CEREMONIES

BY WALLACE MORELAND

To me a ceremony is a special event ritual or celebration. I have several ceremonial things that I do, for instance when I'm about to write or create content, I take out my notes and assemble my writing material. I get in a relaxed position, grab my pen, and put my thoughts to paper. I put my verbage and nuances into it.

I have my wind down ceremony where I grab an MP3 player with old school R&B. As I listen, I let my mind drift and reminisce to times of old, those moments that are gone, but are still there in the deep regions of my mind. This is the way that I cope with my present situation. I have a ceremonial approach to everyday life and wind down is a very pertinent part of the ceremony.

I must be fit of mind, body, and spirit. To be fit of body, I do a series of circuits not too much: 40 to 50 push-ups, 50 stair climbers (that's running while in the push up position), planks, and 50 squat. Stair climbers are for abs and push up chest and arms squats for legs, and planks for abs again. I do this five days a week. This ceremonial exercise is for the sake of body.

My mind ceremonial practice is watching the news and my favorite shows. This is what I do to be fit of mind. The news because it gives me an idea of the direction the world is going in. I pay attention to the zeitgeist, the moral, spiritual climate of an era. I look to the future because if I make it there I won't be blindsided and shocked. I watch my favorite shows because again they present adult situations and life imitates art. It inspires me the way people dress talk and interact. I'm an avid student of human nature and I must have intel on all things proximate. I don't discriminate with who I study. I ask questions — questions that create and elaborate response. The right questions are like a pickaxe to the brain. They uncover character, intention, motive.

Last, but not least is the spirit. I go to a prayer every Friday. I fast and pray for a quality of life, a way to be of benefit to others, and temperate. I have ceremonial approach to life. | WM

WALLACE MORELAND IS FROM NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — BIRTHPLACE OF MARDI GRAS. HE IS CREOLE, BLACK, FRENCH, SPANISH, AND NATIVE. HE IS A STAND-UP COMEDIAN WHO WRITES ALL OF HIS OWN MATERIAL.