I Wanted to Be “Triggered” for Halloween… (Photo Gallery)

Trying to keep in the spirit of Halloween, as I always do around this time of the year, I wanted to share this throwback costume from last year’s Halloween 2019 because I never had the opportunity of sharing on my blog. My followers know that I dress up every year for Halloween. I’ve shared so many of my costumes; from Tyler the Champion of Courage to Tina Belcher from Bob’s Burgers. I love dressing up for the holiday sometimes with no destination in mind. But last year, I chose to be “Triggered” for my costume.

[Read Get in the Spirit of Halloween: 5 Halloween Costumes by Doc on Doc’s Castle Media]

http://www.instagram.com/p/B4T3spap7Cb/?igshid=1kqvz7ejzqqiy

Triggered means to be activated by an event or circumstance that is the cause of a particular action, process, or situation. It’s to have an intense emotional or physical reaction to a situation.

Gradually over time as I scroll social media, I sense some annoyance seeping from my gut whenever someone is offended by something most people would consider to be minuscule. Topics that should be intentionally subjective spark absurd debates among peers that wouldn’t usually split relationships, divide, and conquer. More recently, the lines are being blurred on what is acceptable versus what is downright offensive.

Now we’re dealing with the emergence of a mob of individuals who make up what we call Cancel Culture, “a form of public shaming that aims to hold individuals and groups accountable for their actions by calling attention to behavior that is perceived to be problematic, usually on social media.” It’s like modern-day biblical stoning, except with mean trendy hashtags on our Twitter and Facebook timelines.

There are many victims of cancel culture. Just to name a few celebrities that have fallen to under the hammer of cancel culture conviction as of lately are Tory Lanez who allegedly shot Megan Thee Stallion in foot being shunned for dropping diss on the date of Breonna Taylor’s verdict, the once lovable but now turned villain Ellen Degeneres who’s catching heat workplace toxicity on her afternoon talk show Ellen, and even 50 Cent tried to call out the public to cancel Oprah for coming after black men in #MeToo Cases. We’re trying to rid everyone in the limelight.

Some of these stars may rightfully deserve being canceled. But there are times where mob mentality gets so triggered that pop culture turns to cancel people for simply having an unpopular opinion. That can be dangerous because we become afraid to make our next moves. Just look at how comedians have to move in this climate. Comedians nervously share new content in worries of their careers ending saying or doing something labeled unacceptable. They’re comedians. They’re supposed to make fun. Entire lives change when society resorts to canceling things, ya know. But do we think we could be going a little too far to rid society of what we feel is unpopular?

[Read Why Cancel Culture is a Distraction for The New York Times.]

Cancel culture is a phenomenon at the least because it leaves me astonished at how basic someone’s stance could be, yet they can go to ridiculous lengths to make a point about it.

So…I wanted to create a visual representation of how silly cancel culture has become. It’s ridiculous to see people get upset over the most trivial concepts. I’ve seen people disown their friends over food choices. I’ve even read news stories of people going mad and killing their entire families over someone choosing to not honor their wishes to not smoke near their family.

http://www.instagram.com/p/B4TySDHptKL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

A bit much, I’d say. But it’s quite the example of someone pushing their opinions on other people as the “is all, be all.” The sensitivity is out of control. Telling someone “no” when we don’t want to agree with someone is starting to cause everyone to be cautious about what we say or do. Why can’t we respect other people’s opinions and go on about our day?

How did I do being Triggered for Halloween? Did you get it? Leave your comments below.

There’s a Catador in Town. Doc Hosts 1st Ever Tequila Tasting in Baltimore

Wine and beer festivals and tastings scattered all around this country. A person could probably find over 25+ festivals in the DMV alone. When it comes to heavier liquor and spirits tastings, one would need to pay for the excursion on an exclusive vacation to attend one that’s worth experiencing. It’d simply be a waste of time, money, and gas to go to any local liquor store for a tasting. I know this so I decided to throw a tasting many of my friends would enjoy in a safe and comfortable environment.

