It's not about falling, it's what you do when you rise that counts!

"It's not what you do when you fall down.  

It's what you do once you get back up that counts the most."

August 13, 2016.  Mo Farah's performance in Rio's 2016 Olympics was inspirational.  Early in the 10K race, Mo Farah was tripped up by another competitor.  After being tripped and pushed to the side, Mo fell to the ground falling from first to 15th.  As Mo tumbled out of the frontline, Mo watched others pass him by but remained calm.  Mo picked himself up, got back in line and battled against 35 opponents to achieve the come back from behind victory and take 1st Place.

It goes to show that being a competitor isn't about falling down accepting defeat or dwelling on unfair turn of events/circumstances.  Being a competitor means accepting change, adapting and getting up when you fall. Truly was a heart racing and inspirational race.

Let Go of the Illusion of Control

I love the Kung Fu Panda movie bc it was one of those children's stories that was loaded with adult themes. 

The story was about a humble panda hero named Po who lacked the natural born gifts like claws, fangs, or venom to be a gifted fighter.  Many underestimated Po bc of what he wasn't born, but a wise old turtle named Shifu knew Po could be the best fighter of them all if he was trained.

Oddly the very one that gave Po the hardest time was a Lemur who also lacked claws, fangs and venom.  The Lemur was upset bc he invested his time in an arrogant panther that proved not to be the dragon warrior he hoped.  Once the panther received criticism for his lack of skill he went down the path of evil and blamed the lemur and master Shifu for his fallen destiny.  The Panther felt his actions were predetermined by the fate the two masters place on him, but the Panther never saw his flaws were the reasons he never advanced in life.

The driving force behind the Kung Fu Panther was Shifu noticing his successor , the lemur was not fully training others bc he had regrets about his first student's failure.  Before Shifu passed away. he told the lemur stop trying to control destiny, forget his mistakes, and train Po instead of judging him.  

As a kid I thought it was a kickass kungfu movie, but as an adult I was in tears when I saw this movie again.  I saw it for why it really is.  You see a lot of people write folks off bc they don't want to go thru the effort of doing the right thing and equipping them with the skills they need in order to be successfully. Therefore, if I don't show you, then I have security on what you don't know but need to know. It's a form of control for some psychopaths.

Shifu warned the lemur don't go down the wrong path and he listened.  The lemur acknowledged his students didn't fail.  The lemur acknowledged he failed his students as a teacher bc he didn't believe in them.  You can't tax people for what they don't know if you never took the time to show them how to do it in the first place.  

I remember now, this movie is why I became a master in training and development.  I feel like cinema is slowly awakening the side of me I forgot.  A visionary is inside of me I just have to overcome the fog that clouds my road to that creativity.

Country Music Controversy in Music City

I don't usually post about this but since I live in music city and this is hot topic I will say my bit about the country music controversy.

“If you want to make ratings in country radio, take females out,” Keith Hill tells the industry publication. 

All I have to say is that people like that were waiting in the dark to strike once Taylor Swift left country music.  She single handedly kept country music relevant to the public and when she left the ratings and spins went with her.

Folks that ain't from Nashville or on the country music probably were never aware that a lot of people hated Taylor Swift here.  You saw the award shows and millions of fans, but you never saw the internal struggle she faced trying to gain appreciation in the country music industry.

There were hundreds of Taylor clones or  veteran artists critics always said were better than Taylor Swift, but with each record she managed to sell millions and shine the spotlight on female achieves in the country music genre until it returned to a powerhouse.  I use her as an example when I get hated on thinking people may not like you but remember Taylor Swift kept her head held high, stayed dedicated to her profession, and always succeeded so never give up and keep achieving your dream.  I can't stress this to anyone who has a dream and works hard to achieve it, "Always go where you are appreciated". 

Taylor left country music a year ago, found new friends, created a new image and life for herself. When she left country  music, she took her fame, ratings, and power with her. All I got to say is this is a prime example of why you don't take a young star for granted.  You never know what battles she fought and how much she truly did until you see the results of her absence. 

Move that mountain

T

"Planting a garden is belief there is a tomorrow"

I closed a chapter on a deadend situation.  Took a few days to reflect and I realized had that negative opportunity went as planned then a positive opportunity would not be developing.

In life you have to know your worth, standup for your achievements, and live life the way you want not what others want from you. 

Two years ago, I was flying on a private jet with an all expenses paid trip by my company thinking this is a dream.  I want to get back to that life.  Like Frank Sinatra said "only the best". That's where I am spiritually, financially, careerwise and emotionally.   The choices I make from here on out will be the best I can make not the whatever is available. 

Broken Age 2: Act 2 and an Inspirational Quote to Big Dreamers

"Some messed up junk has been going down around here, and we'd rather sleep through it"
-Puppets from Broken Age 2

I don't have fans, I have friends.  So, I want to take this time out to thank all my friends that read my blogs and posts.  You help make the dream possible.  I once had a co-worker say, "he's living the life, and he'll wake up from that happy dream he's living into the nightmare reality that we all share".    A few years later he's probably in the same position and stuck in that same miserable job he hates, while i've gone on, lived my life and happy with where I am in life.  There will always be someone here that thinks they have a right to crush your happiness or beauty because they feel its not the reality or fairy-tale they want or live in.  I believe sometimes you have to defend your dreams, and defending the dreams are what make them special.

Now for the video game review. The first act Broken Age 2 was filled with the qualities unexplored world and inventive characters with a good sense of humor named Vella and Shay.  Shay lived in technologically advance world where he seeks a life of true courage instead of simulations and the reward of hugs from his overprotective robotic mother but his persistence saved him from a false virtual reality.  Vella lived in a primitive world where she had the unfortunate fate of being a sacrifice to a monster but her quick wit saved her from daunting situations. In Broken Age Act 2, two worlds collide and switch.

The game hit the sophomore slump.  In act one, the writing did a great job of investing in the players stories. You see how miserable their lives are, and you feel obligated to get them out. In act two, you don't feel the same emotional pull as in act one and feel like the story was thrown together at the last second.   Gamers like myself know a lot of this lack luster was due to the struggling budget developers worked with but in testament to games like Banish where one guy created the whole game with $2500, money is not an excuse for making a bad game.

In the second act, the previously explored worlds of act one are reused.  The puzzle solving is more elaborate and require you to think or travel long distance to solve.  Puzzle solving frustration carries a weigh that feels like busy work more than a challenge that adds to the difficulty of progressing through the game.

Despite this folly, the character and tone of Broken Age 2: Act 2 overshadow the setbacks the game faced.  There are more feel good and humorous moments that will have you laughing out loud.  The game is twice as long and flips the script on its head with an element of role reversal that will keep you interested.  Each character shines a new light on their new environments as they come to terms with realizing they have been lied to their whole lives about their purpose and the truth.

Overall, Broken Age 2: Act 2 crossed the finish line and made it.  Vague objectives and timed puzzle solving complicated a good and simple game. The jokes are punchy, the twist are rewarding, and the puzzle solving is satisfying in their own way.  Broken Age 2:Act 2, mades the most of every screen in the game and takes the gamer to new exciting settings and ideas.  I must admit, there are times where I felt game designers missed a good opportunity to take it to the next level of development and make a perfect game.  I can't overlook that aspect, so I give Broken Age 2: Act 2, so I give Broken Age 2: Age 2 a 9.0/10.