Please take advantage of me......I don't mind

Men have a tendency to recant all of the things that we do for others when our frustrations reach a certain boiling point. I am no different, but at least I can say that I am self aware of some of my weaknesses. With that being said, let me list some struggles that I have been thru in my life and how it leads up to today.
I grew up in a two parent house hold to a father with an 8th grade education and mother who was a high school graduate. My sister and I were obviously first time college students and graduates. Those are clearly milestones for us and the family but it wasn't always easy nor did it happen over night! In fact I stopped going to college 3 times before finally getting my Bachelor's degree in Organizational Management and Business. I can say the journey along the way cost me a lot of time and taught me many life lessons that I have been fortunate to share with my own children.
I had to learn the hard way to never burn bridges, to stop making excuses and clear the way for results, to do what a man has to (regardless of age) and to seek and serve the true God to find real happiness. I can recall working 3 jobs while taking night classes at college along with being a single ACTIVE parent to my 2 young daughters. My girls mother was active in their lives too, but she was in college full time as well, so that just meant I had to try harder on my end.
I wouldn't say that I am what some people call "a success" but I can say that I am content with how things have turned out thus far. One thing that I can say is I am proud of is that I learned to make a way out of no-way. I didn't have the option of relying on my parents when I was out on my own. I had bills like the next man along with a broken down Honda. Heck, at one time I had up to 4 cash advances from those high interest payday loan companies. I was basically robbing Peter to pay Paul, but I was doing it legit. Trust me, I had options to get money from other resources- but I choose not to venture down those paths. Instead, I kept my head up and a smile on my face daily and nobody ever knew my struggles.
At this moment, I don't have those past struggles, but I am finding that I still relive my struggles thru the lenses of other people's viewpoints simply because I know them. I am a firm believer in helping out my fellow man (esp considering how many people are senselessly dying) but I am not good with being taken advantage of.  Matthew 10:36 mentions how a man's enemy will be members of your household, and I know the Bible to be 100. From my perspective, a family has to work together in all aspects of life. One person should not have to do mostly everything in order for the home to run well. If there a true leader in the home, then the directions come from that person unless its not running well. I know that a dirty house doesn't clean it self, food doesn't magically appear in the refrigerator (even though it magically disappears from the refrigerator), and bills are paid easier when agreements to pay them are fulfilled by the people living in said home. Take for example of my trips to Florida to visit my homeboy Dr. William E. Newsome. When I visited this dude, you better believe I realized that I had "FREE" place to live and I wanted to show my love for his kindness. I got up every morning and cleaned his house and cooked breakfast and made my presence appreciated in any way I could. I wanted him to know that this wasn't a hit or miss thing to show my attempt at saying "Hey I did something to be happy". Dr. Newsome told me that he was so impressed that I treated his home like it was my own, that I was welcomed anytime I wanted to visit. Dude gave me the keys to his new Escalade and his gas card and I will never forget that. Lesson for me you ask: If I stayed in Florida at a hotel, it would have cost me quite a bit of change and not to mention the car rental.
Back to the quoted scripture, if you come to my home, know that I worked hard for everything I have attained ( Thanks to Jah). Notice how I do things and follow my example. Its better to work with me than against me. Consider how that would work at your job (the not following rules aspect) and see how long you remain employed. I guess it goes back to parenting styles that determines how our kids turn out. I know my kids are not perfect, but you better believe when they stay with me or have sleep overs at their friends homes, they clean up their rooms daily, vacuum, take out trash, clean the tables and counters and help with the outside and anything else that needs to be done. Please see Proverbs 22:6 to see why its important to teach your kids at a very young age. Did I mention my kids are 14 and 16? I can't afford to take care of grown healthy people and for go things that I enjoy doing. I no longer need to worked 3 jobs, because I was handling my business and would expect nothing less from my kids moving forward if the situation called for it. In fact, when I was living with my parents, as a high school student, I not only did regular chores and kept the home clean, I had to pay $$ towards the food I ate and the bills of the house. It wasn't no free ride for me or my sister.  It taught me responsibility and appreciation for my living situation, I mean who can live anywhere for under $400 per month in this economy of today? That financial lesson helped me when I struggled as a young adult, because I knew what was expected from the real world. Being young often means youth and energy to get things done. I don't expect others to follow my broken paths, but I do expect my team or individuals to be strong, for all members who are with me or asking for my help. There should be no renegotiation of the house rules or others benefiting of my hard work accomplishments while I get nothing in return.  But I guess that is asking for too much in 2016, so PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME.........I DON"T MIND! Nevertheless, I got a plan to get back on track, because I don't have time to be frustrated arguing viewpoints and hearing excuses of what other people have to get done thus being unable to to follow my rules. Birds of a feather flock together and need to be together from my perspective.  I am not mad, just ready to complete what I started for me and allow others to continue the path they have chosen without me!
I am WarD.....

Miss me with the relationship rig-ga-ma-roe!!!!