Few people know that they can find tastings at their local liquor stores. They tend to be lackluster events. A tasting hosted in the average neighborhood spirits store would usually host a 2 hour tasting of a bottle sold in their store. They invite customers to taste small swigs of drinks housed on the shelves of their store as they shop. So most times these tastings aren’t formal or advertise for the public to attend. This could be due to Maryland liquor laws that prohibit many businesses from serving based on the type and class of a business.

Three stores you can visit for weekly tastings in Baltimore, MD:

HoneyGo Wine and Spirits located in Perry Hall, MD, has weekly tastings in their tasting room on Friday’s from 4pm to 7pm.
Quarry Wine and Spirits, located in Baltimore, MD, often hosts wine tastings in their liquor store on Fridays from 3pm to 6pm.
Wine Loft in Pikesville, MD does tastings if their wine collections on Saturdays from 1pm to 6pm.

http://www.instagram.com/p/B3KDCytAA9W/?igshid=1loi1qkizv0r2

These tastings are slim in their pickings of alcohol as they make the choice of beverage for you per the tasting. But if you are someone looking to buy a drink for later, such satisfaction is suitable in attending a tasting as such. But wouldn’t you want to really experience your drink? How will you know you really like it from just a sip? Why wait for later? Honestly the taste isn’t something great in any alcoholic drink, either. A spirits or wine tasting should let the drinker know what they’re getting themselves into.

That’s how it was for me at least. Wine tastings are best when you have them on cruise ships like how I’ve experienced when cruising to Mexico over the summer.

Doc and her dad in the Blue Agave fields in Mexico.

During my vacation cruising to Mexico, I did three tastings of my favorite drink, tequila. All the tastings educated its attendees about how tequilas are made, how many different types there are, and how to tell what brands are authentic tequila brands. I visited a field of Blue Agave Cactuses with my family and enjoyed exploring tequilas distilled into many different delicious flavors such as mango, coffee, and cream.

http://www.instagram.com/p/Bz4RO5ChdtX/?igshid=1ow7ydk4wbgsd

This experience was so fun to have I wondered if there were any tasting for Tequila in Maryland. It wasn’t a surprise to find the kind of tasting I would come across is the usual Wine and Spirit Store sample tasting. Really, where are the tequila tastings?! Not in Baltimore. The closest someone might find a tequila tasting is in a restaurant in Washington, DC.

So I threw my own tequila tasting during the holidays and I had a blast!

I spent hours and days prepping to grant my friends and family an experience worth sharing with others. I wanted this tasting to be talked about for weeks, or maybe even months. I wanted people to experience something they’ve never done before. So I studied, studied, and studied long to really educate my guests on what they’d be consuming. I became Catadora, someone who specializes in tasting tequila, for the night pairing my holiday chocolates with a kick of tequila. Bien de salud (in sound health, of course.)

Simply having people taste tiny sips of tequila wasn’t enough. I needed to know that my guests were gaining knowledge from me lecturing them about my favorite drink. So I threw a pop-quiz using a spinning wheel that ultimately turned my tasting into the most exciting Tequila trivia game known to man.

The night was so lit, I slightly beat myself for not preparing to have people in my house until 4 am. But no worries, I enjoyed the company and knowing everyone was safe. They had fun learning about Tequila and I loved being the teacher. I’ll definitely throw more tastings in the future.

What’s your favorite drink? Have you gone to a wine or spirits tasting for your favorite beverage? Share your experience in the comments below.

2020 Vision Baby: Sharing My Vision Board

We’re going to conquer our dreams. We’re getting back to master planning and sharing vision boards.

Boom! I’m coming back to use this zombieland of a blog I’ve had for over a year in hopes of inspiring people to take on the new decade in high confidence! We’re going to conquer our dreams. We’re getting back to master planning and sharing vision boards.

I’ve been on a hiatus from blogging for numerous reasons that I promise I’ll update in a later post. Today I want to share the vision board I created while prepping for my Doc Castle return. My board is solely my vision for 2020. Though I did draft a plan for a better decade in my daily notebook, I chose to share only what I have in mind for this year so I will not bore you all.

