A Re-Gifting to the Universe

"Lorica of St. Patrick" was shared with me many moons ago by a great friend of mine, Mr. Shea Mathews, who is a fine American, a gentleman, and a scholar if I do say so myself.  It is just one of the many things that I am grateful for in my life via this man, so "Thank you, Shea."

This I find nice to reflect on from time to time, actually daily now, just because it really helps me get into the right mindset to begin the day.  "It makes me feel good."  I now realize, thanks to my recent discovery of Rhonda Byrne's work The Secret, that by focusing on something with all that is within in you, you are attracting exactly those things back to you and the universe will align to make things happen for you. 

The Secret absolutely speaks to me like nothing else!  It's because I have always felt this way, that the universe is conspiring to help me achieve things, and now to hear outside unrelated examples and testimonials of others that have realized and now control that power within themselves, it's really powerful to think about.  

(Side note: Personally, I feel like my afore-blogged-about WOF experience was a perfect example of me unknowingly using The Secret already, which is something I would love to share with any of you, so feel free to inquire further personally, if interested.  All I have to say is that it is mind-blowing to consider being knowingly in control of that kind of power!) 

In "the soup" that creates us all individually, comprised of all of the things we've read and been taught and believe and have learned, both The Secret and this Lorica are two of the many valuable works I've held onto... 'Cause that kinda thing floats my boat.  I felt inspired to share these things with you.   We'll consider them a... re-gift to the universe... or whoever might read this.  You're welcome. 

Be real. Do you.

Marcus

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"Lorica of Saint Patrick"


I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.


I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.


I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.


I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.


I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude. 


I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation

St. Patrick (ca. 377)

How We Can Truly Honor a WNBA Legend...

Four-time WNBA champion. Three-time WNBA MVP. Three-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. All-Star Game MVP.  A record playoff triple-double. Three Olympic Gold medals.

These accolades belong to the one of the greatest women’s basketball players in the history of the sport.  I respect her for her dedication, her leadership, her legacy, and the way she would just flat out play ball. 

During her impressive stateside career, I daresay she was the best in the world.  She was one of the quickest in the game.  The quickest first step on offense you ever seen.  Then, like a flash of lightning, she was swooping through for yet another steal and already at the other rim before you realized what happened.  

She was one of those players you want on your team because she had extreme levels of basketball I.Q.  She understood the game, and she understood spacing, and teamwork, and finishing, and free throws, and hustle plays, and leadership, and DEFENSE. 

Sheryl Swoopes is a WNBA legend.  It is my intention to convince you we should pay some kind of official honor to one of the WNBA’s pioneers.  There should be some kind of recognition for both Swoopes as well as those of us that followed that brilliant WNBA career.  And I think I have the answer.  Get ready for it…

The Sheryl Swoopes Defensive Player of The Year Award. 

It’s perfect!  She was the first to win it thrice, after all.  And then there is the added bonus of honoring her legacy. I think she deserves a proper “Thank You” for what she has done for the world of women’s basketball.  It really can be summed up in the ever-appropriate chant: “Swoopes, There it is!” 

Any thoughts?  Leave comments!

Marcus

Beside Myself... in More Ways Than One!

This weekend, I took a little road trip. Nothing like a little time with your thoughts and some good music, right? My brother Troy, the BABY in our crew of four, was in a wedding here in Florida, so I traveled to the towns of Lake City and Wellborn, FL. It's rare that there are Ealys of my clan in The Sunshine State, so the fact that he and my mom would be 2.5 hours away was too close not to go! The group was only half-complete, but this mini-reunion proved to be exactly what I needed right now...

The first thing I did, of course, was drop my bags and bear-hug my mother! (It's still technically Mother's Day week, right? She let me postpone my celebration until she got into town, 'cause she's cool like that. But I'm getting off track...). It was also great to see my little brother, Troy, who is endlessly entertaining to me. I actually missed him on my trip home to Arkansas last April, since Full Sail's Spring Break isn't scheduled at the same time as anyone else's on the PLANET. :) It is what it is, though... and I finally got to see my Troy.

Spending time with my sibs is always fun. We laugh - A LOT. We sing any and everything that comes to mind. It's great! We just generally enjoy each other. We've been apart for a minute now, having not lived together in years because of college pursuits and moves, so I really do cherish the time we get to spend all together, as a fantastic foursome.

This trip, I had a chance hang out with Troy alone... in his element, with his best friend and their crew, doing their thing. I could do nothing the entire time but laugh and shake my head... this kid is SO MUCH like me! The way he interacts with people, the way he said EVERYTHING I was thinking, even the way he led folks dancing at the wedding! I was in awe just watching him work. In fact, by just participating in this weekend's events and watching and enjoying, I actually felt like I was beside myself - literally! It was absolutely surreal. And I loved it.

