The "Virtual Village"

Hey all, I know it's been a while...  I woke up this morning laughing and I'm not sure why.  I want to believe that my "lightness of spirit" has to do with where my life is at the moment.  The page... yup, that's it, I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!, has a lot to do with my feelings lately!  I draw so much strength from the spiritual, comedic and heart wrenching posts and scanning the Newsfeed for this awesome fair daily brings a sense of renewal in my heart... I know it's a direct reflection of your awesome words!   Thanks friends, you all truly are a Blessing!

Now, you know there's always a flip side to this thing, right?  Lol, because I'm adding new "friends" daily, reading their statuses gives me a window as to who these people may be, but more importantly, after reading a few of said statuses, I'm not so sure if I WANT to know these people!  Again, because my purpose on facebook is two-fold; 1/3 entertainment, 2/3 I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!, I've become quite the watchdog!  In no way do I liken myself as the "moral police", although I believe in GOD and consider myself to be deeply spiritual; I, like many others, am still a sinner and struggle in my quest to become the person God wants me to be everyday.  

So back to the "watchdog" thing!  Lol, when reposting, if I notice posts that are in desperate need of grammatical, spelling and/or punctuational correction, I fix it. Some posts, in my opinion, are borderline disrespectful/offensive and I don't even consider sharing!  These are the "friends" whose posts I hide from my Newsfeed. But what if it gets a little more complicated?  What if it's a family member or your "real" friends?

A few weeks ago my sweet, beautiful and talented, 17 year old niece posted something that was as innocent as status updates go.  Unfortunately, a facebook friend of hers decided he was going to take what she posted in a different direction and made a rather obscene remark.  Now, doing my "scanning" thing, not only did I read it, I felt compelled to comment on my niece's thread!  In my comment I admonished this young "boy" for being  rude and encouraged my niece to delete it before other family members saw it.  After my comment, I got notification that additional comments had been made.  Of course my niece set that kid straight, or so I thought.  Apparently, a couple of her friends, one of them being the same "boy" who's comment spearheaded the events that followed, found my remarks to be quite humorous.  When I realized a few hours later that she was NOT going to delete the comments, or the entire thread for that matter, I sent her an inbox message.  I thought it was important for me to tell her how incredibly valuable she is and when you ALLOW anyone to devalue you, before you know it, EVERYONE will.  I told her that I love her and because she may not have understood how offensive and disrespectful this young man was actually being to her, I did, and pointing that out to her so she can "check" him was my job and this was the posture she herself, needed to adopt.  Honestly, above and beyond anything I needed her to know I had her back!  But, it  was clear that she didn't have mine.  I came across as the "nosy" Aunt that her friends laughed at because her position was that this boy was only "joking" and that was that.  The status/comments stayed and the only choice I had was to unfriend her.  This wasn't the first time that I "inboxed" her with my thoughts about the impropriety of comments on her page, but it would be the last.

Question; if the "Village" has gone "Virtual", what happens when wisdom and advice is dismissed?  When following-up online simply becomes nothing more than words?  Showing someone has always been a lot more productive than telling them, but how is that possible in this medium?  When the written word has zero impact, is ignored, and even worse, become downright laughable, where do you go from there?  I'm pretty sure that boy would not have thought is was the least bit funny if I was there in the flesh, TRUST ME!  Now, in the case of my niece; being facebook friends is a non-issue, I love her, she'll always be my niece and I will always be here for her.  Whenever she needs advice, she has my number.  However, when she refused to delete the thread (I hear that it has since been deleted) I felt superfluous.  Even online, I had no control and/or influence on her and my opinion didn't matter.  I had to ask myself; was I encroaching or coaching?  I'd like to think it was the latter, but appealing to someone who's main focus and allegiance is to their friends is a difficult task, and, I found out the hard way, more difficult to do online.

She's still a fan of the page and now; because all of you, I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  helps me reach her and 1300 other people everyday with words of encouragement, inspiration and LOVE.  I know I draw from it and find myself repeating famous quotes, and sometimes not so famous words from you... my friends.  On behalf of my niece I want to thank you all again for the continued support; until the next blog, be well!!!  :-)



I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  Treat your (minor) children as human beings. Of course, they are not peers or buddies, but they are people. Try to understand their perspective, listen to them, talk to them. Relationship and dialogue are essential, even when they are little. Laugh with them, dream with them, play with them, try to get to know them as they are, and be someone that they will enjoy knowing.  Michael Tyler Smith

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!! In some cases, it might take a village to raise a child, but in most cases it only takes the love of one person in the village.  Michael Anthony Snowden

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  I learn something new or see thing from a different perspective everyday... Much thanks to this group and its contributors.  Sweet!*  Tumi Right

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  Racquel Mallett Jones  believes when you stop settling for less you'll finally get what you deserve. Never settle for less than you deserve.