As a man, Eye can certainly relate to things being done in a logical format. Perhaps that is why Jehovah created the woman as a man's compliment- rather than his leader! With that being said, I recently spoke to a few good men about being in bad situations, which surprisingly seemed similar. Both men complained that their women absolutely did not respect them. The men presented their views in an easy to follow path. They were tired of arguing almost daily about stupid things (in their opinion). They felt the women did not support them in the way the once did and the double standards women impose (my favorite).
I know a lot of women would immediately think that the men are the problem, but for the two I spoke with, I believe they are not! Take the arguing aspect first up! A person usually argues with their mate  to regain control of a situation. This is invariable a given when logic runs smack into emotions. If you looked at the majority of happy couples, you will notice that they settle problems quickly and with compromise. Wise women know how to get what they want from their men by speaking in a loving tone and at the appropriate time. Its not always easy, but well worth the results.
Next up, support! How can a woman support her man? I think the easiest response would be by doing what he asks of you. Example you ask? If he states that you both need to save money for a major purchase and one of the cut backs would be not getting Starbucks. So if the female knows the "what" and the "why" for said action and reasons that she will continue to frequent Starbucks but purchase flavored tea rather than the triple hot, extra hot, double shot latte, that you usually get! That is not supporting your dude. The man needs to know he can count on his woman in small things and big things. Men don't like it having to doubt the person who is suppose to have his back. Again, I find that happiest couples are the one's who do what they know their mate want/need not because they were requested but because they want to out of love!
Finally, the double standards. I personally hate it when someone says one thing and then later change the scenario up and say that they meant to say something else. Men are not mind readers of the what you meant to say nature. We know what you said not what you meant sucka!  I realize a person can make a mistake from time to time, but when something becomes a pattern, I feel comfortable thinking that you have been lied to! Wardy often says, Corner someone with the truth of what they stated and watch them wiggle out or at least try to! Another double standard is when a woman can play fight with their dude or talk about him and its all good. But let the tables turn around and its now being called mean and insensitive. I understand that women are the weaker vessel but after you can argue your man down for 3 hours about why he missed an exit on the highway or why he complimented his co-worker and not you, makes you less tolerant.
I am a hopeless romantic myself (walking on the beach, kissing my mate, snuggling while watching Netflix, taking selfies and having deep conversations about real life stuff) but if I am not on the same page with my mate, I can't do all those things I enjoy because the closeness is missing. What women need to keep in mind, is that men have only a few requirements from relationships to remain happy and if one or especially 2 are missing you got issues. Women tend to have a plethora of things they want and can live with several of them lacking. For example, he doesn't have a job or doesn't flush the toilet or put his dirty underwear in the hamper, that's cool with yall-lol! Again, if the man finds his woman  doesn't want to give him sex or constantly goes against his wishes or can't cook etc...... You get me point.
I am happy for sucesscuful couples but it makes you wonder, why do so many people call it quits every darn day.....
I am WarD.....

Wait......did you say Bald Head or Bald Fade?

Is it me or have you ever had an experience that you thought only happened in the movies? Anywho, this is my story. The other day, I decided that my hair was at the point of needing to be faded up to keep me at my maximum freshness! Sure I am a licensed barber in the state of Indiana, but sometimes I don't feel like cutting my own her, thus I must decide which of my fellow barber brethren must I entrust with my locks! On this particular day Wardy decided to push it down to the local barber college and get that $5 dollar hollar.
I drive on down and quickly had to rush inside because an old lady pulled in behind me with 4 kids who clearly needed a fade more than I did, but my time is valuable right? So I am inside waiting for the next open barber to call my name, which finally happened! The cool young white brother with more tattoos than I think is actually legal greeted me and told me to have a seat in his chair! He needed to finish sweeping the floor before he gave me the most memorable hair cut of my life.
Looking back, I should have gave one of the little boys my spot when I realized his barber chair would not lock in position. I had to balance my self and try not to move to much. My back was killing me, I tell ya. Dude said, he just realized his chair was broke earlier that day (now I am thinking why didn't he switch to a new chair, but heck its a $5 dollar fade, so I dealt with it). So dude, now asks me what cut would I like today? I said and I quote" I would like a bald fade and light on the top". Dude said o.k. let me heat this water up then. I thought it was strange, but I figured he wanted to heat the towel up to give me a sharp line up. So he starts to cut my hair as the water was running and he wasn't following the normal pattern that barbers follow for a bald fade. Next, I over her the barber next to my barber ask him is he able to straight razor  "me" bald. Dude said, naaaaah, I am gonna use the hot towel then use the liners!!!!!! I then had to speak up. I said, excuse me, but how low are dropping my top? He said, what do you mean my dude? I again, said "how low are you going to cut my top"? He again asked what do you mean? I thought he was joking, but I said my hair for the bald fade? He quickly turned beat red, and said excuse me and disappeared. He then showed up with the barber instructor and they were whispering behind me about my hair.
Of course, I had my glasses off, which meant I couldn't hear good ( don't ask- just keep living my pain with me sucka) but the instructor said, "Sir, I am gonna give you all your $$$ back because the student barber should have took you to the picture board and pointed to the picture of what you wanted because when you said bald fade, he thought you said BALD HEAD!!!!!!!
Omg, this dude has gave ""Wardy"" the Michael Jordan minus the money.
I told the barber that it wasn't no biggie because it was only hair and it would grow back ( hopefully). Actually, dude was more upset that I was. He began telling me how great a fade master he is and he was sorry he didn't hear me. Now everyone in the shop is looking at me like I am the last black man who didn't get shot by the police. I did the walk of shame out of the shop and ran like that dude on Fridays who got knocked out by Debow, to my cry.
Anyway, I guess I will be alright in a few weeks. I have a few hats, shoe polish, doo rags and PTO time at my job!
I am WarD......