Do what you do, whatever it takes, but do it now! #atozchallenge

Miami Police Captain Howard instructs two of his narcotics detectives to “do what you do, whatever it takes, but do it now,” in the action movie, “Bad Boys II” starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. He is not playing games as cops are hospitalized, in critical condition and kids are overdosing on ecstasy, imported to Miami by a Cuban drug lord named Johnny Tapia. Captain Howard is a man who interested in getting results by any means necessary – a leader whose top detectives are also willing to put in the work necessary to produce these results.

Although the investigative practices used in building their case against Tapia are questionable, there is something to be said about people who put in solid effort toward creating the changes that they want to see in their lives – or in the world around them.

They don’t talk about fighting crime, they do it. They don’t fantasize about saving lives, they do it. They don’t sit in a circle and collectively “woosah” their troubles away, they do it. By actively operating under the mindset of doing something like Captain Howard and his detectives, we put ourselves in a better position to turn our hopes and dreams into reality.

DO is the type of action verb that, when put in practice, brings us much more results than thinking about them, planning them and wishing for something to happen.

A few years ago, one guy in a writing group that I participated in was encountering some hard times and would frequently post updates on how he was low on money for basic needs as well as resources for gaining employment. After being declined for various forms of assistance programs and losing hours on a part-time job, he seemed to be hitting a low point and was not entirely optimistic about his circumstances.

During this time, another member of our group – who uses a wheelchair due to various health related difficulties – asked him “Where are you writing?” – In other words, what are you doing to try to improve your situation or maybe get out of it or at the very least, get some results? How many queries have you sent out? When was the last time you submitted an article to a company for pay? Even when being turned away by traditional means of income and assistance programs, it appeared that this man – who wanted to be a writer, was overlooking the one thing that he did have – the ability to write!

There comes a time in our lives when we must stop waiting around for something to happen, and just do something, already! – Anything. The best way to create change is by fighting what we don’t want like Captain Howard’s Detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Barnett fought the distribution of ecstasy in their city.

They went undercover as pest control workers, to get information about Tapia’s drug operation.

They personally examined human corpses and organs, to find enough evidence for an arrest.

They kidnapped a Klansman, to get leads on their case.

The tactics these detectives used are extreme but one thing is for sure – they didn’t sit around and wait for tips, evidence or leads to come to them. They actively went out and obtained these things by doing something.

The next time you want some type of result, figure out what needs to be done for you to get your intended result, and just do it. It won’t always be fun and it won’t always be pretty, but are you willing to put in the work?

Do you want to learn how to cook a better meatloaf? What are you doing to make that happen?

Do you want to get rid of toxic or fair-weather friends in your life? What are you doing to change the people you are around?

Do you want to go on an exotic vacation with your family? What are you doing to make that a reality?

Do you want to become America’s Next Top Model? What are you doing to put yourself out there?

See the pattern here?

If there is something you want, then do what you have to do, whatever it takes…but do it now!

How to Be Charming #atozchallenge

As conventional wisdom would have it – you’ll catch more flies with honey than you would with vinegar. Anyone who eats biscuits or drinks tea, however, knows that honey is too expensive to be trying to use it for the collection of insects. I know the fly and honey thing are mere symbols used to teach us the importance of being kind to people for the purpose of making friends or getting a job or whatever it is we want – but let’s be real here – people want more out of life than bugs and condiments, or friends and kindness.

We want acknowledgement, respect, advancement, best friends, fans, followers, lovers, adventure, children, VIP treatment, first-class seats and other stuff. We want to (as Kanye West would say) live the good life, which requires additional skills and effort than just simply being nice. The good news is that you can increase your chances of having a life well lived by adding or maintaining some level of charisma when interacting with other people.

The famous line “You had me at hello” from the romantic comedy “Jerry Maguire” was the result of one person attracting another with charm. That is where all of the magic happens: Charm can get you far in life. It’s what got one of my relatives out of a traffic ticket and it’s what keeps George Clooney on my grandmother’s list of favorite actors. Honey gets you a jar full of insects. Just as kindness can be a learned trait, so can charisma. With that in mind, here are some tips and tricks for those of you who have the kindness down to a science and want to kick things up a notch by being charming.

Teach someone to spit like a man and then go dancing with him or her, the way Jack does in “Titanic”

Play a musical instrument for someone while singing songs, like Dean does in “Blue Valentine.”

Teach someone how to listen to birds humming, the way Ray does in “Ray.”

Book a night for two at a themed hotel suite and bring your own booze, like Dean does in “Blue Valentine.”