"Don't Stress; Express!"

I had never experienced this feeling before, but it bit me... I got stage fright. I admit it. I had this very weird, indescribable fear about other people reading my work and passing judgment on my opinions. That was what kept me from really jumping into and getting started with my blog here. It wasn't until my master's program classmate, friend and colleague Dahlia uttered this simple phrase to me that I was able to break loose of this inordinate worry:

"Don't stress; express!"

It was as if the veil was lifted, clouds parted and a large boot kicked me right in the butt! Life is so amazing and the experiences we all have are so complex... I have no other option but to engage in ideas and philosophies with others! What better way to leave an imprint and possibly help make the world a better place? Life is not about Milestones, but about Moments... and I want to have as many of those as possible, with as many different people, from as many varying backgrounds, and as many different experiences as possible in my short time here on Earth. Variety is the spice of life! I love culture and experiencing new things, new people, and hearing new stories.

So this entry is for you, Miss Dahlia, for being the final piece of encouragement I needed to leave my comfort zone and step into the blogging community with renewed confidence. I owe ya one, kid!

Much love!

Marcus

(This video was originally posted on Youtube by Rulivede. Absolutely amazing work! Just too representative of how I'm feelin' with this blogpost... Corny, I know, but hey - I'm doin' me!) :)

A Small Glimpse into my Wheel of Fortune experience - SHOWTIME!

I absolutely would be remiss to not include the conclusion of my Wheel of Fortune experience, so this first entry back after a year away will be the conclusion, retrieved directly from the contestant blog archives of the WOF website.

That being said, I'm very excited to be finally engaging in this blogging revolution. I am on a really incredible journey and I'd love for you to share it with me. It really seems fitting that this entire blog starts with the WOF experience, because it really has changed my life and allowed me to start an adventure that absolutely rockin' my world! Again... feel free to strap in and enjoy the ride.

Without further ado... The conclusion of Soapsuds' April 2009 WOF experience... and the beginning of the rest of my life!

Enjoy!

Be easy,

Marcus

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Posted on 04/06/2009

WOW! I don’t even know if I can accurately describe the experience in words! I was paired up with a smart, tall, and quite pretty former Disney Princess named Lauren and an extremely kind and incredibly funny woman named Linda. I don’t think I would have had as much fun with a different group! We were determined to have a good time, keep the game rolling, and win some big money. Once we heard the announcer, we knew it was game time and we turned it on! There was Pat and Vanna, back again in new outfits and fresh make-up. Personally melting under the stage lights, I had to get touched up between every commercial break by my make-up artist. I mentioned that she was great – let me reiterate. F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S. Did I mention I have an unnatural tendency to sweat? It’s really not pretty, but I digress. It was incredible to meet Pat and Vanna. They were just as I imagined – genuinely nice and fun people. Pat has a real talent for making people feel comfortable and getting rid of their nerves. He was constantly cracking jokes and ribbing on Vanna… he was really quite hilarious! Vanna was, of course, everything I thought she would be… extremely nice, extremely beautiful, and surprisingly, VERY TINY. But so was Pat. Now, that I think about it, I’m 6’4”, so everyone seems tiny to some extent.

Lauren won the first toss-up and the introductions began with her for the game. Then to Linda, who told us a bit about her job and family. Oh no – it was my turn! I have no idea what I said… none whatsoever! I think I mentioned my fraternity and possibly my young niece Brandi…maybe even emphasized my single status to the extent that Pat thought he was hosting “The Love Connection”! Nonetheless, it could only get better now that that was over! Time for the next Toss-Up… those buzzers remind me of my Quiz Bowl days in high school. I felt right at home! This one was mine. (Person: A CLASS ACT) $2000 banked. Sweetness! I start the next puzzle and get off and running to a good start – that is, until I bankrupt at a pivotal point in my flow! I hate to admit it, but it shook me a bit and I decided to stick to my original plan of not being greedy. Linda won that puzzle and consequently the trip she landed on to Lake Tahoe. Good for her! Time for the Prize Puzzle – I was determined to win a trip too! As soon as the spins got around to me and I had enough letters to solve it, I was going to do so. You don’t need much money in this round because the prize value can help offset your lack of money, in regards to the Bonus Round, at least. I won $900 and a trip for two to Ixtapa, Mexico! Remember when I said I was single? This would be a fun decision – who to take on a week-long trip to a South Pacific beach in Mexico?!