I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  “We are guilty of many errors & many faults but our worst crime is abandoning the children,neglecting the fountain of life. Many of the things we need can wait. The child cannot. Right now is the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made, & his senses are being developed. To him we cannot answer 'Tomorrow', His name is 'Today.'” ~ Gabriela Mistral, Chilean poet via  Kwame Reina Morris

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  ‎"Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality." - Ralph Marston via  Lee Fuller  

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!‎"Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God no matter what the conflict." ~ Author Unknown via Kwame Reina Morris

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  Try to avoid negative people, they are the greatest destroyers of self confidence and self-esteem. Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you.Healing Heart Counseling Service

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  "The Trouble Maker - The problem with speaking your mind is that it can be confused with creating a problem or seeking for one." ~ Vanessa Black via  Kwame Reina Morris

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  No one can change a person. But, a person can be the reason someone changes. via  Dwayne Riley Jesus

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!! "No day is wasted in which I touch another person's life in any positive, meaningful way. And so it is that I enrich my days by giving something of myself whether through a warm smile, a kind word, a sympathetic ear, a gentle embrace, or a helping hand."- David L. Weatherford. via  Myckelle Williams

Happy New Year!

Hey everyone, Happy New Year!!!!!  I wanted to start off this year right and talk about resolutions.  I don't save them for the New Year, I practice them everyday. I'm resolute about many things, but today I'll talk about the power of giving.  It's a wonderful thing, isn't it?  It truly baffles me when that, along with the gift of love, understanding and compassion; that we're all in possession of, aren't returned.  I mean, what does it really cost to give back?

Making people feel good, about their lives, their situation and themselves should be the norm and I'm resolved in sharing this with any and everyone that needs it. In May 2009, the I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!! page was created for this purpose; your words have impacted me and in all sincerity, changed my life, thank you.  With over 1200 supporters, I can only hope others are benefiting from this page too.  I copy and paste hundreds of statuses for the page, but I read thousands.  I want to thank everyone who contributed to the page directly and inadvertently!  On some days, the commonality in your shared posts was phenomenal!  It was almost as if we were ALL on the same page, no pun intended!  The honesty some of your posts revealed, the emotion that your words evoked, had me in a contemplative state of mind regularly and I truly felt it... my cup runneth over..  :-)  


Ted Williams, the homeless gentleman who is Blessed with the gift of voice should be a living testament of what the human spirit is capable of.  To never give up and persevere with no fear and no excuses is the rule of thumb and Mr. Williams' meteoric rise and phenomenal appeal to the masses is nothing short of amazing. His resolution, his belief in God and in his natural ability enabled him to push through and I couldn't be more happy for him!  And to Doral Chenoweth III of "The Columbus Dispatch", the newsman who stopped, spoke to and shared Mr. Williams' story, you changed this mans life and when I prayed for Mr. Williams, I also prayed for the Blessing that is you.  Those steps you took were guided and I said a special thank you to Him because you were listening!


We're not perfect, period.  Hurting people is going to happen, it's how you acknowledge that hurt and try to make amends that's going to make the biggest difference; not only to the person you hurt, but in/to your life as well.  I think of it this way; what would I want to pay forward, love and kindness or hate and anger? The determination I have in not treating anyone in a way that they themselves wouldn't want to be treated has become my personal mission.  Reciprocity is awesome but, if it's not coming from a natural place, it shouldn't be expected. Besides, the unexpected can mean so much more.  I should know, it's what you've all given me since the inception of this page... *tear

Thanks everyone and Have a Happy and Blessed New Year!!!



I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  Never underestimate your FB status. Words have power. Sometimes the words you type can mean the difference between life and death; between someone seeing or remaining blind. There are always those who never click LIKE, who never comment, who never inbox you, but they read your words and benefit from them. So never underestimate your FB status because they're touching somebody out there. Mark Goggins

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!   ... Cried this morning. Cried until my body choked, heaved, and trembled. Through the tears, I talked with GOD... And HE heard me... Even when the words couldn't get around the sobs, HE heard me. After I was completely spent, when there was nothing left of me; a small quiet voice whispered in my Soul... Victory.  Kwame Reina Morris

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  "The very best thing you can do for the whole world is to make the most of yourself." —Wallace Wattles via Michael Anthony Snowden

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  Don't allow laziness, "That's too much/I don't feel like doing that"; pride "What you want is stupid" or comfort, "That person will always be there" open the door for someone else. There's a HUGE difference between "I can't do what you're asking me to do," and "I have the ability to, but I WON'T."  Jullian Goodin

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  I've continued to recognize the power individuals have to change virtually anything and everything in their lives in an instant. I've learned that the resources we need to turn our dreams into reality are within us, merely waiting for the day when we decide to wake up and claim our birthright. Let's Go Get It!!!  Rick DaBarba

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  ‎"It is better to give than to receive" can be applied to MANY circumstances; relationships are not one of them. Two people should contribute to a union. When one is weak, the other is strong. Its about finding the right balance. If what you're giving outweighs what you receive, maybe the person you're with is just not the right fit for you. - Sol-Caritas.com  Carlos Wallace

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!! When People Are Baffled At How You Continue To Succeed Even Tho The Odds Are Stacked Against You... Silently Tell Them "You're Right... It's Not Fair... It's Favor..." JS (God's Son) John Spruill

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!! "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." Shared by  Janise J Danzy

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  My heart hurts...its too big for this body. Evan L. Morganstern

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!!  ‎"Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be, and he will become as he can and should be." Johann Wolfgang Goethe via Aaron Justice

I don't just "Like it", I "LOVE IT"!!! Use your talent (everybody has one) in anyway you can. Don't keep it for yourself like a miser - spend it like a millionaire! Damon Sessions