All Relative Page 1
By Anthony Douglas Gere
In talking with the neighbor the other day, we were I assume, both in a place mentally
where we both were reflecting on our paths that led us to the present moment. I had simply
came outside to let my dogs roam the yard and just take in some fresh air, as I noticed and
waved to him from across the street about a half a block away, straight ahead. He just
had this look on his face that said, " Lord, thank you", that's it. Thank you for allowing me to
live another day, and I will make the best out of it. I was feeling the same way, or wanted
and needed to feel that way, because life had just became important to me this morning. It
was a classic Northern California summer morning, and my plan was to go quickly outside,
let the dogs use the bathroom and regroup myself before I had to go back in and go
through my daily routine on trying to conquer the world. Now to get off that subject and
comment on this one, the simple realization that lifes a blessing, and each day a gift that
can alone do wonders for not just yourself, is startling to say the least. But to really know
that, and that the hardest thing to do in life, is to wake up, because you simply have no
control over that, and never will, is one of the many reasons alone, to stop complaining
about how bad and unfair life is. Instead wasting that negative force to get through
life, use that energy wisely to enjoy what you have and don't have to have, if you wanna talk
about really doing bad. Don't get me started on that!! So back to the theory. Where was I,
oh yeah, my neighbor and I. Okay, this man should simply wear the same shirt everyday.
He should just print up about lets say, a thousand, and just smile his ass off, and wear this
shirt. You don't really need to know what it really means or stands for, but just trust him on
this one, as he showcases it like a pair of Royal Elastic slip ons. The shirt would simply
say, " I Am The American Dream". I'm serious, if this isn't the story we all seen as kids,
and always wanted to be as an adult, I don't know what is? This man, that crossed the
boarder from Mexico into the United States illegally. Worked odd jobs and went through
the proper procedures and paperwork to become an American citizen, is not even
touching the surface about his character. In the ten years after he left his homeland, he
moved his way up from accessor of his situation in Mexico, planner to leave, explorer in
conquering the obvious obstacles that were, not maybe, but were going to happen, is
just a little bit of the story. He became a doer and then a immagrant or refugee in a
foreign land. He then came here not speaking the language, survived the streets and
elements and then bullshit employment for bullshit wages to keep moving forward. He
then became a dishwasher, waiter and then garbage man, to now, a succesful
business owner. Now not only is he financially successful now, but still, many years
later. After he built his dynasty, he went back to Mexico, brought over his longtime
sweetheart, married her and brought his and her family over to the States, to help run
his many business and more. This dude is all that, and I'm proud, privilaged and glad
to call myself his neighbor. Now yes, he's many years my senior, but if that isn't
inspiration, I don't know what is. But hey, its all relative in how its related to you.
Lets continue.
Anyway, as he worked picking up garbage for the city, way before anyone of color
could create competition in the mainstream on a business level, he saw that the
majority of the impoversed areas in the county were being over looked. Not only did
he save his money, started a small trash and haul service in the back of an old Ford
F150 that serviced the minority formed businesses, he was cheaper, did better work
and did it with a smile. Needless to say that he not only grew to be the owner of
his own waste and management company, he bought out his competition, joined
forces and took the hell over. To show you how creative this guys is, he's the one
that came up with the idea of disposal seperation. What does that mean, this, he
was paying too many people and wasting man hours going through the trash to
recycle the goods we used to mix in the trash at our homes. He devised a strategy to
color code the garbage bins, and have you the public, seperate it for him, and
charge you more because he is now performing another service. Think about it.
They, the garbage company, has each of us on a schedule when they're going to come,
pick-up and what they're picking up in your area on that day. They want you to seperate
it for them, so they can sell it for you and keep your money. And don't forget, they're
charging you for it. Brilliant, simply brilliant. Anyway, that morning, we were both
looking over our property, and I was personally thinking about how I got here. Not in
status, but in choice and direction. I'm honestly thinking how close me and my sister
are, but how in my parents eyes, she's the more successful one. Now not to brag or
boast, but I do very well. I mean hell, I'm blessed and know it, and seriously, wouldn't
change a thing about my life. I mean think about it, it got me here, no matter where here
is. I'm grateful. But anyway. I'm the way I am because of my choices. My sister is
married, two beautiful adopted kids and has a great career for a very large and stable
organization. She more than likely will retire from there, because she is very good at
her job, and truly enjoys what she's doing. Now me, I'm the complete opposite. I've
worked for myself so long, that when I did have employment from a company or
employer, it was to only fuel another creation or idea I had. My philosiphy is this,
" if you can pay me, I want to know what you're doing that I'm not doing, that allows for
you to pay me". You see I don't consider myself cheap or inexpensive by no means, and I
charge an awful lot of money to do what I do. So if you can afford me, you are doing
something I need to learn, and I'm all ears! But I came into jobs going, because I just
honestly felt, I could build a better mouse trap, and breed the mice to make an profit with,
not from, but with, my vendors selling the traps, food and more to maximize the cross
marketing arena. I'm just like that, even though me and my sister are different and
related. Oh I'm sorry, relative.
