To my valued Subscribers: Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification Since the only purpose for this post is to complete the MyBlogLog Verification process, please ignore this one. I respect each and everyone of you too much to waste any of your precious time with meaningless posts.

Quick question. Does anybody know if eating “cloned meat” will cause “double vision?”

Copyright (c) 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

Last year, my wife, KWiz, and I watched the movie “Freedom Writers.” This year, we watched “The Great Debaters.” Both are unforgettable films. If you’re an aspiring writer who needs a reason to finish writing your book, please don’t wait to see either of these films. Both are amazing examples of the art of story-telling.

It’s true! Everybody has a story to tell. Some of you are extremely talented, gifted writers who can effortlessly employ the power of the written word to tell your stories. For me, writing is a struggle, which is why I started blogging last year. Have you ever wondered if there’s some secret formula or writing technique that will make one book sell better than another?

Can “talent alone” ensure the success of the books that authors allegedly choose to write? Who or what enables prolific writers to repeat the meticulous process behind the creative chaos that made your book a success? Does the timing of a book’s release play a significant part in its author’s ability to emotionally connect with one generation and not another? Do you believe that book sales, or the lack thereof, are an accurate indication of the perceived success or the failure of a book?

According to prolific author Paulo Coelho’s profile, “Slow initial sales [of The Alchemist] convinced his first publisher to drop the novel, but it went on to become one of the best selling Brazilian books of all time.

Have any of you ever pondered the possibility that the part you played did little to determine the success of your book? Did God’s sovereign will and perfect plan have anything to do with the success of your book? If yes, does it really matter whether or not an author chooses to employ “urban street teams” or “main stream” marketeers to promote a book that’s destined to become a national best seller? As writers, what part do we play in the books we author?

Do books choose their writers or do writers choose the books they pen? I had no desire to write a book before I began to pen Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness. I believe the book that I birthed chose me. I can still recall waking up in the middle of the night to write the first page of my big dream. Once I began writing it, I couldn’t stop. Whenever I felt inspired to write, I didn’t sleep much. I didn’t eat. I didn’t talk. Since I didn’t have anything to distract me, I just wrote. I constantly canceled or rescheduled appointments until the words stopped flowing from somewhere deep within the heart of my soul.

Am I crazy or has this ever happened to any of you? What did you do initially? Did you look around the room to see if you were all alone? Did you ignore the words you heard or did you heed the still, small voice that inspired you to believe that you could achieve something bigger than yourself? Did people laugh at you, ridicule you, and reject you when they heard about the genesis of your big dream? My mother and my wife stood by me at a time when I needed their love and support the most.

Writing Steppin’ Out Of The Darkness was an act of faith for me. I wrote on anything and everything I could get my hands on as evidenced by all the cardboard boxes still stuffed with the hastily scribbled notes that I stockpiled over the years. During those difficult days when I had no place to lay my head, I didn’t have time to feel sorry for myself. For reasons that still escape me, I refused to give up after the fall I survived.

Nevertheless, trusting God when nothing made sense wasn’t easy. To challenge myself to keep getting up and showing up for my street fight with Adversity, I started writing poetic essays. Writing literally saved my life after my business failed and I was forced to file bankruptcy. Because of the vision that God gifted to me, I had a plan that I could believe in. God’s unchanging love gave me hope during my darkest days. It’s true! Without a vision, people with no reason to hope will perish.

For reasons now known, “But by grace still go I” is not just some empty Christian phrase that I casually toss around to sound spiritual. If you’re a published writer, did your book choose you or did you choose your book? I hope this post has encouraged somebody to rise to your feet and inspired you to honestly believe that you can beat impossible odds with God’s help. If so, please let me know.

Copyright (c) 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

I’m supporting 2008 Presidential Candidate Barack Obama because he gives me “hope.” He’s beating the odds. It’s my heart-felt prayer that Senator Obama isn’t the only political candidate who sees past all the smoke and mirrors, chooses the high road, and endures the escalating personal attacks while sitting in the “seat of the accused.”

Watching and listening to Mrs. Michelle Obama gives me a reason to hope. As a sign of respect, I tip my hat to this wise woman of substance as she steadfastly stands by Obama’s side with honor and dignity during a time when marriages are failing at an alarming rate. I agree with her. I’m also sick and tired of living in fear for all the innocent children who’ve been “marked for destruction.” Aren’t you?

All the emotionally-charged mud slinging that has recently inundated the news appears to be nothing more than acts of desperation. Senator Obama has successfully managed to capture the hearts and the attention of an eclectic collection of highly-motivated voters who’ve also grown sick and tired of “business as usual.” Let the sleep-walking status quo know that you’re not afraid to face your fears and embrace Change.

