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Why was Michael so successful? Because he was doing something that he enjoyed and worked extremely hard at it. And, if you think for one moment that he was born to play basketball, you re dead wrong. Like many others before him (yes there was basketball before Michael, he worked very hard to get where he was. Yet, he did not stop working hard after he earned his way into the NBA. Let s face it. Nothing in life that is worth anything comes without a price. We even have to work to earn our own sweat!<br>I feel that it is important to note that I am not without my faults. I bleed like you, I hurt like you, and I can cry like you. And like you, I too, have made many mistakes in my life. But, I realize that I have only two choices: I could sit around and wallow in  could have  or I could rewrite my map (the creed) for life and change my current negative circumstances to reflect the  real me. I said a prayer or three and chose the latter.<br>I would like to leave you with these final thoughts: Whatever it is that you are doing well, do it bigger, faster, stronger and wiser the next time. And never wait until you get sick and tired of being sick and tired before you decide to change a negative situation into a positive one. Think it, Dream it, Become it, <br>Live it - Just Do It! <br><br><br>___________________<br><br><br> When I first saw the National African American Creed, I was deeply touched. I contacted author Terry Harris and got his permission to share it with our BFS readers.<br>I also went to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Visitor s Center in Atlanta to gain further insight. The center is a place where all can be both proud and inspired. The following three statements from the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. touched me the most:<br> There is nothing in all the world greater than freedom. It is worth paying for; it is worth losing a job for; it is worth going to jail for. I would rather be a free pauper than a rich slave. I would rather die in abject poverty with my convictions than live in inordinate riches with the lack of self respect. <br> The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. <br> Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don t have to have a college degree to serve. You don t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve . . . . You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. <br>America has come a long way in understanding that everyone is created equal in regards to race, color or creed. However, we must also recognize two things. First, we still have a long way to go and second, all people, regardless of race, color or creed must strive to do the best of their ability to live up to the freedoms and understandings that have been gained. <br>Two great men that have done just that are Anthony Lucas from Arkansas and Darwin Walker from Tennessee. Martin Luther King, Jr. should be smiling with great joy because of the spirit and accomplishments of Anthony and Darwin. This is what he fought and died for. <br>Read the Creed and then read Anthony s and Darwin s story. Come away inspired. Let us all become better. <br> - Dr. Greg Shepard<br><br><br>_______________________<br><br><br>I, the African American; man, woman, son, daughter, great-grandchild of slaves, descendant of Africa and child of God no longer have to search to find my place in this world.<br><br>I, the African American, have a responsibility to my forefathers whose struggle I must continue to ward off hatred and bigotry.<br><br>I, the African American, descendant of Ishmael and Abraham, have a responsibility to help my brothers ad sisters if they fall by the wayside.<br