Read: The Benefits of Creating A Vision Board on GoalCast.

These things are what I consider to be concrete and achievable plans. I’m sharing and posting my board online to solidify and make declarations for my desires. I’ve written yearly goals since attending college, and it has proven to be very effective for me because it helps me get things done. It helps me make steps toward becoming the best version of myself each year. In achieving my goals, my life feels more colorful and more meaningful, and more recently I’ve found that my writings about my experiences completing my goals are my greatest motivation when I’m not feeling 100%.

I’ve shared bucket lists on Doc’s Castle Media in previous years with follow-up blog posts of sharing what I’ve done. Those experiences lead to creating music with friends and being featured in fashion shows. I met amazing people who introduced me to exploring a bigger world. It might not be a bucket list but in sharing my goals for 2020, I hope I can see more vividly and continue living more meaningfully.

Just a few things on the 2020 board…

Travel More
#Thirsty30
Living and Growing Happily with My Boyfriend
Honoring Taylor University Hours
Utilizing my office as a space for productivity and as box of inspiration for brewing ideas.
Stop living in your what if’s and just do what it!
Make Dozens upon dozens of Decorative Vases

When entering into a new year, do you make goals? Share some of the goals you have in the comments below.

Get in the Spirit of Halloween: 5 Halloween Costumes by Doc

What better way to bask in my return to blogging for Doc’s Castle than to talk about one of my favorite times of the year to be creative: Halloween.

For the last few years, I have dressed up to participate in the festivities of Halloween off whim because I think it’s exciting to get in the spirit of any holiday. It gives me something to do and its conversation starter with a lot of people who also enjoy doing things around this time of the year. So let’s talk about it!

I’m not an avid cosplayer so I don’t go all out for my costumes. You probably won’t ever see me super decked out dressed like I’m Catwoman or Wonder Woman. But when I catch the spirit of Halloween, my creativity takes over and I let my originality seep through. Because I’m not an avid cosplay, found someone you can ooh and ahh over. You can see previously feature hairstylist Shanae Thomas in all her awesomeness by visiting her Facebook page.

Check out some of these costumes I’ve worn over the decade.

2012 Ratchet Girl

In 2012 there was the invasion of the Ratchet Girl. Not to be confused with the Hot Girl, a term originated by rapper Megan the Stallion generally meaning- in very layman’s terms- women who feel confident in who they are—and having fun and looking good while doing it. Boisterous, or very confident women, would be mislabeled as Ratchet Girl, which is defined on Wikipedia as a loud ghetto, real, gutter, or nasty female. But over time this term has evolved into a more positive connotative meaning due to its use in modern pop culture. Some African-American women have reappropriated the word and embraced the meaning. Which is why I believe society’s hot girl was originally society’s former ratchet girl, but now evolved.

Shoutouts to Megan the Stallion for the name change, though!

2014 Annabelle

It was my first year working on Halloween for Baltimore’s alternative rock station 104.9 HFS Radio for Ballyhoo’s Halloween Party hosted at Soundstage in Downtown Baltimore City. I didn’t have time to prepare for the night with a better costume. But the station provided me with my outfit for the night. We were promoting the release of Annabelle and there were extra masks laying in the company’s promotions bin. With the extra motivation of a $3 Chipotle burrito bowl waiting for me just blocks from the venue, I was quick on my feet to figure out a plan to dress up to eat a discounted meal from one of my favorite restaurants.

*Side note: I never saw Annabelle The Movie.

2015 Tyler The Champion of Courage

Welcome the era of Caitlyn Jenner, winner of the 2015 Champion of Courage Award for her infamous gender change from Olympian star Bruce Jenner. She was labeled “woman of the year” for her courage to do the ultimate change in front of the whole world and it sparked many debates on the inter-web of whether she truly deserved to be honored with the title. I mean, after all, was Caitlyn truly a woman?

I wanted my costume to spark conversation because 2015 was full of lots of controversial topics. Bruce Jenner’s sex change was one of the events being talked about. So much so I felt it was the reason Caitlyn received such endowment. My costume to become Tyler and carrying a Champion of Courage certificate was an idea to poke some fun at the topic. I just wanted to reward myself for the decision to be confident enough to become a man for a day.

