ASC SPEAK: Do Good. Be Dope. Stay Fly. Live Different.

Happy Monday, lovely people!It being that today is a sick day for me (wahhhh), I decided I had no excuse but to post!  Sidebar, make sure you take care of yourselves!  Even though there are soooo many things to do in this race we call life, make sure you get adequate sleep, eat healthy, and stay as stress-free as possible.  I, however, have not been doing so (confession)!  Nonetheless, I WILL be doing better!That said, I've been sitting in my bed, thinking about the past couple of weeks and just taking life in.  I was scrolling through my list of favorite screenshot-ed quotes (yes, I do that! :D ), and this one caught my eye:At my ripe old age of 30 (gasp, lol), I have really embraced the idea that the survival of individual uniqueness depends on each person's decision to be themselves.  This means that regardless of what other people are doing, you have to do what's right for YOU.  Most people say toe-MAY-toe.  You may say toe-MAH-toe.  Guess what???  That's ok!! There is NO mandate in this life that says you must follow the crowd.  Most often (best kept secret coming up....), the crowd is incorrect.  If you are different, BE different.  On the flip side, if you like some similar things, LIKE them.  (Cliche phrase alert!) DO YOU!!I have often found that many people sway with the crowd because being different will draw the attention of others, and that may lead to questioning of one's actions, and even expose insecurities. Regardless, this is no way to live! Even if you aren't all the way where you want to be in life yet (because I am not either), work on embracing who you are at the core; if you don't like what that core looks like, work on changing it, and embracing the changing process.  Learning to love yourself is the first step towards authenticity in your interactions with others. :)I will never forget something my parents once told me; even if you chose to be a robber, or a drug dealer, or a clown or a janitor, be the best ONE!  Be the best robber, drug dealer, clown, or janitor there is!  Needless to say, they were not advocating these things...but the moral of the story is whatever you chose to represent yourself as, be the absolute BEST representation of that thing, and work out WHY you chose that representation.  I DO suggest that all of your choices be based off of some sort of moral compass, because without it you are bound to encounter issues, and possibly failure.  For me, that is the Bible--for you it might be something else.  Regardless, at the backbone of your choices, make sure that whatever they are, they reflect love, kindness, and thoughtful consideration, and you will hardly ever go wrong!At the end of the day (with prudence in mind), do what makes you happy and do it wholeheartedly, no matter who else is doing, or not doing it.  I challenge you all to do something this week, just for you.  You might learn a lot about yourself, and those around you too!Have a happy Monday!!Oh, and do good, be dope,  stay FLY, and ALWAYS be different! :D-AB