Give someone the hard-to-find music album that he or she was searching for, the way Darius does in “Love Jones”

Show someone a fun way to eat off of the floor, like Polly does in “Along Came Polly”

Dance with a strange creature and then give it a head start advantage on making the most important thing ever, the way main creature does in "The Maker"

Liberate someone by stabbing their throw pillows like Polly does in “Along Came Polly”

Create or designate a special song that is just for you and a particular person, the way Dean and Cindy do in "Blue Valentine"

Reassure a suicide victim on how to be loved the right way, like the Man did in "Hello Caller"

Inspire someone to let go of their inhibitions and learn salsa dancing, the way Polly does in “Along Came Polly”

What other ways to be charming would YOU add to this list?

Can YOU describe a time when being charming worked in your favor?

Who is the most charming person YOU know?

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What Meryl Streep Can Teach Us about BEAUTY #atozchallenge

Skyyjohn in episode #27 of his Vlog on the "Skyyjohn2" channel.*Language Alert: This post contains some explicit language. If you are among the faint at heart or sensitive to certain words, consider this advance notice.

Hot chicks can’t act, according to popular YouTuber SkyyJohn, who names Meryl Streep as an example – suggesting “nobody wants to bang her, but look at how good of an actress she is!” -- In one of his vlog episodes.

I won’t argue in support of SkyyJohn’s claim or against it, for I’m not interested in banging Meryl Streep – I’d take Eric Dane a.k.a McSteamy, thank you very much. However, there are valuable lessons we can all learn from this actress, regarding how we measure ourselves on the beauty scale.

Lesson #1 - People tend to look their Best when they are Comfortable in their own Skin.

Streep, who didn’t have any confidence in her beauty when she was young, believed that character acting was where her strengths lie. She even once apologized to an Italian movie producer for “disappointing” him by not being a conventional beauty. The producer insulted Streep – calling her an ugly pig when she auditioned for a role in the 1976 “King Kong” remake.

Yet today in her 60s, this Oscar-winning actress has not resorted to plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures to try and extend the “sell-by” date of her career. Streep views these desperate measures as an interruption in communication between you and the people you are interacting with. “It’s like wearing a veil – it’s not a good thing,” she says. “You have to embrace getting older,” declares Streep after evolving from an actress who didn’t think she was pretty enough while growing up, to one that is now free of the constraints of beauty standards or glass ceilings.

Lesson #2 - Real Beauty Doesn’t Always Fade…it Evolves.

If the comments on a YouTube clip of Meryl Streep’s 2010 Golden Globe interview are any indication, she is more attractive these days than ever before. Comments on that video range from naming Streep an American cultural icon to calling her a goddess, who is so gorgeous, some viewers who normally think of her talent, grace and humility say they forgot how beautiful she is. The general consensus is that Streep looks good for her age – probably because she is comfortable with where she is now and not trying to look like 20-30-something actresses.

If there is one thing to learn from the responses she gets as a 60-something year-old actress, it is that youth doesn’t automatically equal beauty and your appeal is not entirely summed up by your age. I agree with this concept based on the fact that I think actresses Helen Mirren and Judi Dench are some of the hottest and/or most attractive women over 60.

Lesson #3 - The Most Beneficial Beauty Regimens are found in Healthy Lifestyle Choices, not in a Bottle, Tube or Jar.

Although we cannot beat aging or gravity, our lifestyle habits can either slow it down or speed it up – the latter of which is found in basic shade. “I don’t like to be hot, so I don’t have the sun beating down on me,” says Streep. Many of us buy all of these creams, gels, elixirs, powders, etc. to maintain some type of youthful glow and combat wrinkles when the simplest way to do it is by not baking ourselves under the sunlight.

The funny thing about Meryl Streep’s beauty regimen is its absolutely free and when she does indulge in skin and body products, those things also come without a charge. “At the Oscars, they give you this free stuff and whatever is in that pack, I smear it on for a year,” she says.

Streep’s simple method of preserving her looks were made possible by her talents: Being a great actress gave her access to beauty products that she now doesn’t have to pay for – not because she endorses them – but because she uses the contents of her Oscar swag bag in moderation across a span of 365 days.

Lesson #4 - Tomorrow is not guaranteed, no matter how you look.

Streep got tired of spending so much of her life worrying about if she was appealing enough that she can’t even remember the last time it was among her concerns. “As there begins to be less time ahead of you, you want to be exactly who you are, without making it easier for everyone else – I have so many friends who are sick or gone, and I’m here – I’m very fucking grateful to be alive,” she says.

Meryl Streep has over 35 Oscar and Golden Globe nominations combined – more than any other actor in history. This woman is such a powerhouse of talent that comedic actresses Tina Fey and Amy Poehler joked about her doing well at having the Flu, during their 2013 Golden Globes opening monologue (at 5:17 in the video).

The seemingly never-ending amount of respect that Meryl Streep receives could be attributed to her focusing her energies on the gifts and talents she clearly possesses, making the most of her days on this earth – regardless of who wants to bed her or not.

How do conventional beauty standards affect YOUR quality of life?