Are you ready to take a stand by using your blog to let the world know that you’re a blogger who believes that Senator Barack Obama will do what’s best for all Americans and not just a few? Matters not the color of your skin, your gender, your political affiliation, your religious beliefs, your personal preferences. Take a stand. Register. Vote. Together, we can make a difference during what shall soon prove to be yet another “defining moment” in the history of this country.

Copyright (c) 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights Reserved.

B.M.A.D.™ in 2008 is an acronym for “Bloggers Making A Difference™ In 2008.” For new visitors, I birthed this blog January 1, 2007. Since then, I’ve learned so much from many of you about the art of blogging. In the process of reading your insightful, informative, and thought-provoking posts, I’ve learned much about myself. I look forward to doing the same this year with your help, prayers, and support.

Personal growth is always a painful process. Nevertheless, I’m a better person because you have chosen to love me despite my imperfections and great weaknesses. Hopefully, I’ve learned from the mistakes I made during my first year of blogging. If not, check me. Better to be wounded by a friend than to be kissed by an enemy.

As we begin yet another journey together, I want to ask each of you to think about what you plan to accomplish with your blogs in 2008? Knowing your purpose as a blogger will gift you with a deeper understanding of how you can improve your blogs and increase traffic to your sites?

How can you use your writing skills and your blogs to make a difference in the lives of the people you will meet “for the first time” this year? How can you use an activity that I still consider a privilege to inspire, empower, and encourage the readers who visit your blogs or subscribe to your blogs?

Let’s challenge one another to do something this year that will compel the whole world to sit up and pay attention to what bloggers have to say in 2008 to make a difference in the lives of our blended, extended family members. Let’s challenge one another to actively participate in the making and the shaping of our ever-evolving history.

What can we do to focus more attention on the ordinary, everyday people I call “unsung heroes and sheroes?” How many people do you know who have the “courage to teach” the next generation of leaders? What person’s courageous “act of faith” has had the most impact on your life? What teacher or mentor challenged to you to do more than you ever thought possible? Who still inspires you, encourages you, empowers you and loves you unconditionally?

Since Change is inevitable, I challenge myself and all my peers in the blogosphere to “B.M.A.D™ In 2008″ before it’s too late to save the next generation of leaders who are destined to become great. Are you willing to do more than you ever thought possible? I hope so.

Copyright © 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon. All Rights reserved.

For those of you who’ve been busy perusing my archives, I want to personally thank you for your patience with me during the birth of my big dream.  Nothing is as easy as it appears and always takes longer than expected.  If you read last year’s post, you already know that I called 2007, the “Year Of Firsts.”  You will recall that I challenged each of you to do at least “3″ things on a daily basis.  Can you identify at least 3 of those tasks?

Since New Year’s Day traditionally marks the beginning of something new, I am choosing a similar theme for 2008 by using the phrase, “For The First Time.”  But before taking the steps that will challenge you to face your biggest and deepest fears, fire up your computer’s word processor or grab a pen and a few pieces of paper and jot down your own “stones of remembrance.”

From within the safety and security of your beautiful skin, find a quiet place to spend some time taking an honest, introspective look back at 2007.  Why is this necessary?  If you don’t know your history, you’re bound to repeat the same mistakes in 2008 that hindered and unduly burdened you in 2007.  It’s true.  If you want something you’ve never had, you must do something you’ve never done.  Difficult?  Most definitely!!  Impossible? Not!!

For the first time, what did you achieve in 2007 that you didn’t believe was possible? What did you do differently that made it possible for you to “keep risin’ after every fall you survived until you began to exceed your self-imposed limitations?  What obstacles did you overcome?  How did you do it?  Who or what inspired you to beat the odds with God’s help?

How has your life changed since you managed to achieve what you didn’t believe was possible?  Do you have a renewed respect for yourself?  Do you have more confidence in yourself? How many of your peers applauded you and showered you with their blessings and well-wishes?  How many negative, fearful people did you have to cut loose, shake loose, and leave behind in order to achieve what they still didn’t believe was possible?  How many new friends have you met since you stepped outside the box of what gave you a false sense of security?

Now, let’s flip the script and ask yourself why you failed to face your fears and embrace Change in 2007.  Yes, I used the “F” word.  I hope you’re not offended.  What did you fail to achieve in 2007 because you still didn’t believe it was possible for you to achieve it?  What bad habits did you repeat in 2007 that sabotaged your efforts to make your big dreams come true in 2006?

Don’t limit your list of introspective questions to mine.  Create your own list.  Humbling isn’t it?  Remember, the last person you want to tell and sell a lie to is yourself.  Only then will you truly “know thyself.”  Think about it until we meet again.

Copyright (c) 2008 by Roderick O. Solomon.  All Rights Reserved.