and basketball – would be my ideal.  All Star Concepts Center for Recreation and Literacy sounds like a winner to me.

As I explore another reason to play the game of building a legacy, I realize that money, property, and other material possessions are probably not going to be a big part of what I can leave for my offspring and for others in my world.  All Star Concepts Center for Recreation and Literacy is an idea that can be affirmed even after I’m gone and can encompass something greater than myself.   

If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.  - Benjamin Franklin

The Washington Redskins Name Change Game

The game of “changing the name of the Washington Redskins” is heating up.  Ten members of the U.S. Congress have decided that they need to get in on the action.  A letter was sent to Dan Snyder, owner of the Redskins, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Redskins sponsor FedEx, and the other 31 NFL franchises urging them to reconsider changing the Redskins name because it is offensive to Native Americans.  DC Council Member David Grosso is also planning to introduce a resolution in the DC City Council to change the name.

Since the practice facility is in Richmond, VA and the stadium is in Landover MD, my proposal is that they need to take the “Washington” name out altogether.  They could be the “DMV Bandits” since they made haste to get out of the District of Columbia.  It is closer to go see the Baltimore Ravens practice in Owings Mills, MD than it is to go see the Washington Redskins practice in Richmond, VA.  DC has always been at a disadvantage in terms of geography because we are a very finite piece of real estate wedged between Maryland and Virginia.  But it seems to me if you are going to call yourselves “Washington” anything, you need to actually play in Washington.

 

 

 

Catch Up

As a person who owns a small research and editing business, it seems that I am continually playing the game of “catch up.”  Tomorrow I am attending a workshop on getting your business online with social media.  After 2 years, I have advertisements on Ebay and Craigslist, but they haven’t garnered much business.  So, I must take this online marketing to another level so that I can be more successful at getting people to procure my services.  It costs a lot to actually say you are “in business,” and I need to reap more of the financial rewards.   Marketing for visibility and marketing for financial gain are reasons to play the “catch up” game when it comes to promoting business services.

For those who have been unsuccessful in getting comments to post on this blog, send them to me and I will post them.  marciawritenow@gmail.com  Still playing "catch up" with this system.

Change is unavoidable. You change either to stay ahead or to catch up.  Mike Hawkins  

  

Lifting Up

Since this is the season of honoring mothers, I want to give another reason to play the game of “Lifting Up.”  One of my sheroes from the 19^th and early 20^th century is Ida B. Wells-Barnett (1862 - 1931).  She was a journalist, social and political activist and organizer, woman’s suffrage crusader, wife and mother of 4 children.  She is also the first Black woman that I know of who used both her maiden name and her married name – I have always known her as either Ida B. Wells or Ida B. Wells -Barnett.  When she married and gave birth to 4 children between 1896 and 1904, she had hired help to travel with her as she went about her work, as often her children traveled with her.  Now this was in the age of long dresses and tight corsets.  Of all of her historic and ground-breaking accomplishments, she says that her greatest accomplishment in life was being a mother.   

So, on this Mother’s Day, let’s lift up all the mothers, past and present, who bring beauty into an unsettled world; who discipline on one hand, and kiss away the hurts on the other; who battle for justice, not only on the homefront, but also for concerns of all humanity; who don’t give up playing the game, not only for themselves, but for children, too.   

 I do not see how colored women can be true to themselves unless they demand recognition for themselves and those they represent.  Ida B. Wells-Barnett

Another reason to play the game of blogging

Learning to blog is a game unto itself.  I realized I had not set this up for public comments, so people were not able to comment who did not have a Google account.  Now it is set up for anyone to comment.

One reason to play this game of blogging is so that communication can be a two-way streak. 

Another Reason to Play the Game

As I thought about beginning this blog, another reason to play the game, I thought about all of the actions in life that can be called “playing the game.”  For example,

• playing the game on the job everyday;
• playing the game of job-hunting at 50+ years old;
• playing the game of “older brother;”
• playing the game of “little sister;”
• playing the game of of growing a relationship with new people that come into your life;
• playing the game of life, in general.   

Being a huge basketball fan, I will make playing the various sports games a discussion on this blog, but this is not a sports blog exclusively.  Any topic is fair game.  My goal is that each blog post reflect "another reason to do x, y, z"  whatever that is, in the context of the "game" metaphor. 

My professional basketball teams are the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Fever.  Since, the Lakers are not in the running this year for a championship, I will have to pick another team to win it all in 2013. 

Stay tuned!

The game of life is a lot like football. You have to tackle your problems, block your fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity.
Anonymous