Another Toss-Up puzzle, another chance with the buzzer… Solid! Banked another $3000! (Food & Drink: GRANOLA BAR). We only have time for one more round it looked like. Lauren started the puzzle and the bell rang as we expected. Pat gave us the final spin, to which she got the last letters she needed to solve it. Good thing she solved it too! I edged out Linda by approximately $300 to get to the Bonus Round! I didn’t even realize it was me until I finally saw my name blinking! Omigosh. Another commercial break (and touch-up) and I was heading to spin the Bonus Wheel. No one had won the Bonus Round in the entire week of shows we had taped that day! It was a difficult puzzle with very little help from the obligatory letters OR the ones I picked. I told myself, “Just plug and chug. Talk it out.” I had no idea what it was, but the first thought I uttered was CORRECT! (Thing: SOAPSUDS) I could have fainted! It was amazing! Pat revealed my envelope: $25,000! In the words of Tyler Perry’s Madea character: “Hallelujerrr!” I promise I almost fell out. But that may have been from my sister excitedly greeting me after they let my family onto the stage. It matters not - I was ecstatic!

I would not trade this experience for anything. It was definitely the most fun I have EVER had in one day and my most productive 10 hour work day yet! :) I still wake up every now and then to make sure that I do, indeed, have paperwork, and I did when those prizes, and now I can go to grad school because I have the financial assistance that was holding me back! It was tons of fun and completely the opportunity of a lifetime.

A Small Glimpse into my Wheel of Fortune experience - Pre-Taping

Being a contestant on the Wheel of Fortune is such a surreal experience! What makes it so surreal, I suppose, would be the very unlikely journey I took to get a chance to play. It was my grandmother’s idea after seeing an article in local newspaper: “Marcus, I know how to get some money for grad school!” I figured it’d be worth a try. After a two-day, six-session Wheelmobile event in Conway, Arkansas, my name wasn’t drawn for a chance to audition. I was heartbroken, but you know, I had tried and that was all I could control. Imagine my surprise when they really did keep all of the applications as they promised, drew my name from all of those thousands of applications, and emailed my invitation to the Arkansas final callbacks in Little Rock! The most exciting journey of my life had only just begun! :)

On the day of the taping, all the contestants finally arrived at Sony Studios and we began briefings on how the day would go… after a few notices and filling out paperwork (“I don’t know any one working for the show.” “I have not been on the show before.” “I really am who I say I am.” “Here is my firstborn.”), we were finally led onto the set. There she was in all her glory - the puzzle board, the Wheel, the cameras, EVERYTHING. The show I had watched for years finally seemed real. I had to pinch myself! I was actually in Los Angeles getting ready to play Wheel of Fortune!!

After a few practice runs getting our game voices ready and our spinning arms warmed up, it was time to head back for make-up and to select the contestants for each game and game order. First, let me spend just a moment here on make-up. The show is taped in High Def these days, so everything is magnified in excellent quality. It’s almost mortifying how excellent the quality is! Thank God for Make-Up! Also, I have always wanted to work in entertainment, so this was my little nibble of the celebrity treatment – believe me: I was eatin’ it up!

So, my make-up artist finishes her work, but still I had to go to the bathroom to check out what she’d done. It’s while I am inspecting the work that Vanna comes through to meet the contestants! Yes… that’s right… I MISSED meeting Vanna because I was trapped in the bathroom mirror! She was half the reason I was so stoked to play the game! I was devastated. “Just go on and send me home now,” I thought. But I had to shake it off… I needed to focus. If I play the game like I know how, I would have a chance to win and then I might get another chance to meet Vanna. That became my new goal. “I have GOT to meet Vanna!”

After make-up, we taped promotional spots for our shows to play on local stations. That was really exciting because, again, it was just a nibble of my dream in entertainment! They herded us back to the holding room, where we continued getting to know each other. I pause here to mention my fellow contestants – what an AWESOME group! I really enjoyed getting to know everyone and we all genuinely wanted the others to do well and leave with substantial amounts. Of course, secretly we all wanted to do just a tad bit better than our game show partners, but that’s part of the game, right?

Surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous at all until we got out there to tape our game, which was the fifth of the day… I had been doing so well watching the other contestants all day, so I felt ready… it wasn’t until we stepped out, the lights came on, my make-up started melting from my face, and the audience began the obligatory applause that I got a tad nervous. I just had to tell myself that the ladies playing on either side of me were just as nervous, so I just needed to live in the moment and soak in every second. The worst that could happen was I’d leave with $1000 and an experience of a lifetime. It was finally showtime! Here we go, baby!

==Stay tuned... The show airs on Friday, April 3rd. I'll update on the experience during and after taping!!==