2016 Tina Belcher Bob’s Burger

Obsessed with watching Bob’s Burgers, I took more of a cosplay approach to dressing for Halloween this year. In 2016, I started embracing celebrating Halloween with attempting to dress as anything I felt stood out the most about pop culture to me during the year. Bob Burgers was it!

Bob’s Burgers was all around me. Every time I watch TV and saw that Bob’s Burgers was on, I tuned in. If I saw it streaming live on YouTube, streamed it too. I wore socks that replicated Louise’s rabbit ears. I purchase coloring books with all the characters. I became a Bob’s Burgers fan. I still am.

I wouldn’t consider Tina Belcher to be my favorite character. Though I love all Bob’s Burgers characters equally, I shared with Doc’s Castle readers three reasons why Tina Belcher was the perfect fit for a 2016 Halloween Costume.

2018 Squinty Eye Meme Girl

People get recognition for some of the simplest things on the Internet. Memes are no exception to crowning our very next sensation. Literally, anyone can steal our attention with their charm, wit, and even stupidity.

Last year, I chose to highlight a basic meme I saw being shared numerous times throughout 2018. I chose to be this lovely young lady in the picture above. I don’t know her personally but I’ve seen her associated in plenty of hilarious memes across social media. I wanted to be something I knew anyone who’s on social media as much as I would understand. People go it because my photo was shared multiple times with laughs.

My Halloweens are “lit” with a creative desire to just be in the spirit of it. I know I’m not the only person who does it just for this reason. So many others come up with awesome costumes. I loved scrolling my timelines on this day.

Did you see any costumes you enjoyed? Let us know about it in the comments below.

Throwback: Doc Releases Song Pushing Domestic Violence Awareness

Today, we share some unreleased content from out of the Doc’s Castle Media Vault. Are you a fan of conscious music?

In 2014, I recorded a track that speaks on the life of a girl who’s a victim of domestic violence. It’s not your average Eve’s “Love is Blind” type of track. It’s my version of a story of a girl who was my best friend. Our relationship changed when I saw her transform before my eyes into a woman who believed in lies from a man full of broken promises to never hurt her.

I thought I’d share this song after I posted about Walk A Mile In Her Shoes, a GBMC’s SAFE Domestic Violence program 5K walk geared to help raise money and spread awareness about abuse because domestic violence is a subject that shouldn’t be glossed over. A victim of domestic violence doesn’t deserve to feel like they’re being looked over. It’s a serious matter that sometimes ends in unfortunate death for many men and women around the world.

Passion Peace is a narrative of what I saw my friend becoming after dating a guy who isolated her from everything she already knew and loved. It was my stern affection of love for her and my eagerness to tell her that she was and still is beautiful while her boyfriend profusely abused her.

It was recorded at the Dugout Dojo in Fall 2014 by engineer and Baltimore recording artist Flu_x. The Dugout Dojo is where I also recorded my hip-hop mixtape Songs From Da Dugout.

I made Passion Peace while we were no longer friends but used it as a message to tell her I still loved her more than the person who placed her in dangerous situations. I sent it to her in hopes that she would one day realize what she is worth.

If I knew any better, I would have contacted the many different domestic violence programs that could help her escape an unsafe situation. Programs like the SAFE program or My Sister’s Place Women’s Center both located in Baltimore City, could have helped stir my friend away from what was keeping her bound in her relationship.

Today, her and my relationship are far from what it used to be. What she went through torn between our bond. I don’t know how someone can change everything a person stands for and still claim to love them. But I saw it happen. I watched her change. She’s no longer with the guy who was abusing her and she’s no longer the same.

Do you have a domestic violence story to tell? Leave us a snippet in the comments below.

Have you read about GBMC’s Walk A Mile In Her Shoes 5K Event? Read GBMC Working to End Domestic Violence Through Gender Role Reversal on Doc’s Castle Media.