By Anthony Douglas Gere
In talking with the neighbor the other day, we were I assume, both in a place mentally
where we both were reflecting on our paths that led us to the present moment. I had simply
came outside to let my dogs roam the yard and just take in some fresh air, as I noticed and
waved to him from across the street about a half a block away, straight ahead. He just
had this look on his face that said, " Lord, thank you", that's it. Thank you for allowing me to
live another day, and I will make the best out of it. I was feeling the same way, or wanted
and needed to feel that way, because life had just became important to me this morning. It
was a classic Northern California summer morning, and my plan was to go quickly outside,
let the dogs use the bathroom and regroup myself before I had to go back in and go
through my daily routine on trying to conquer the world. Now to get off that subject and
comment on this one, the simple realization that lifes a blessing, and each day a gift that
can alone do wonders for not just yourself, is startling to say the least. But to really know
that, and that the hardest thing to do in life, is to wake up, because you simply have no
control over that, and never will, is one of the many reasons alone, to stop complaining
about how bad and unfair life is. Instead wasting that negative force to get through
life, use that energy wisely to enjoy what you have and don't have to have, if you wanna talk
about really doing bad. Don't get me started on that!! So back to the theory. Where was I,
oh yeah, my neighbor and I. Okay, this man should simply wear the same shirt everyday.
He should just print up about lets say, a thousand, and just smile his ass off, and wear this
shirt. You don't really need to know what it really means or stands for, but just trust him on
this one, as he showcases it like a pair of Royal Elastic slip ons. The shirt would simply
say, " I Am The American Dream". I'm serious, if this isn't the story we all seen as kids,
and always wanted to be as an adult, I don't know what is? This man, that crossed the
boarder from Mexico into the United States illegally. Worked odd jobs and went through
the proper procedures and paperwork to become an American citizen, is not even
touching the surface about his character. In the ten years after he left his homeland, he
moved his way up from accessor of his situation in Mexico, planner to leave, explorer in
conquering the obvious obstacles that were, not maybe, but were going to happen, is
just a little bit of the story. He became a doer and then a immagrant or refugee in a
foreign land. He then came here not speaking the language, survived the streets and
elements and then bullshit employment for bullshit wages to keep moving forward. He
then became a dishwasher, waiter and then garbage man, to now, a succesful
business owner. Now not only is he financially successful now, but still, many years
later. After he built his dynasty, he went back to Mexico, brought over his longtime
sweetheart, married her and brought his and her family over to the States, to help run
his many business and more. This dude is all that, and I'm proud, privilaged and glad
to call myself his neighbor. Now yes, he's many years my senior, but if that isn't
inspiration, I don't know what is. But hey, its all relative in how its related to you.
Lets continue.
Anyway, as he worked picking up garbage for the city, way before anyone of color
could create competition in the mainstream on a business level, he saw that the
majority of the impoversed areas in the county were being over looked. Not only did
he save his money, started a small trash and haul service in the back of an old Ford
F150 that serviced the minority formed businesses, he was cheaper, did better work
and did it with a smile. Needless to say that he not only grew to be the owner of
his own waste and management company, he bought out his competition, joined
forces and took the hell over. To show you how creative this guys is, he's the one
that came up with the idea of disposal seperation. What does that mean, this, he
was paying too many people and wasting man hours going through the trash to
recycle the goods we used to mix in the trash at our homes. He devised a strategy to
color code the garbage bins, and have you the public, seperate it for him, and
charge you more because he is now performing another service. Think about it.
They, the garbage company, has each of us on a schedule when they're going to come,
pick-up and what they're picking up in your area on that day. They want you to seperate
it for them, so they can sell it for you and keep your money. And don't forget, they're
charging you for it. Brilliant, simply brilliant. Anyway, that morning, we were both
looking over our property, and I was personally thinking about how I got here. Not in
status, but in choice and direction. I'm honestly thinking how close me and my sister
are, but how in my parents eyes, she's the more successful one. Now not to brag or
boast, but I do very well. I mean hell, I'm blessed and know it, and seriously, wouldn't
change a thing about my life. I mean think about it, it got me here, no matter where here
is. I'm grateful. But anyway. I'm the way I am because of my choices. My sister is
married, two beautiful adopted kids and has a great career for a very large and stable
organization. She more than likely will retire from there, because she is very good at
her job, and truly enjoys what she's doing. Now me, I'm the complete opposite. I've
worked for myself so long, that when I did have employment from a company or
employer, it was to only fuel another creation or idea I had. My philosiphy is this,
" if you can pay me, I want to know what you're doing that I'm not doing, that allows for
you to pay me". You see I don't consider myself cheap or inexpensive by no means, and I
charge an awful lot of money to do what I do. So if you can afford me, you are doing
something I need to learn, and I'm all ears! But I came into jobs going, because I just
honestly felt, I could build a better mouse trap, and breed the mice to make an profit with,
not from, but with, my vendors selling the traps, food and more to maximize the cross
marketing arena. I'm just like that, even though me and my sister are different and
related. Oh I'm sorry, relative.