You know you in da' hood when.... you start to believe your own hype that you can somehow, transcend space to get where you need to be when you didn't give yourself enough time to get there.  Like when you tell yourself that you can get to work in 45 minutes when it always takes you 60.  Or, when you tell yourself that you will get to the airport by 11:30, although you are parking your car at the METRO overnight lot 30 minutes away, in the opposite direction and taking the train all in 90 minutes.  Really...

 No, not really.  That thinking NEVER works.  What ends up happening is: you stress out over traffic, check your navigation repeatedly in case the ETA changes miraculously, the METRO stop at the airport is 15 minutes away from your destination which is in a new wing of the airport and despite arriving sweaty and out of breath, the agent calls down to the gate to confirm that you indeed WILL NOT make the already boarded flight.   

I am not sharing this story to get sympathy for my failed attempt at Flight 1078.  I am writing to encourage you to not repeat my mistakes.  BE ON TIME PEOPLE.  We become annoying, inconsiderate morons when we are late.  We inconvenience others with our desires for mercy at the office, parking lot, ticket counter, school drop-off, etc.   Being late is disrespectful to others' time as well.  The baggage handler at Reagan National should not have to run my one bag out to a flight that is already packed because I wanted to read my email before leaving the house.  Whatever you have to do to get on the early/on--time team, a  Get up earlier, put on your makeup on the train, pack the night before, set your clocks ahead 30 minutes (permanently), whatever works.  You arrive looking calm, cool and collected with all of your swag intact when you care enough to prepare beforehand to be on time. I'm just saying.

You know you're in the hood when... you hear someone explain away a health condition as serious as hypertension saying " You know it runs in their family...."  Huh!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? If hypertension, also know as 'high blood pressure' is common in your family, everyone is failing to take care of themselves on the most basic levels.  One of the most common misconceptions about hypertension is that it can not be prevented.  While there are definite risk factors, HYPERTENSION IS PREVENTABLE!! We all know that we should eat a healthy diet with a good balance of sugars, fats, proteins and vegetables, in amounts appropriate for our bodies.  We also know that we should integrate a healthy amount of exercise that keeps us strong and often reduces stress. So why then, do we insist on eating too much, eat the wrong things and blow off exercise? Probably the same reason that we drink too much, smoke at all and add too much salt to our high stress lifestyles.  Could it be that we don't really treasure health? Or that we are so unwilling to break away from the masses who justify overindulgence and neglect, to the point that we are willing to manage the steady deterioration of our one and only body with all of the pain, discomfort and certain death that that decision brings.  Whatever the reason, let us be clear- High Blood Pressure Kills and you do not get to choose how.  It could be quickly in the form of a heart attack or slow with damage to your kidneys blood vessels and other organs. In a conversation last weekend about one of my favorites (barely 30 yrs old with a wonderful family, friends that adore him and the promises of God on his heart) who is hospitalized for an unruly, unchecked blood pressure, it became apparent that health is a choice that we, very often, believe that we can put off.  We cannot!

Anytime you see this intro, you know that I am about to describe an instance that is best understood in the context of a particular culture or environment.  If you can relate to what I proceed to introduce, you are "literate" in that one arena and should be proud! Literacy defined is having or showing knowledge about a particular subject, to be educated or cultured.  To be literate in ANY capacity is a plus, but don't be fooled my friends,  to be really polished, to be able to use your knowledge to your best advantage in today's society, you must be literate across many platforms. You must be able to communicate with others effectively to share your education and culture so that "WE" are able to progress successfully.  Soooooo when "You know you're in the hood when..." example is referenced, be prepared to become more "literate" in the ways of our world through my self proclaimed objectivity.  Welcome friends!