Listen to #LoveandHipHop Baltimore Featuring #StrongWayRadio and #DocsCastleMedia on Embrace the Crazy Podcast by Whiskey Girl (Gallery)

Doc did something out of her element over the weekend. Dun, Dun, Dun. Doc’s Castle Media was a special guest alongside the owner of the Strong Way Radio brand on DC’s favorite Whiskey Girl podcast, Embrace the Crazy, to discuss the topic “Love and Hip-hop.” It was an interesting show, indeed, and I’m sure many of my readers will know why.

Most people who know me, know that I’m not very open with my love life. I’m far from the mushy type. Many may recall me being more of a goofball than a love bug. Until more recently, I’ve even gone as far as YEARS since posting a single photograph online of myself with a fling. But apparently, times have changed for Doc because exclusively for the DC Whiskey Queen, I’ve opened up my love life as an open romance novel for her podcast and it wasn’t bad at all.

As stated on WG’s Whiskey and Poetry Blog,

WG is a blogger, self-published author, spoken word artist and single mother with a full-time professional career in the nonprofit mental health arena. She lends her unique voice and perspective to her own WG’s Embrace the Crazy blog as well as MyTrendingStories.com. In addition to writing, her true passions include public work and serving as a mouthpiece to address mental health issues within the black community.

Embrace the Crazy podcast is a series of audio shows hosted by Whiskey Girl on her website WhiskeyandPoetry.com and Soundcloud. The series focuses on a plethora of topics ranging from hip-hop and poetry to mental health and “staying woke.” The sky’s the limit on her show.

While Karlito and I interviewed on the Embrace the Crazy podcast with Whiskey Girl, we covered topics on hip-hop and love, such as the Karlito and Doc love affair, couples collaborating with their brands, Nicki Minaj and Remy Ma beef, how local artists should prepare for hip-hop showcases, and much more. Listen to the full podcast below by visiting Whiskey Girl Souncloud.

After the podcast, the three of us did a raw photoshoot. Because I had so much fun, I thought it would only be right to share the photos on Doc’s Castle Media with the hashtags #BlackLove and #RelationshipGoals to fit the mood. View the gallery for Love and Hip Hop Episode of Embrace the Crazy Podcast below.

http://soundcloud.com/user-167368140/love-and-hip-hop-baltimore

How do you feel about couples collaborating on projects for their brands? Do you think it can be done? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Have you heard Doc’s interview with MDMA Cobain on CutThaCheck Podcast? Listen to Episode Four on Doc’s Castle Media.

Three Reasons To Be Tina Belcher (#DocsCastle Halloween Recap)

Every Halloween, I have to go all out and do my best to dress up as whatever the hottest trend of the year may be at the moment. For 2016, I decided to be the loveable Tina Belcher from Bob’s Burgers.

In Doc’s Castle Media history, I’ve dressed as some pretty questionable characters; as “ratchet girl” and “Tyler, the champion of courage.” This year I took an easier approach to finding a costume, partly because I procrastinated on buying the costume I really wanted, which was Donald Trump’s musty toupee. But I mainly ran with the idea of being Tina because I knew everyone would “get me” for simply being her.

Bob Burger’s has taken the Fox Network by storm. The show is on its 7th season, and it’s going strong holding it’s 7:30 pm ETA spot Sunday evenings on Fox with other longer running shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy.

Everyone loves Tina Belcher because she is so weird but absolutely loveable. How could anyone not love her? A Tina fan cannot help but root for her as she lusts over Jimmy Junior for a lengthy 7 seasons. Or how about when she’s put in charge as baby sitter of her two younger siblings Jean and Louise? We just know that something is bound to go down because of her leniency to care about the consequences of her actions while horseplaying with her little brother and sister. Tina can be confused as the responsible one, but she’s just as fun as the rest of the Belcher family.

When I went out for Halloween as this spunky teen, I received so many compliments. Whether it be that I nailed her look or people confessed their love for her character on the show, everything was so positive. Those kind of reactions make me love participating in Halloween. It’s the only time of the year someone can dress up as anything and not be rejected by their peers for it.

