The Samuels Perspective

Those who know me know I am a huge fan of the Temptations. They are my favorite group of all time. And this song selection is one of my favorite ballads of all time. To me, it embodies the essence of love and genuine interest in the one you have set your heart upon. With Richard Street on the lead vocals, blending his golden pipes with the crisp falsetto of Damon Harris and the overall harmony of the group, it is easy to see and hear why this is one my favorite love songs. After listening to it, it will probably be one of yours, too. Street, who I feel is underrated as a singer and is seldom mentioned among the great vocalists, definitely put his soul into this one. The following is a poem I wrote back in 2010 at work while sitting at my desk. I thought the song would compliment the poem. Leave your comments below and let me know what you think.                                       ...

"The truth must be told, however harsh it may be; it may redden your eyes, but it won't blind you." - Ahmadou Kourouma Ah yes, truth, that sometimes elusive element that many say they want but can't handle when they get it, while others lie so much they wouldn't recognize truth if it walked up to them and formally introduced itself. For they have convinced themselves that their lies are indeed the truth. That's not to say there isn't a good percentage of people out there who really want what they perceive to be the truth and can handle it when they hear it. The term 'truth' has been kicked around for eons; it is often found languishing between the untruth and the unknown. I guess you can say that in this context, truth represents the X in an algebraic equation. One will have to work out the problem, carefully analyzing every decision they make en-route to finding what lies beneath the X. The same holds true for relationships; whether they...

Today I want to talk about the 800 pound gorilla in the room that most of us avoid discussing that represents our issues, both domestic/personal and social. I want to zero in on the emotional effects that the wounds of painful memories have on men. Back in 2005 I put together a program that was centered around the psychological and emotional functionality and dysfunctionality of brothers who conveniently tuck away their pain. I called it -- Males Are Born, Men Are Developed. The first question out the blocks is, why? Why do some men store their pain away in what I've termed 'Secrets of the Subconscious'? What are they afraid of? I will tell you; they are afraid of being embarrassed in the face of their vulnerability. They think and feel that if they were to share what it was that is affecting them that it will somehow minimize their manhood. It is the fear of being viewed as weak and impotent. In the mind of that man, weakness and impotence makes for an easy prey; easy to...

If you cannot see me beyond where I live, what I drive or how much money I have, then I am nothing more than a mirage to you; a colorless mirage void of material goods. If I don't have a title suggesting that I am someone of importance, I am discounted and looked over. If I am not in a position of power and authority then I am considered a nobody. If my name is unfamiliar then surely I have nothing significant to say so I am labeled as unworthy to listen to and ignored. Lets take a look at what I mean by personality bias and what it means to me. Personality Bias: 1. The act of ignoring or denying someone an audience due to lack of notoriety. The thought behind the notion that one has to be in the public eye to be considered important or to have something important to say is asinine. The thought behind the notion that if you're an athlete, entertainer, pastor, politician, scholar, or someone of that caliber, that they are the only ones who have anything significant to say ...

I AM a visionary; a warrior with an author's pen. A mentor, teacher and educator. A student with a scholar's disposition. The voice of logic, reasoning, organizing and directing. I AM passionate and compassionate; tolerant and intolerant; strong, sensitive and caring. I am protective, insightful, wise, loving and loyal. I AM vulnerable, but only to my own flaws. I am tactful, classy, and no nonsense. I am learned yet ignorant; saturated to my core with the fruit of humanity; silent and watchful, and verbose with cutting edge expressions. I AM fat with information; my veins swollen with the blood of the righteous who came before me, so...I am them, too. I AM mean with hatred toward injustice; unafraid and prepared to go the distance. I am the key that unlocks the chains of your captive condition; not for everyone, but for someone. I AM the sword that beheads traitors; the authority who gave the order. I am a million years old, having found residence inside a young shel...

If you've ever been in the position of being someone's primary care giver, you will definitely relate to what is to follow. If you are working in the medical field in any capacity, i.e. nurse, doctor, certified nursing assistant, physical therapist, clinical counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, parent, and even as a mentor or life coach, you too will also relate to the content of this blog. the title 'Compassion Fatigue' is a professional term who's primary use is in the arena of vocations where working in close proximity to a patient/client is required, such as the aforementioned in the first paragraph. The definition of Compassion Fatigue, according to University of Tulane Professor Dr. Charles Figley is two-fold:  1. The emotional residue or strain of exposure to working with those suffering from the consequences of traumatic events. It differs from burn-out, but can co-exist. 2. The mental and physical exhaustion and emotional withdrawal e...