behindtheLENZ: S2E07: Zealotry or Not, That is the Question?

To define zealotry is simple, undue or excessive zeal or in other words, extreme devotion. I have often wondered to myself why some people have it far easier than most and today that was presented to me again when I in private had a FaceBook conversation with someone I consider to be very close to me and hold a special place in my heart. We spoke about America and it's view of people in this country. How one person can walk through life with what seems to be a perfect road, but I'm smarter than that, some times you just never know what someone is going through because not every has a glass house. However, over the years it has become very apparent to me that in many cases and for some of you it may be even happening at you job or on your baseball, basketball or football team, that built in bias. That's what I'm referring to! You know that notion that someone is better that you because let's just say they may be the picture of the American Dream, happen to exude the picture of the boy or girl next door. Nevertheless, does all of my or even your hard automatically cancel you out because in someone else's mind you don't quite fit the bill? Or is there more to it, possibly what I like to refer to as being biased.

It's very easy to get caught up in "the norm" in this country but what about the "new normal?" What about the fact that there are a lot of people in this county who work hard everyday to succeed in this country and often go looked over. Just because someone may not be as "handsome or gorgeous" as the next shouldn't automatically single them out, but what about quality, what about likability. I've worked in a many of markets where the cute person wasn't always the popular or the favorite. Before I go on let me first clear this up, I in no way don't come with a great amount of self confidence, have you met my mother? (smile) 

Okay back to seriousness of this, I think it's time we get out of our bias and move on to the "new normal" there are plenty of qualified people in this country who come from all backgrounds, who come in all shapes and sizes, and more importantly our days of "oh you just aren't the boy or girl next door" should forever be thrown out of the window. So zealotry or not? I guess you can decide. 

Until next time, 

peaceWORLD

behindtheLENZ: S2E06: Moral, Standards, Worth "Oh My"

I once heard without struggle there is no progress and the more I think about that saying the more I believe it to be true. I've always been the type of person that goes with my gut instinct and if something doesn't feel right then I just don't do it. Some of you may be wondering to yourself, Kelsey where is all this going? Well let me tell you. I'll start off by saying that the three strong women who helped shape the man I am today taught me the importance of having moral and standards; they also provided me with the know how to understand my worth. I came to New York on a leap of faith and it's faith with a lot of hard work that's going to help me succeed here. I took a job recently because I have a strong support for the "underdog" and the place I decided to work for surely is the underdog in it's industry. With that said the company has so much potential and who doesn't like to be a part of something to help it grow and thrive. After years of being the "underdog" myself I know the struggle first hand of working hard to get that first job, to get someone to call you back and just say yes I want to take a chance on you. It was that one yes that has gotten me to this point I am in my life now.

Continuing on, here recently I have been asked to do things for this company that I didn't want to be a part of. I don't pretend to be a bully and I certainly don't like people who are, whether it be in person or over the internet. Bullying has no place in the work place and certainly I will not be bullying anyone for someone else's gain. I studied journalism at a fine undergraduate school and it was baffling to me when I was asked to post things to the internet to try and damage to reputation of others. That's not who I am and for damn sure what I'm about. If you want someone who works hard, who represents the company well, who would truly go out of their way to not only help you succeed but also to help myself grow then I would be your man. What I won't do is go against everything, the very foundation that is deeply rooted in me to help you gain anything. I once heard, "You never win by fighting dirty," and I am where I am because I did things by the book. I stayed and continue to stay true to who I am to get ahead.

So because I didn't post the derogatory things you wanted me to post I was asked to leave. Believe me when I tell you this, I will come out victorious, I have proved it all this time and to quote another saying I've heard, "one monkey don't stop no show." Trust and believe Kelsey Minor always prevails.

Until next time,

peaceWORLD

behindtheLENZ: S2E05: Love So Much Love When Love Hurts

I know that we all at some point have heard the saying "falling in love" or "fell in love" but I've always wondered how does one fall into love. Is love suppose to hurt? Or should love feel so great that you want to tell the entire world about the love that you're in? Recently, there's been so much hype around who people can love and how people certain people can express their love. I think those close to me know that when it comes to love, I have an undying love for my family and closest friends. Those people who have been with me through the good and bad. I don't speak much publicly about the aspects of my private life, I mean there are some things that I feel should remain between me and the person I'm dating. Now before anyone starts to suspect anything I can say that right now Kelsey is very much single, that's about all that you're going to get out of me at this point. Now back to the topic at hand, someone recently told me that I just need love or a lover in my life and then after everything else in my life would somehow magically fall into place. Is that really how it works? Boy have I been going about it all wrong this entire time. I personally believe in order to invite someone into your life and pursue something meaningful with that person your person house must be in order. Why carry baggage into a new and what you hope will be a great relationship.

