Howdy A Spark Starts Fam!

First off I would like to apologize for my extended absence. Life has forced me to make some necessary adjustments to tend to matters that were really important. With that said, I promise my absence will not be prolonged. I will be back stronger than ever with some great content and a new look. Thanks to all of you who checked up on me while I was out. (That was only two people. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves. I could have been dead.)

Anyway, I popped out here today to share some huge developments with you guys. Jermaine, my brother in law and partner here on A Spark Starts, has recently ventured on to his very own site. It is a site full of spiritual inspiration and was officially launched on January 1st 2012. I couldn’t be more excited and relieved because I was having a hard time competing with his depth of writing.

Jermaine has decided to go strictly spiritual and is ready to answer questions and talk about his life and pursuit to follow Christ. If you are a Christian or not, you have to check out what he has in store on his site. I promise you will not be disappointed. Now his site shouldn’t be very hard to find. In fact it is a simple as taking my domain and changing the ending to .net. That’s right! He is now running asparkstarts.net. Go check it out ASAP!!!

As for me and my new found freedom. I don’t know what to do next. Just be aware that the quality of content will be greatly diminished without the need to impress my counterpart. Just kidding!! The last thing I want to do is give my few readers a reason not to come back.

So, for all the days and weeks I have missed. I want to wish everyone a Merry Happy Christmas New Years Kwanza Hanukah Event day.

Didn’t you miss me?

Don’t forget to stop by the best place online for spiritual inspiration.

By Emslie

Back in 1997 Seinfeld had an episode entitled, “The Strike.” There are a whole bunch of laughs in this episode. My favorite running story line is that George tells everyone at his job, Kruger, that he has given charitable donations in their names as their Christmas gift. Of course, every charity has to have a title. George dubs his fictional charity, “The Human Fund.”

I just wanted $200.

I didn’t come in here for your results, or your concerns, or your warnings. I came to this health screening as an obligation to get a free payday from my employer.

There is no way in the world I can be skinny and unhealthy.

Yet, even with all of my disbelief, the charts don’t lie. My blood pressure is high. My cholesterol is startling. If I don’t make a change soon, I won’t have to be concerned about $200. There is the whole eternity thing that I would be dealing with first hand.

Who knew you could be skinny and unhealthy?

I sure as heck didn’t. I guess the days of eating 3 egg omelets with four pieces of bacon and a half of stick of butter are gone. Just thinking about that right now makes my chest hurt. Gone are the days of double bacon cheeseburgers with extra bacon dipped in fry grease for flavor. I can no longer indulge in the pleasures of half a carton of ice cream and the flavorful fat the hangs off a piece of steak. This stuff will kill me.

Eating crap like this is probably on of the biggest reasons I am skinny and unhealthy.

I always thought that my high metabolism was a blessing. I figured I could eat my way through life never having to worry about gaining a pound. Sadly, although I didn’t pack on the pounds, I have learned that my arteries are just a little bit thicker, my heart works a little bit harder, and my lungs can’t endure like they used to.

Even though I am skinny, I am unhealthy. I got a serious reality check.

It was all about appearances. On the outside, I look like the picture of health. I could be a underwear model with this chiseled physique of mine. When people see me, they don’t see that at any moment I could be taking my last breath. People can’t tell that I am slowly dying on the inside. I was hiding unhealthy habits and behaviors behind a smile and a small frame.

The eye opening thing about this experience is that I am not alone. I am not the only person who hiding behind appearances. I started to notice the mother who smiles in front of her children and cries her self to sleep because she is overwhelmed with the challenges of life.

I saw straight  through the guy in the expensive suit and witnessed the pain in his eyes and he contemplated the debt that he has amassed keeping up with the Jones. I carefully observed the wonderful family picture with all the smiling faces and noticed the parents who were on the brink of divorce.

This is a your reality check! Don’t get caught up in appearances. It’s time to start dealing with the real underlying issues.

If you don’t want to take my advice, please don’t be alarmed at the results of your tests. You can’t do whatever you want and ignore the consequences of your actions. Life is too short to be living it with a small frame stuffing your face with garbage.

You can be skinny and unhealthy!

Look deeper than what you see and display on the outside. You know exactly what I’m talking about.

Deal with it before it’s too late.

I have so much more to say, but I got to hit the gym. This cholesterol isn’t going to lower itself. Take care of yourself, your family and your life at all costs!

If you enjoyed this post, send it to everyone you know.

From the A Spark Starts family, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

I plan to spend this day trying my best to gain 15 pounds. I am headed by Jermaine’s for some great food and family fun. If you happen to be in the Indiana area and are looking for a great meal…don’t come where I am. I’m not sharing. Didn’t you read. I am trying to gain 15 pounds and that doesn’t come from splitting a meal 15 ways.

For all of you that are greatly concerned, please be aware that I did not cook. Therefore, the food will be edible.

Since it is Thanksgiving, I might as well get my give thanks out of the way. If I do this I can spend more time eating and less time talking. (It’s all a part of my strategy this year.)

Thanks to each and everyone of you who have read, tweeted, or in any way supported A Spark Starts. We couldn’t have made it this far without you.

Happy Holidays!

“Were is the turkey?”

Today I want to step back a little further and express my thanks that I live in the United States of America. Without appearing too melodramatic, I want to express my gratitude to Lady Liberty, diplomacy, and the whole mixing pot of cultures that have made me who I am today.

THE LIONS
It may sound shallow. I’m thankful that the NFL didn’t go into a long, drawn out labor strike that would have ruined the holidays by cancelling the amazing season that the Detroit Lions have had so far. At 7 and 3, they just might make the playoffs. Even if they don’t beat the Packers this week they are still winners in my book…. Why? Because people think they can. A few years back when they went 0 and 13 nobody outside of Detroit would even care that they were playing on turkey day.

Where I live now
I’m thankful that I live in a neighborhood where on one side I have a Hispanic family (straight from the Dominican Republic) and on the other side a Caucasian family. Though I don’t talk to them nearly as much as I should, I know there was a time where this kind of diversity was unheard of.

Where I work
I’m thankful that I have a job to go to everyday where my thoughts are appreciated. It is not my age, gender, or ethnicity that make me (or limit me). Luckily, I am just as likely to get a promotion as the vast array of different aged, different gender, and different ethnic people who make up my peers. (If the government finds out otherwise I have the right to sue). That is saying a lot for a country that less than 100 years ago wouldn’t allow women to legally vote.

Where I’m from
 I’m thankful that even though I grew up with a ton of obstacles, I had the support system behind me to push me to adulthood. For all of the people in the world who think Detroit, Michigan is a horrible place… try visiting a third world nation and you’ll quickly change your tune. I know that all of the things the Motor City embedded in me as a child weren’t perfect but I honestly wouldn’t change one moment of youth.

I’m not naïve
 This Thanksgiving I have to be brutally honest. My life is not perfect. Why? I’m not perfect. My world is not perfect. More specifically, my country is not perfect. However, if there is one thing I’ve learned in the last thirty years it is that we can learn, we can grow, and we can change.

The diversity and freedom we have does not have to be a by-product of the laws that we set. We can make freedom, liberty, and unity really real! This holiday season I challenge you to be the change you want to see in the world.

P.S.
Another reason I’m thankful… There is no other countries you can visit with 6625 Wendy’s, 12,000 Burger Kings, and over 30,000 Mc Donald’s.  The even better news is, in spite of this greasy abundance, most people will not have a burger on Thanksgiving. Eat some REAL food. I plan to be one of these people!