Half the Year is Almost Over, How Are You Doing???

I’m originally from the east coast but live I now live in Texas and I will not go into the utter disdain I have for the Historically African-American, Historically Trifling Holiday of Juneteenth. Somewhere there is 2.5 years of slavery back pay in arrears plus interest. (It’s a Joke people… Lighten up…) I will hopefully benefit all in the community by listing something you can implement in your life today & not 2 years from today…

1. Revisit your Goals – It is now time for a gut check. You said you were going to do it, so do it. Get back on track to loose the weight, get in shape, create a budget, start a business, Improve your Life…

2. Celebrate your Successes, you have had some its time to Celebrate…

3. For this Month, Turn off the television for 3 hours a week & Read a book – If you are already an avid reader read a book in a genre that you don’t normally read.

4. Try a type of food that you don’t normally eat.
1. Japanese
2. Thai
3. Indian
4. Middle Eastern

5. Teach your kids to try a type of food that they don’t normally eat.

6. Get to know someone from a different culture that you may eventually call Friend.

7. Schedule your next Doctor, Dentist, or Optometrist appointment.
1. Get a Cholesterol test
2. Prostate Exam
3. Mammogram
4. Total Blood Work

8. Put to rest a Myth
1. Learn to Swim
2. Save some Money
3. Increase your Vocabulary
4. Learn a new sport (Fencing, Lacrosse, Rugby, Golf, Cycling, Hockey)

9. Stop drinking Liquor, Coffee, Diet Coke/Pepsi, Smoking ect for 1 month and save the daily money you would otherwise spend

10. Pull your (Free in most states) Annual Credit Report – This is the ONLY Truly free website endorsed by the US Federal Trade Commission. ( https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp) Most of the others are sponsored by the credit reporting agencies and attempt to get you to purchase services.

11. Get a Mentor – Someone who has established themselves in the area you see yourself going. Most Important Note: Someone That Will Tell You The Truth. If you are trying to loose weight, you don’t get a personal trainer that is more overweight that you. You go and get a personal trainer that is more in shape than you. You don’t ask a broke friend to be your financial coach.

12. If you have a Mentor, Talk to you mentor, I guarantee there is something that they have not told you.

13. Become a Mentor - Take a young person to lunch, dinner or another cultural event just to talk. Younger Brothers & Sisters cannot step up to the table if you don’t give them a place setting.

14. Listen to Non-Biased Creditable Talk Radio.
1. The Dave Ramsey Show - www.daveramsey.com

2. NPR Tell Me More (Michelle Martin) - http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=46

3. NPR News & Notes (Farai Chideya) - http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=11

4. A New Conversation with Men (Michael Taylor) - http://thenewmale.com/

15. Get a Hobby (other than shopping) – I can’t begin to tell you how it unnerves me when you see African-American women profiled in magazines and they list Shopping as their hobby. “White People have Wonderful Weekends; Black People just have a Couple of Days Off…” Steve Harvey
2. Take a class -(Ride a Motorcycle, Golf, Foreign Language)
3. Read
4. Write a Blog, Start a Podcast
5. Learn to Fish (Literally)
6. Photography

16. Volunteer - Invest some Time in others.

17. Plot your career path - most people have their careers dictated to them versus actively pursuing a position, level, or industry.

18. Save some Money, Invest some Money – They are not the same…Learn the difference!

19. Stop complaining, Stop Rationalizing, & Start taking PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

20. Get a Passport (I know, I know Travel cost are rising.) however, you can’t leave the borders of the US & certain US Territories without a Passport. Expand your horizons by setting a goal to get it stamped.

21. Say Thankyou or Congratulations to a "Good Black Father."