Awesome!

It wasn’t enough to simply dress like Tina. I have to share my Three Awesome Reasons I’m Glad I Choose to Be Tina Belcher for Halloween, of course! So here it goes…

One: Tina can be an awesome role model.

If I had to choose role model of a cartoon character from what we know to be an adult cartoon, Tina Belcher would have to be the best candidate. Unlike Haley Smith from American Dad and Meg Griffin from Family Guy, Tina Belcher doesn’t try to be beyond her age. She’s only 13 years old, that’s around middle school years, while Haley and Meg are a few years older and well off in high school. Tina doesn’t annoy us with bickering hatred or whiney slurs towards her parents like the stereotypical television teenager. In place of that, is a burning yearning curiosity and imagination; something we never want to die within ourselves. She keeps any kid who’s spectating down to earth in a reality suitable for their age.

Two: No matter how weird Tina may be, she always ends up being true to herself.

This analogy can actually be addressed to Tina’s entire family, but to remain focused, Tina does this exceptionally well to be only a preteen. When dealing in shenanigans with her frenemy Tammy, she always unbothered with Tammy’s insults. She fails to get embarrassed easily whenever in a moment of uncertainty. But if there is a time she’s feeling threatened emotionally, it’s only for a split second as Tina is reminded by her Belcher family of her greatness. It’s amazing, and also makes Tina more funny because it’s like she has blinders on whenever a moment you’d expect her to react go completely left field. It’s those periods when she shows us how to remain true to ourselves. She leaves us with the message that being real with ourselves makes us happier, always.

Three: Tina is an aspiring author.

Tina is a writer, just like me! Tina spends her time writing erotic fan fiction about herself, her biggest crush, and her friends in her journals. She keeps her erotic stories in her composition notebooks with aspirations to share her work with peers one day. I can relate to her unyielding ambition because I journal too. Tina being a writer fit so perfectly for me because I can still take on role-playing her and carry my journal along the way if I need to jot something down.

Tina is the new sexy in these three ways so much so animators should model their future characters off of her spunk. What do you say? Who’s your favorite Belcher? Tell us in the comments below.

Did you see the awesome costumes of people dressed up for Free Comic Book Day? Read Free Comic Book Day: Visit Collectors Corner Now ( A #DCM Recap) on Doc’s Castle Media.

Artist Update: MDMA Cobain (aka Raw Skinny) #CutThaCheck Podcast Launch Over Weekend

MDMA Cobain is back from hibernating under a rock and ready to give us his best and very long overdue radio voice with his new podcast #CutThaCheck. His show is bigger, better and brighter this time as MDMA Cobain provides us with new talent from artists in the DMV and more music by the most talented of Baltimore’s barrel.

MDMA Cobain, better known as Frank the host of this quite swanky show, gives us the jewels with his first podcast from his new series with co-host RonRoc, music producer of the MDMA Lifestyle Brand. In this interview, we become familiar with Baltimore Blogger Shae McCoy, hip-hop duo HollidayShellz, and MDMA Lifestyle artist Relloe1489.

Listen to Episode 1 of #CutThaCheck Podcast:

MDMA Cobain was one of the first to do an audio interview of me on the 2014 podcast The Raw Skinny Show on StaffRadio410. As I recall, it was unlike any conducted prior to it’s time, and what drew me to following him as an online personality.

What keeps me so intrigued with MDMA Cobain’s branding techniques is his unique parodies that come along with the show. During #CutThaCheck, we hear a parody about a woman who is “Clique Bait,”which is a female who’s been around town if you catch my drift. Usually the music shared on Frank’s podcasts are artist’s originals, but you’ll hear the occasional Juicy J, Project Pat or rapidly emerging Flatbush Zombies via the podcast, as well.

So what do you think about this new local show? We surely hope to hear and see more from the MDMA Lifestyle brand. Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

For you to keep up with the MDMA Lifestyle music follow their soundcloud, here.

BmoreBeatClub was lit for their second anniversity. Read #BmoreBeatClub Celebrates 2nd Anniversary Outdoors In Front of Hundreds at Annual Festival on Doc’s Castle Media.

