Love is

I chose this title because I loved the show. The show does not represent who I am about to discuss but it does setup a framework for us to discuss a few things. Have you ever watched a flower grow? From a seed it struggles to break through the dirt. Once it breaks through further help is necessary to help it grow like sunshine and water. Watch this though, the flower has an expectation to grow just as well as humans are expected to grow as well. Everyone does not grow in all areas but stay with me. The flower needs the right elements and it needs to be nurtured. That flower is a living and breathing plant. We are living and breathing individuals who need nurturing as well as the sun and water. In addition to other things of course. We need food. Comfort food is good but it may not be the best. Lets transition really quick. Social cognitive theory talks about environmental factors which determine human behavior. In that context does our environment suggest love or influences it? Within our environments, behaviors that are positive and reinforced are more likely to be duplicated, modeled or mimicked. Have we seen our parents love? Do they love one another? Is there love embedded within the parent-child relationship?  Without getting to deep and buried in research, lets understand that positive experiences can create hopeful mental maps  which create the belief of love and romance. What does that mean JT. It means my experiences will help create my belief. Ok so why is all this important JT. Let me tell you. For nine years a flower was growing. It went through hardships and struggles, but it had expectations that were noted and expressed. Although tough love does not hurt, injure or cause any mental or physical harm. It does however challenge and change you. It requires you to put aside personal bias, subjective ways and pride. I watched a man look at woman dead in her eyes and see something different. Something better. He talked about her differently. For nine years he made a drastic change for the better. I am not going to get into much detail but just know the both of us should be somewhere else but grace and mercy kept us covered. I watched a woman, take a man in a black t-shirt and put him in a three piece who when I first met him never wore shirt with a collar. Being around them for the first time together, my spirit knew although they denied being together. This woman I speak of had family values and morals. She had a standard. She said JT your boy better get it together. One thing I always knew about him was he has it together. She had a non-negotiable that she stood on and he follow the plan.  9/23/18 makes one full year of marriage with plenty more to go. Jonathan( Jay) and Tiphanie( Dee Dee) Robinson, this one is dedicated to you. You have always stood firm on your beliefs and never wavered. You have set examples and created a safe space not only for each other but for me and plenty other brothers and sisters. We are all family. For nine years of their life and mine I watch them #DoBetter physically, mentally and spiritually. I charge you as well as others, set expectations and do not move until you meet them. Give yourself time and the right elements to grow. LOVE MORE. Although love has various meanings and does evoke plenty of different emotions. It also motivates. Stay Motivated and #DoBetter.