Starting Five (Originally posted on 10/14/2010)

Hello good people; I hope all is well. I want to add a quick disclaimer prior to the reading of this blog: I’m getting my boogie on right now. Don’t worry, it’s just practice. Any who, allow me to do my shout-outs: Shout out to “She She”, who I’ve never met but you seem cool; the Crump family (Mr. Crump, Mrs. Crump, and MACEO!); and finally people who brush their teeth twice a day.

Don Ruiz's Five Agreements are tough to beat,
like the starting five in South Beach.

Today I want to share with you a few methods of gaining peace and success that I’ve recently been subjected to. In one of my many trips to Washington, I happened to hear about these tools of peace titled “The Five Agreements”, developed by author and New Age Spiritualism advocate Don Miguel Ruiz. The summary of his teachings are that we must remove ourselves from responsibility of other people’s problems and issues, giving us more time to develop ourselves as people of integrity and peace.

Upon hearing these instructions, it was essential to relay these to Team Boogie. So here are the five agreements.

1.       Be Impeccable With Your Word.

It is important to speak with truth and integrity. If it’s not true, don’t say it. As Doug E. Fresh says, “Stop stop st-stop st-stop stop lying.” Lying only leads to more lying and embarrassment to you and your family (see every celebrity scandal).

2.       Don’t Take Anything Personally.

This is one of the toughest agreements to accept. Think like this: Most things people say and do to you is an expression of their reality, not yours. Example: Someone hates on you getting ALL THE LADIES. Ask yourself, “If they were able to date any woman of your choice, would they turn it down?” Hell nah. But the said hater is in a drought, and they are mad at your selection of “Slimmies”. So when people say and do things in bad taste, pay them no mind. Don’t be ignorant to them, just ignore them.

3.       Don’t Make Assumptions.

Communication is so important in nearly every aspect of life. Find the courage to ask questions to get clear answers, and express yourself lucidly in efforts to avoid confusion and misunderstandings. My dad (Charles Perry quote of the day) always said, “Better to do it slow and right, then quick and wrong.”  Apply that however you need to.

4.       Always Do Your Best.

Anytime you are asked to do a task, perform at your greatest level. Half-hearted performances are easy to identify, and there is no quicker way to destroy your reputation than recognized as a person who slacks off.  Secondly, don’t give yourself a chance to have regret about a task, opportunity, or relationship that you didn’t put your all into.

5.       Be Skeptical, but Learn to Listen.

Use the power of doubt and suspicion to avoid deception and “trickery”. Listen closely to people when they speak to determine their true intent and meaning. Many people have important things to say, but their delivery may be shaky. Likewise, some people talk a great game, but are just full of it (BS). Listen up and then break it down, like Boogie Time.

Now you all know that I’m a man of 6 (I don’t do that “five” thing really well) so I have one more for you: Time and Place. It’s truly important that you are aware of your settings and surroundings. Talking loud, cursing, or “Acting a fool” as the elders call it, in public is ignorant, but more importantly, ineffective. Composure and resiliency are two traits that can have a really powerful impact when delivering a message. Also why does everyone else need to know your business? I know in a twitter-driven society, we feel the need to tell everything, but save SOMETHING. PLEASE. Leave some mystery.

I hope these tips are helpful to you in your quest for peace. Au Revoir.