Category: AproProse

AproProse is a light play on the word ‘apropos’. Here is where I collect my more creative posts that relate to one topic or another in my pursuit of progress.

To Hustle, The Hustle, Hustler, Hustling–but never Hustled

Expanding my vocabulary

“I’m a hustler baby… I just want you to know… It aint where I been… But where I’m bout to go…”

-Jay Z, I Just Wanna Love You

Traditionally, the hustler is the quintessential scammer, or as my Trinbagonian peeps call it, “de smart man”. To hustle means doing whatever you have to do, most often something illegal or unethical, to get your situation right.  Hustlers are ubiquitous across all cultures and all stations of life.  In fact we elect quite a few more often than we think!  Did you notice lately though that “hustle” has been…sanitized?  It’s more socially acceptable to talk about ones “hustle”. I’m going to take a step further to suggest that “hustle” has been somewhat ‘gentrified’.  In my mind, if I can search for the word “hustle” in Amazon and be rewarded with pages of gorgeous, floral, and gold-leafed posters and other miscellaneous motivational items embellished with this word, then yes, it’s been gentrified.  What was once nefarious has been ‘upgraded’ to being refined.  Regardless, I love the word, and good or bad, I confess I’ve contributed to mainstreaming it.

Continue reading “To Hustle, The Hustle, Hustler, Hustling–but never Hustled”

My Warrior Protector

As we move closer and closer to our destination, I can feel the relief of my warrior protector.  Our once fevered march has slowed to a light walk.  She is weary yet ever watchful. We both know our relationship is on the precipice of change and we welcome the plunge.  Somewhere, my adventure into adult life became a pilgrimage to peace of mind.  Naïveté has been molded into wisdom.  Blind hope has been replaced with cautious optimism.  Fear has been fortified into courage. My protector shows less and less worry for my well-being because she knows the trials I’ve—no, we’ve endured and survived.  I am scarred for sure but I am also stronger.  My protector regrets nothing.  Her mission is to deliver me safely to the promised land.  She is on the verge of successfully completing her mission…and she makes no apologies.  Continue reading “My Warrior Protector”

Message to Heart and Head

An empathetic note about making tough decisions

Hi Heart! Hi Head!

Thank you for sharing your dilemma with me.  It would be an understatement to point out that you both are in a place of immobilizing indecision.  For days, or months, or maybe even years, you guys have been grappling with the same issue.  Your choices are…well…frankly…there are just one too bloody many!  On the spectrum of solutions, you’re stuck with two polar opposites buffered by a shit-storm of gray.  Peachy. Continue reading “Message to Heart and Head”

The Pursuit of Progress

The origin and framework of my personal development system

So a few years ago, I’m sitting across from a now former colleague discussing work related stuff.  I’m not being lazy in using the word “stuff” cause I honestly cannot remember what we were talking about.  I can’t even recall who initiated the meeting.  I do remember though that the conversation took a left somewhere and folks, I was called out.  Not in a Jack Nicholson’s “you can’t handle the truth” way!  No, it was a statement delivered as fact. I was described as a ‘leaf in the wind’. Continue reading “The Pursuit of Progress”