What you don't know will make your home a permanent urn

The game ain't changed.
It just got harder.
-MOP & Jay-Z, "You Don't Know Remix"

How do you distinguish the dream from the daily grind? My man DL has this one joint of his called Mirror, which is just a straight-up dope song (and video, too). Sometimes, we all have to go in the bathroom and splash some water on our face and do that whole look-in-the-sink and slowly raise-your-head-while-staring-intensely at the mirror thing.

It's soothing, refreshing, and reassuring. You're just checking to make sure everything is still in its place, yet you also want to make sure it's still real. Whether you had a rollercoaster day, a great night, or one rough-a$ week; you look in that mirror for redemption, companionship, and solace. Instead of pinching, you gaze at your own eyes just so you can refamiliarize yourself with - yourself. You know the pain, the passion, the goals, the sights, the sounds, the fear, the elation, the sorrow, and the awe that those eyes have witnessed. Yet, you feel compelled to do these self-imposed reality checks to make sure all the bell and whistles still function and the dome is still straight. You're compelled when depressed or inspired; axious or fearful; calm or nervous.

You listened to Governor Patrick's election acceptance speech and felt a immense sense of pride and urgency. Pride because he represented; no explanation necessary. Urgency because although he is a brother, shT ain't gonna be sweet. Some things will still be fuqed up in this town, this county, this state, and this country. And come hell or high water, you know he will probably have it hardest because he is a Black man. Yet, for that very same reason, you know the inherent symbolism has already done more for little kids who look like you and came up in similar circumstances than anything you could ever dream of.

And for those reasons, you are inspired to do more. To do more for others. To do more for self. To take those traits that you do and do not love about yourself - and even the ones that others admire or loathe - and commit to working on them. Step by step. Because in the end, it'll help you to grow and mature and to become a better person. Because you're supposed to. Because some people - unbeknownst to you - may be looking up to you and won't tell you until years later. Because you took that jungle music and made it move you. Because you dudes is noodles and I got more ziti to bake.