They're just People
Deuteronomy 31:6
Growing up I dabbled with the thought of being a stand up comedian. Running my mouth and the added benefit that it was funny was something that came naturally. It helped that most people I came into contact with agreed. I can't begin to count the times I've heard, "You should be a comedian." My father loved Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx, and had a few of their comedy albums. He didn't willingly allow me to listen to the albums and to be honest, he didn't know. I was probably seven and all that cursing should have been illegal in at least twenty three states. It was exciting, though. I'd practice my routine in front of my mirror, or pretend I was on stage by placing my dolls on my bed as the audience. Even then I knew it was all about timing and my curse words were hitting the mark. By the time Eddie Murphy came along I was a pro.
When I was twenty-nine I made a miraculous decision to finally try stand up. I'd toyed with it long enough and couldn't delay my stardom any longer. The deciding factor that catapulted me to do what I was born to do was simple. I grew tired of hearing people tell me that I had missed my calling. Missed? Oh no, I was not going to miss anything that I wanted or better yet, thought was best for me. Not I.
Funny, but I procrastinated for so long because of stage fright. What? Uh-huh. Stage fright. Why are all the people looking at me? I know I'm the star attraction, but why are they looking at me? I could do it if they turned their heads or weren't in the room. Now that's just dumb. You want to perform and treat the world to your talent but you don't want them to see you. I swear I would mix up my own concoction and drink it like a sweet elixir that didn't solve a thing. Confusion works like that.
My funny bone came from my father. He could make friends with anybody. He talked to everybody and said things that were true, but shouldn't be said out loud. Hilarious. I'll never forget the day that I told him I wanted to try stand up comedy.
"Aaaah, babygirl that's good. I wanted to try it, too. I'm glad to hear that."
"Well, it's just one thing though."
"One thing? What thing?"
"I'm nervous. The thought of all them people looking at me."
"What?"
"All the people in the audience. It makes me nervous."
"Girl you ain't making sense. They're just people. What's wrong with you? You Bobby Hudson's daughter. Scared of people? What's the matter with you?"
I didn't respond. My father kept talking about people just being people. Nothing fancy about us. Nothing over the top special. Just people. I got it, but I didn't get it. I got it enough to get on stage and get over the nervousness. I got it enough to speak publicly now without thinking about just people.
It wasn't until thirty years later that I understood what my father meant by his just people summation. People can and will only do to you what you allow them to. People are malicious. but I control how their actions and attitude affects me. Hurt can't hurt unless I focus on that hurt and allow someone to play on it. Sure it's upsetting to find out that people want to alienate you with words. People want you to feel like you're not worthy of the gifts you have. So you have $5000 and I have $300? Yes, of course I want $5000. I don't want your $5000, though. Just people want you to believe it's all about them.
Just people need to stop. Just stop. Living a maze lifestyle and playing unnecessary mind games. And then they have the nerve to get upset with you when you don't feed into their mayhem. Just people give themselves a headache and want your sympathy. And to think I almost allowed just people to decide if my superstar status would ever reveal itself to the world. Unbelievable.
Man will try to break you and take what's yours. Just people live an active walking dead life. Who has time for a 24/7 Thriller video? The gifts and talent that God gave you can't come to fruition if you keep hitting the rewind button. Uncertainty results in a standstill. Nope. Can't live like that.
Never let them steal your joy is something we always say. Folks can't steal your joy. Folks can't take anything from you. You have to give it to them. Think about what your focus is on. If you're always on the defense and questioning yourself remember they're just people. They can't hurt you.
God created us to be His People. Righteous. A.Just.People. Set Apart. Chosen. Beautiful. Blessed. Prosperous. Not just people. Now let me go and run my mouth to make someone's day a little brighter.
Growing up I dabbled with the thought of being a stand up comedian. Running my mouth and the added benefit that it was funny was something that came naturally. It helped that most people I came into contact with agreed. I can't begin to count the times I've heard, "You should be a comedian." My father loved Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx, and had a few of their comedy albums. He didn't willingly allow me to listen to the albums and to be honest, he didn't know. I was probably seven and all that cursing should have been illegal in at least twenty three states. It was exciting, though. I'd practice my routine in front of my mirror, or pretend I was on stage by placing my dolls on my bed as the audience. Even then I knew it was all about timing and my curse words were hitting the mark. By the time Eddie Murphy came along I was a pro.
When I was twenty-nine I made a miraculous decision to finally try stand up. I'd toyed with it long enough and couldn't delay my stardom any longer. The deciding factor that catapulted me to do what I was born to do was simple. I grew tired of hearing people tell me that I had missed my calling. Missed? Oh no, I was not going to miss anything that I wanted or better yet, thought was best for me. Not I.
Funny, but I procrastinated for so long because of stage fright. What? Uh-huh. Stage fright. Why are all the people looking at me? I know I'm the star attraction, but why are they looking at me? I could do it if they turned their heads or weren't in the room. Now that's just dumb. You want to perform and treat the world to your talent but you don't want them to see you. I swear I would mix up my own concoction and drink it like a sweet elixir that didn't solve a thing. Confusion works like that.
My funny bone came from my father. He could make friends with anybody. He talked to everybody and said things that were true, but shouldn't be said out loud. Hilarious. I'll never forget the day that I told him I wanted to try stand up comedy.
"Aaaah, babygirl that's good. I wanted to try it, too. I'm glad to hear that."
"Well, it's just one thing though."
"One thing? What thing?"
"I'm nervous. The thought of all them people looking at me."
"What?"
"All the people in the audience. It makes me nervous."
"Girl you ain't making sense. They're just people. What's wrong with you? You Bobby Hudson's daughter. Scared of people? What's the matter with you?"
I didn't respond. My father kept talking about people just being people. Nothing fancy about us. Nothing over the top special. Just people. I got it, but I didn't get it. I got it enough to get on stage and get over the nervousness. I got it enough to speak publicly now without thinking about just people.
It wasn't until thirty years later that I understood what my father meant by his just people summation. People can and will only do to you what you allow them to. People are malicious. but I control how their actions and attitude affects me. Hurt can't hurt unless I focus on that hurt and allow someone to play on it. Sure it's upsetting to find out that people want to alienate you with words. People want you to feel like you're not worthy of the gifts you have. So you have $5000 and I have $300? Yes, of course I want $5000. I don't want your $5000, though. Just people want you to believe it's all about them.
Just people need to stop. Just stop. Living a maze lifestyle and playing unnecessary mind games. And then they have the nerve to get upset with you when you don't feed into their mayhem. Just people give themselves a headache and want your sympathy. And to think I almost allowed just people to decide if my superstar status would ever reveal itself to the world. Unbelievable.
Man will try to break you and take what's yours. Just people live an active walking dead life. Who has time for a 24/7 Thriller video? The gifts and talent that God gave you can't come to fruition if you keep hitting the rewind button. Uncertainty results in a standstill. Nope. Can't live like that.
Never let them steal your joy is something we always say. Folks can't steal your joy. Folks can't take anything from you. You have to give it to them. Think about what your focus is on. If you're always on the defense and questioning yourself remember they're just people. They can't hurt you.
God created us to be His People. Righteous. A.Just.People. Set Apart. Chosen. Beautiful. Blessed. Prosperous. Not just people. Now let me go and run my mouth to make someone's day a little brighter.
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