NEW BLOG ADDY and LOOK.

SO!
This blog has moved to a new home!

Visit:
http://www.michaelandrewreid.com
or
http://www.michaelandrewreid.wordpress.com

Both addresses will take you to the new place.
New look, some new stuff, some original stuff, and that crazy dude, me.

So see you at the new blog site.

Soldier Interview

J.J. Stocker was kind enough to speak with me after he’d come home from work.

His employer: The Canadian Armed Forces.
His rank: Captain.

Claiming that he was a bit grumpy from a long two days at work (and that's literally not going home for two days), he was able to give a genuine smile and answer questions. He prefaced our conversation saying that as an officer in the Armed Forces he was unable to comment on politics, government or operations. Which is good, cause that would have made this a much longer blog.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing J.J. for a few years and the man I spoke to that day was slightly different, even though I was the one conducting the interview, he immediately commanded my interest and attention.

Off the bat he made a statement that made me realize the luxury we Canadians have while a war is begin fought everyday across the ocean. When asked about his opinion of Canada in wartime vs. peacetime his response was that: “The army is at war, but the nation isn’t. There’s no difference to civilian life as it doesn’t involve the main population.” That one statement alone had me reflect on the events that take place everyday.

There are Canadian men and women that go to work everyday. They deal with traffic, clients, customers, deadlines, etc. Then they go home and deal with the next days challenges.

Then across the North Atlantic Ocean, there are Canadian men and women who work on a contract basis (a tour) and make the decision to risk their lives representing this country of ours. With Remembrance Day approaching and two more Canadian soldiers being killed these past few days (133 since the war started in 2002), I wonder how I can claim this land I was born on as mine. The country belongs to the people that put themselves in harms way as representatives of our country. Those who help, protect and defend others as Canadian soldiers.

J.J. loves Canada and has a true appreciation for the little comforts that he took for granted before his first tour like a cold beer at the end of a long day, or simply a bed.

I asked J.J., if you could go back in time and tell yourself something on your first day of basic, what would it be? He responded without pause: “You made the right choice.”

There is so much I learned about this man, sufficed to say I’m proud to have men like him representing Canada.
We are a better nation for it.

I just want to be successful.

My road to success is paved in pain.
Guiding me through the path of struggle, sacrifice, stress and seemingly insurmountable challenges. And I love every second of it, because the end result is greatness.

People ask why I'm so busy. They see and hear what I do and think I'm insane. But there is no other way. I'm the man, son, nephew and grandson of hustlers. Not in the pop culture sense, but the pure sense. My motto right now is: "Success by any means necessary."

My grandmother paved the way for our family to live in Canada by hustling, working hard, staying up late and simply getting the job done.

My mother raised me and worked her way through her Bachelor of Education, her Degree in Nursing. And in later years graduated at the top of her class when she got her Masters in Nursing. My father will give and sacrifice anything for the success of his family. My mother, uncle and aunt took it upon themselves to keep our family tight through little money and lots of mouths to feed through the 80s. Always being available to assist the family in anything.

My friends and my council are the types of people that will not let you fall, ever.

My woman is one of the greatest things to ever grace my existence. Like the rest of my family, she was born a hustler through temperament and environment. So as she gives her all, to her career and to my success, she does so to take care of her family.

So to all those who from time to time ask why I work so hard, study so much, sleep so little, give every drop of my being. It's because I have to. If I was blessed with a so many people that are so tremendously amazing, I can do nothing but strive to be better then everyone else in the room.

If I were not to hustle, I insult my beautiful queen, friends, cousins, uncle, aunt, father, mother, grandfather and grandmother. All of which have helped, supported, given or sacrificed directly or indirectly in the name of Michael Andrew Reid.

"Good things come to those who wait, but only what's left by those who hustle." - Anon

Just wanted answers the question I keep getting.

Now, back to work.

- Michael

Single mother Interview

Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with a few friends and ask them a few questions. The following is a short synopsis of one of those interviews.

Single mothers:

Daphine walked into Starbucks with great confidence, dressed business-casual and standing at 5’7”, she carried herself with beauty and poise. I have known my friend for over six years, and was under the impression I knew a lot about her. That evening I learned a few things, such as how much she loves her young son and how much her world has happily become about him.

One of her passions and driving forces is not only providing for him, but also continuing to be someone he can be proud of. She informed me that the experience of being a single mother, "...continues to gets easier and harder as it goes on, it’s been amazing and difficult, and I've gone through varying degrees of angry and extremely happy; like most things in life it all depends on the day."

She also finds herself more concerned with her own health and well being now that there is another life that depends on her existence. If she could go back in time and meet herself the first day she was a mother, and tell herself one thing she replied: “Be patient.”

There are tons of books on parenting, but there is no book that can tell anyone person how to be a parent. Since everyone is different, in different situations, with different beliefs and experiences. There is no way to truly learn except experience.

Living in 2009, she reflected that it has been a great year: she is getting her first new car, and is alive for the first black American president. With that, I thought about two things: first, she was now able to reliably travel with her son; and second, her son, who is half black and half white, is alive to see a similar reflection as the most powerful man in the free world.

I left that meeting with a better understanding that being a single mother can be a taxing, emotional and difficult experience. However, it is more importantly a tremendously rewarding and amazing experience, because the thought of her son makes her extremely happy.

Been a hot minute

Yes, it's been too long.
And I apologize.
I won't bore you with the many excuses I have for not writing recently, I'll just get right into it.
Here's something I've written that keeps rolling around my head so I'll share.
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Even when I'm going through strife, I'm loving my life,
because I got the love of my life, I'm loving my wife.
And meeting her was such a delight,
my heart flows through my pen so she making me write,
she making me right.
The kinda love you willing to fight, with all of your might,
I love her morning, noon and night.
My heart wasn't right, was darker then night.
Like Sean Paul for the heart Venus you just gimmie da light.

- Michael Reid
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