Clifton Trotter

[clifftrott-blog]

Fear not!!

Fear is very sinister and merciless in that it's so ubiquitous and powerful. Everywhere we turn we're suppose to be afraid of something. Don't eat the foods it's filled with gmo's. Don't drive without your seatbelt, you'll fly out your car and die. Don't speak your mind, it can get you fired. Don't stand up to the bully, you'll get a black eye. Don't open up it'll just leave you with a broken heart. It's like we've been conditioned to live a life of perpetual fear. Now, don't get me wrong. Some perceived fears are a reflection of practical wisdom: we probably shouldn't be eating gmo food, but I'm more concerned with the fears that prohibit us. The ones that prevent us from revealing who we truly are. These fears have sticking power, because they persist in our minds from childhood all the way to adulthood, and even to the grave. And the worst thing about these fears are they that come from people ( some we trust and love) which give them a false credence, leading to our growing limited self-perception because we're focused on what others think and say about us, rather than what we feel about ourselves. It's these fears: the fear of social judgement, the fear of humiliation, the fear of ostracism, and the fear of being a perceived failure that haunts us and roams our self-conscious leaving some of us spiritually paralyze. We literally can't move to our desired destiny because we're inhibited by social fears that only have the power we afford them. Unbeknownst to us we sanction our own demise. And this is what make these particular fears so sinister and merciless, we empower them--we subject ourselves to their false notions. How can one be humiliated when one as answered the calling of their heart? What is ostracism when one has braved their truth in the face of those who cower to lies? And how does one fail when the triumph is in the attempt? The burning truth is, these fears are our own doing, a creation that bears no value on our individual souls. Don't let the fear of others be your own. Their fears, anxieties, and insecurities are not yours to harbor. Let their judgments lay at your feet while you walk to the destiny that you know is yours. Trust that faint whisper inside that says "there's nothing to fear", because that voice, your voice, the voice of courage is the only one that matters. Fear not!

[clifftrott-blog]

Eliminate the victim mentality, employ your spiritual fortitude. Excuse the audio, the little ones were sleep lol #yourenotavictim #enactyourgifts#yourepowerfulbeyondmeasure #begreat

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She ain't one to play with! #daddydaughterfun #myheart #readyfortheworld

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We had our first pep talk. I listened intently! Welcome Yana Rahkety Trotter. 7lbs 11ounces and 20 inches. #anotherprincess #joysoffatherhood #loveyours #happypappy

[clifftrott-blog]

Marvel At Yourself

I think it's important we take the time to marvel at ourselves. I don't mean this in a self-centered, narcissistic way. No, I'm referring to celebrating our growth as human beings. No one is what they used to be. The many life-experiences we encounter propel us; they push us forward in our personal growth whether we recognize it or not. For this reason, i term these experiences positive-struggle for out of them we gain a heighten awareness of our innate capabilities. In short, we manifest our divine gifts through our trials and tribulations. When we first encounter such adversity we feel besieged, as if the victim of some unprovoked assault, we look to the sky and wonder what we've could've done to deserve such a thing. It can leads us to bouts of depression fueled by uncertainty and lack of resolved. What we fail to recognize is that our initial feelings are normal and necessary. Yes, it is perfectly normal to feel self-doubt, to question if you can change or survive your current circumstances. I know this sounds counterintuitive but it takes self-doubt to discover self-faith. The child that falls off the bike must fall to know that it can get back up. How else would they learn resiliency and the power of faith? We too must fall. It is the trials and tribulations that help us to recognize what we are and what we've become. They were the crucibles that gritted our character, that highlighted our ingenuity, that showed our creativity. These struggles are and were positive because they allowed us to look deep inside ourselves and express our divine qualities, and this why we must marvel at ourselves. Each struggle is an opportunity to express your gifts; to show the divine cloth from which you are cut. Life is about ebbs and flows. It is at the nadir from which we rise to our highest self. So take time to marvel at yourself. You have risen. You have ascended. You have transcended the trepidation you once felt. You are indeed like fine wine, aging into a high quality spirit, a spirit of wisdom, persistence, resiliency, beauty, and intelligence. Marvel at yourself because your are truly amazing! #You'rePowerfulBeyondMeasure#YPBM#Marvelatyourself

[clifftrott-blog]