One Year After Baltimore’s Uprising (A #DCM Recap)

It was around this time a year ago when Black Baltimore Youth decided to take a stand against social injustice as a result of death to Baltimore native Freddie Gray. One year ago, the city was at unrest as media from around the world had their cameras focused on the city’s reaction.

First at an uproar, then later turned uplifting, the riots became like a light switch flicked on gaining the attention of billions. Baltimore had all eyes on them as its citizens showed the world what’s truly happening in the city while public officials, like Mayor Stephanie Rawlings – Blake, left the citizens with “space to destroy.” Many have wondered would it be this be time for a revolution; will there be a change in the fight against systematic racism?

Read: The Real Revolution Will Not Be Televised #ILoveBaltimore on Doc’s Castle Media

During the 2015 Baltimore Uprising Protests, people gathered at the historical intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and North Avenue with a mission to show whoever watching the truth. Hundreds of people met with the same purpose against police brutality and social injustices. It was in front of the burning CVS Pharmacy, we designated a landmark for many of the Uprising’s protests. On the corner of Penn North Station, a revolution was sparked but is the flame for Black deliverance still lit?

A year later, there still remains an urgent call of attention to those same social injustices. Every day, there are signs that let people in on these still prevalent social needs. There are activists continuing on the search for ways to fight for funding towards a corrupt Baltimore City education system. By December of 2015, crime rates skyrocketed way past the usual records leading to more than 300 homicidal deaths throughout the year. There remain blocks-upon-blocks of vacant homes untouched since the riots in Baltimore during 1968. The homeless continue to be pushed out of tourists friendly areas in shame to prevent an unwelcoming presence for visitors. The city is the same.

On April 28, exactly one year following the Baltimore rising protest, another protest was held in honor of Freddie Gray, Tyrone West, and more recently 13-year-old African American student who was shot by a police officer on school premises after withdrawing a replica handgun.

Did you see the Million Man March Gallery? Read Face of Liberation (Million Man March Gallery) on Doc’s Castle Media.

My Confessions on Being A Chronic Journalist

Journaling could be the window of success.

As promised before in my blog A Life Brand New, one of my goals for 2016 is to write more inspirational posts. By sharing more about myself and allowing my readers in on more about my life, I hope to inspire more people to look within themselves to becoming better people. I want more people to do more to live fulfilling lives. So my first blog to inspire will be sharing one secret about myself that I have which I believe contributes to majority of my successes throughout life.

I am a “chronic journalist,” and I love it!

What is Chronic Journaling?

Chronic journaling is the act of writing in a journal or notebook on a consistent and very regular basis. It’s like leaving your very own breadcrumbs to finding a better plan for tackling issues, both big and small, in your life. It’s the busy mind’s way of thinking out loud, except it’s done on record and makes it easier to remember things.

There are so many benefits to keeping a personal notebook to write in on a daily basis. If someone was to take on the hobby of chronic journaling, life could turn into a routine, and easier to navigate to new task or goal. Dreamchasers could learn how to better organize by creating series of lists; like shopping lists, to do lists, or brainstorming lists. The journal could be used to hold new business ideas for the ambitious individual. It could be used for seizing boredom giving someone something to occupy their mind while they’re on idle from their most daunting duties. Some people even carry journals to collect pictures and quotes that inspire and motivate. Journals are used as your personal assistant and can be the tool to harper so much more potential for yourself.

Journaling Is A Big Part of Me

Journaling matters a lot to me because of the backstory of how I started making it into a hobby. I started doing it as mimicking behavior from watching my favorite 90s cartoons keep journals. I watched shows like Hey Arnold, Doug, and As Told By Ginger-all shows who main characters had diaries- and thought how awesome it would be to read about my life someday, reminiscing about memories. I started my diary entry phase in elementary school while I was young, very shy and quiet. Those were my days of literally talking about what I did throughout the day. You could only imagine how boring those entries were. Who’d want to listen to an 8 year old talk about getting grounded for going outside when their parents wasn’t home when they specifically told her to stay in? Not even me.

