'Everything I'm not...'

I have often made mention of the worldly wisdoms about life, love and everything that we can take from the lyrics of pop songs.

I have probably taken this further than most in my time; I truly believe I can fly, and I spent many years perfecting a walk like an Egyptian. It was only when I started living in Dubai that I realised that Egyptians actually walk exactly the same way that we do in England!

But in all seriousness, there's a lyric that's been bumping in my iPod almost on constant loop that provides a truism for all of us. It's also the perfect answer to those who point out our weaknesses and try to use them against us.

Kanye West is a wordsmith of the highest order. Check out the classic line from his latest collaboration with Estelle: "dressed smart like a London bloke, before he speak his suit bespoke".

Anyway, Kanye really hit the nail on the head with another lyric that might be just pop culture, but could easily be taken as profound philosophy under a different light. The line in question is, "Everything I'm not makes me everything I am".

Take a second to ponder on that for yourselves
before I spill my thoughts...

I am the sort of guy who cannot retain the dates
of birthdays of friends and significant others. Even if I am reminded, if I am not inspired to go shopping
for gifts, then I would rather not.

Conversely, I will happily splash out for presents for no other reason than I just feel like it – no occasion or anniversary; just because I want to.

I am not overly family orientated apart from a devotion to my mum and dad. I was respectful, but never really indulged in the extended family of aunts and uncles and cousins. Yet the friends I have chosen over the years are close to me like honey to a bee. I would do anything for them.

I am shockingly bad when it comes to planning
my time. I don't like to commit too far in advance to anything, because I figure that I can never be sure what might happen during the time between. It's not because I stack up options and choose the best one when the time comes.

I genuinely have to feel a passion to do anything! I don't keep a diary and have a cluttered memory, so generally overbook myself on any given night.

Still, I do honour all the engagements that I give my word to attend. Despite being a self-confessed nightmare in this regard (I even drive myself mad with it, believe me!), I would never change my ways because I get a thrill out of being spontaneous!

I like the way that something decided without a second's thought colours my life and the lives of people that surround me. Where there's no expectation there's only sweet anticipation. Living for the moment.

I was never any good at the sciences – maths, physics and chemistry just sailed straight over my head – yet I loved English...

particularly writing and telling stories. It's one of the only skills that I took from school that I use in my real life.

I always challenged the maths teacher with that logic – I mean when will I ever need to know that an isosceles triangle has two sides and two angles the same? Look, I like to cut a cake so that each slice is pretty much equal, but I don't think I needed to sit through two years of trigonometry just for that!
Back to the point: I take great comfort that "everything I'm not makes me everything I am".

Life and self is all about balance and equilibrium, and for every black mark against my personality, I can relate it to a huge tick in another box. Take the time to think about how that sentiment might relate in your life.

Hip hop-ingly yours