Marvel At Yourself

I think it's important we take the time to marvel at ourselves. I don't mean this in a self-centered, narcissistic way. No, I'm referring to celebrating our growth as human beings. No one is what they used to be. The many life-experiences we encounter propel us; they push us forward in our personal growth whether we recognize it or not. For this reason, i term these experiences positive-struggle for out of them we gain a heighten awareness of our innate capabilities. In short, we manifest our divine gifts through our trials and tribulations. When we first encounter such adversity we feel besieged, as if the victim of some unprovoked assault, we look to the sky and wonder what we've could've done to deserve such a thing. It can leads us to bouts of depression fueled by uncertainty and lack of resolved. What we fail to recognize is that our initial feelings are normal and necessary. Yes, it is perfectly normal to feel self-doubt, to question if you can change or survive your current circumstances. I know this sounds counterintuitive but it takes self-doubt to discover self-faith. The child that falls off the bike must fall to know that it can get back up. How else would they learn resiliency and the power of faith? We too must fall. It is the trials and tribulations that help us to recognize what we are and what we've become. They were the crucibles that gritted our character, that highlighted our ingenuity, that showed our creativity. These struggles are and were positive because they allowed us to look deep inside ourselves and express our divine qualities, and this why we must marvel at ourselves. Each struggle is an opportunity to express your gifts; to show the divine cloth from which you are cut. Life is about ebbs and flows. It is at the nadir from which we rise to our highest self. So take time to marvel at yourself. You have risen. You have ascended. You have transcended the trepidation you once felt. You are indeed like fine wine, aging into a high quality spirit, a spirit of wisdom, persistence, resiliency, beauty, and intelligence. Marvel at yourself because your are truly amazing! #You'rePowerfulBeyondMeasure#YPBM#Marvelatyourself

[clifftrott-blog]

Miss me with Sports Regionalism

For the life of me I can’t grasp this concept of sports regionalism. It’s as if you’re supposed to be indebted to whatever sport team that occupies your region without disapproval. I’m confused by this. I don’t root for teams, i root for players. It’s the players that I have an affinity for, which can be expressed through a number of qualities: style of play, personality, upbringing, political expression, etc. All, or a combination, or even one of these qualities may lead me to root for a player.

So this leads me to why I’m rooting for Lebron James and the Cavs THIS finals. Personally, I’m really not a big fan of Lebron’s game–aesthetically speaking–but I can’t deny his efficacy on the court. But independent of basketball, I dig Lebron’s style and personality, and more importantly I respect how he has conducted himself as a man and a business-athlete. Furthermore, I have the upmost praise for him having the courage to have a political stance in the aftermath of Trayvon Martin and Donald Sterling. In this age where athletes are spineless puppets to corporate sponsors, it was empowering to see an athlete at the very least have a position on something. Michael Jordan didn’t say shit about anything throughout his career that wasn’t in line with his corporate overseers. He was a puppet and still is. Lebron has been looking more like a puppeteer.

Lebron has challenged conventional sports ideals by aligning with players in pursuit of a championship. From a business standpoint this is a excellent strategic move, it allows him to build his brand, illustrate his economic weight ( increasing or decreasing local economies by his presence or departure), negotiate short-term deals that provide extreme leverage,and maximize his playing career. He’s creating a new business-model for top tier superstar athletes and making it socially acceptable. Lebron is not beholden to owners like Julius, Magic, or Mike was; he understands he’s the draw and therefore holds all the cards. He’s an empowering model for athletes of his status.

So this roughly sums up why I’m rooting for Lebron. I could give you a litany of reasons for why I’m not rooting for the Warriors but I’ll just say that I don’t remember one guy saying or doing anything during this Black Lives Matter Movement, and not to mention the owners axed Mark Jackson on dubious charges. And plus they’re way too soft for me!! I know I thought about this way too much smh lol

[clifftrott-blog]

Blinded by Perception

Perception is indeed reality, there seems to be no escaping this general belief. Despite the enlightening power of critical thought, the human mind uses sight as the first measure for interpretation. In this sense what we see becomes the basis for initial thought.

As I look at the racialized hierarchy in the U.S. it’s painstakingly obvious that blacks compromise the underclass, from this lens blacks can be and are perceived as poor. Unfortunately, this is a reality, but what accompanies this observation is the inherent belief that blacks are somehow genetically inferior and culturally damaged, and their status as an underclass becomes justification for such beliefs. Clearly, the notion of genetic inferiority has been debunked–as if such was ever needed. And On the issue of cultural damage any analysis removed of the effects of colonialism and the traumas of American slavery should be rendered deficient. Any racial group assailed relentlessly to the point of forced assimilation will reflect dysfunctional behavior, it’s a tale of adapting maladaptive behavior as a result of oppression.

But deep thoughts of this sort aren’t typically registered by average Americans, most are left to make conclusion based on sight. So again what we see informs what we think. What gets lost in these basic observation is the role of capitalism in sustaining a racialize hierarchy. Those with money are seen as powerful, privileged, deserving, prestigious, and superior; unfortunately little is thought of on how money was acquired or how capitalism as an economic system is far from merit based and is maintained through economic policies that protect the elite status quo, which by new mistake is predominantly white for which the aforementioned qualities stay tethered. So those with money are seen as those who are better. If this is the thinking pattern then capitalism becomes the foundation for sustaining white supremacy. Thus why whites have the money and are seen as supreme.

It was money that fueled global slavery, and the threat of losing money through slave rebellions ( Bacon’s rebellion) by white and black slaves in American slavery necessitated separating white and blacks as racial groups. In simple terms elites made “whites” a racial-social class to avoid a slave revolution to protect their money. Consequently, whites are atop the racialize hierarchy and thus perceived to be better. Until history is told to how capitalism fueled American slavery, which in turn built the corporate empire and economic supremacy of America for which whites enjoy and white supremacy is birthed,then few critical engagements will be done to why some groups are perceived as superior and others inferior. And perception will continue to be the reality. Thus he who holds the gold will hold the perception that molds our reality.