Glad I outgrew that phase.

As I’ve matured onto my puberty years, my writings had more meaning and purpose. The pages in my books developed more meaning because of new surroundings. During those years, my Journaling became a getaway from friends who had various types of personalities. Most of my friends were very dominant and outspoken kids, whose ideas were the height of the era. I didn’t think my thoughts mattered to others back then. I was more comfortable being observant and reserved as I learned more about people and how they communicated. I wasn’t sure of my own ideas and feelings, and I’ve always had that notion to wait until I was certain about my thoughts or how I felt before I decided to speak. Journals helped me to sort out my problems and how to tackle my daily little life struggles.

I have journals of all sorts from sketch, composition, notepads, diaries, pocket books and blogs.

It wasn’t until I’ve gotten older that I realized that what I loved to do was common amongst the world’s greatest thinkers, as well. There are many successful people who are known to carry a journal to write down their most precious ideas, savoring them for later opportunities to pull whenever life shows it’s ready for the next bright idea. While reading a blog from Art of Manliness, I learned of many famous people who turned to their trusty pocket notebooks for an outlet to brainstorm for great works. Famous people like Thomas Edison, Pablo Picasso, George Lucas, and so many more used their books to harper their greatest ideas. Some of those ideas were used to change how we did things and our entire way of life.

Journaling Saved My Life

Now as an adult, I consider my journal habit as a chronic habit I’m unable to quit without there being repercussions for delaying my routines. It’s not a bad thing to have such a habit. It contributes to a lot of my success. But what I enjoy the most about it is its ability to give me a proud feeling whenever I look back to it’s pages and find that I’ve finally completed something I’ve planned on for months, or sometimes years. Even while going through something emotional and I’ve used my journal to help grieve, it feels great to look back and know that I’m no longer feeling that pain anymore. I’ve found a way to turn my hurt into something beautiful.

Journaling helped me get through my best and more importantly worse of times. Journaling brought me to blogging, which kept me out of trouble as I’ve always had a hard time choosing the correct friends to hang with. Blogging was my escape from the drama and gossip that my peers took an interest in. Instead of indulging in continuing gossiping with the people around me, I focused my mind on learning how to journal online by creating Doc’s Castle Media. It’s why you’re reading this today.

Journaling has never been a stressful task to do. I’ve always loved it. I loved having a moment to myself to meditate with my own thoughts. It makes me more aware of me and that’s a capability many people lack. I take pride in it. From experience I know journaling should be introduced to the youth because helps to gain self-awareness. In a world that’s becoming too busy by its inhabitants to teach their children in public schools systems the power of getting to know oneself, journaling becomes a great self educator. I attest to it, and if there ever was a time a class could be taught on journaling, I’d love to help teach it. I’m waiting for that day.

Conclusion

My only goal for each journal I’ve started was to fill the pages with my thoughts because this is how I see myself being heard. When I write, people listen. This is how I’ve always gained respect. It’s how I’ve always gotten people to notice me. Through writing, I believe I can live forever because even when I’m gone, people will still be able to hear my thoughts. I always thought when you found that thing that could make you feel like you can live eternally, you’ve found a passion and a gift.

To me, It’s not enough to write on your own, or whenever the time is right. My journals became the window of success through frequent follow up observations. Any dreamchaser would allows their blueprints to become their motivator, organizer, or friend. By literally writing anything that comes to mind and faithfully sticking to it, I’ve allowed my books to become my blueprints to lead a more successful life. I would encourage anyone to take up this hobby because it’s therapeutic. Every page filled makes you feel good that you’ve gotten a thought out of your mind and on “concrete” paper. To be a chronic journalist, it keeps me and the people working around me in order. I thank my habit and others do as well.

I am a chronic journalist. #MyThoughtsMatter.

Would you consider chronic journaling as a good way to help accomplish some of your goals? What helps you to achieve? Tell me about your habits. Leave in the comments below.

Would you like to learn how to become a chronic journalist? Be sure to come back to learn tips for how to become a chronic journalist on Doc’s Castle Media.