The Ground beneath your Feet

      Ever heard the old saying "if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything"?  Well, the basic meaning behind this phrase is that your personal beliefs & covictions are what guide your every move in this life and ultimately serve as your foundation.  It's like being in love with fashion but having absolutely no idea why; it's a hollow infatuation with no real substance.  One of the things that any true gentleman understands is that life involves more than just spending all of his time yearning for material things and the joy they bring to him alone, living this way creates a hedonistic attitude toward life and this can be dangerous.  Think of all those little tidbits your parents taught you concerning manners, such as opening the door for a woman, saying "please" & "thank you," helping someone in need and all of those other important things that serve as a reminder that you are not the only person living on this earth.  I'm sure our parents learned, through experience, how big of a difference these seemingly small habits make in the world around them and therefore wanted to continue to make the world a better place by passing these ideas on to us.  There's nothing more attractive than a man who clearly knows the world doesn't revolve around him.  After his daily grooming ritual which entails getting his hair to look just right, slipping into his favorite slacks and shoes, spritzing on the fragrance of his choice he steps out his front door with a positive attitude that radiates with every polite gesture he makes.  Making others feel comfortable in your presence and leaving a smile on their faces long after you've left them is priceless! 

My Grandfather, Johnnie Brown, was the epitome of a true gentleman.  On the days where he had free time, he'd get dressed, tilt his gray fedora on his head just right, hop into his Cadillac and go to the market to help women, whom had no transportation of their own, to get their groceries home.  Though he was of older age at this time, he never used it as an excuse to become lackadaisical about living but rather he took pride in being a Christian man and viewed his trip to this market as a small attempt at making a difference in the life of another.  You don't necessarily need to be of Christian faith to understand what your personal truths are but I encourage you, fellas, to tap into your convictions and be true to them first and foremost.  I know, those Dior shades or Ferragamo loafers may make you salivate and feel as though you absolutely can't live without them but trust me, you can!  Material things aren't the most important things in the world and instead of only being concerned with the joy they bring you, look for a way to let some of that joy reach someone else, then you'll be on your way to being a true gentleman.  Be blessed.