Would I like to be in love and share that love with my family and my friends, absolutely! But I'm in no shape, form, or fashion hard pressed to enter into something right now. I know that at some point it will happen but right now I don't believe that I'm completely open to the idea. With that said if I'm just a little transparent, maybe there is someone I wouldn't mind spending more time with but timing is everything isn't it and right now it's just not the time for us. I can acknowledge that and can clearly see that.

So back to my original questions, how does one fall into love? Is love suppose to hurt? Maybe one day I'll trip on the love of my life and from that fall it just might hurt.

Until next time,

peaceWORLD

behindtheLENZ: S2E04: You Have A Friend In Me

I read something today that went a little something like this, "I'm here. I'll take care of whatever you might miss. I'll be a second set of eyes and hands for you."

I think we all in our lives have that friend or friends that you just couldn't imagine your life without. If you're like me you might even ask yourself, Who would I be with you in my life? Life is about growing and getting wiser and learning from past mistakes or misfortunes. In many of my cases there's been a friend there to help along the way. I can recall a moment when at the height of the recession when I was laid off one of my dear friends decided to make sure that I didn't feel like I had to go without. Those are the people who matter most. I think of all my friends that's the one friend who I bicker with the most, but I think we challenge each other to hold one another accountable. To make sure that the both of us are putting our best foot forward. After so many years of friendship I think you just know exactly what to say in order to get someone back on keeping an eye on the prize and as the quote above mentioned what you might miss that friend will be there to see it for you.

As I embark on an anniversary tomorrow, one month in the Big Apple, I reflect on the journey here and those friends who through all my lofty ideas are there to walk along with me and when I might fall to carry me through. No one said the road would be easy but it's a hell of a lot easier when you have friends there to help you along the way.

Until next time,

peaceWORLD

behindtheLENZ: S2E03: The Unknown of Not Knowing

Looking around at the four walls that make up my bedroom in this Manhattan apartment, there's nothing but space and time to really think about a lot of things in my life. I would be lying to everyone if I said everyday was a good day but I can tell you everyday is a blessed day. There are so many things I want to do in this life, so many adventures I have yet to take. It's hard not knowing exactly what will come next or when the next big idea will come and if anyone out there tells you otherwise then they are lying to you and themselves. 

But what happens when the unknown of not knowing really just takes over your brain? I know a lot of people thought I was crazy when I said I wouldn't renew my contract and that I would venture out on this journey of self-discovery and new adventures. So far I'm not disappointed in the decision but there are days that I really sit back and question, did you really make the right decision? How crazy are you to think New York City was the place for you to move? I mean the list goes on and on. Then I think about the good in my life, I think about the change that's happening within me, that I'm not so sure that people have had the pleasure of even meeting yet. 

I have this one friend however who insist that I never look at the brighter side, that I never stop and exhale about my current situation. There's nothing wrong with being overly optimistic, if that's how you live your life more power to you, I'm happy for you. As for me I am a realist, I live in the real world, where there are real consequences and maybe that's just how I was raised, maybe that's just the reality that my background taught me. 

So, there's a lot to be said about not really knowing what will happen next, sometimes I love a great surprise but then there are time like now that I really want to know if there's something great or something bad waiting for me around the corner. 

Until next time, 

peaceWORLD 

behindtheLENZ S2E02: Fashionable and Free

It's been a couple of days since I started doing some freelance work for this modeling and fashion agency in New York City. I must say things started off kind of rocky but now I think it should be smooth sailing from here. One thing I absolutely love about it is I don't necessarily have to wear shirts and ties to work anymore. That's a relief but if I had to wear it's in my wardrobe. It's something very relaxing about being able to really style yourself while living and working in a city like New York. I was telling a friend just a couple days ago that living in Manhattan everyone walks around with a certain air about them and if you aren't in the number you will surely get lost.

What I enjoy most about my freelance gig for now is I really work for myself, of course I work with an agency but I get to do what I really love doing and that's interviewing people. I wasn't always the most talkative one growing up in a house full of siblings, between four older sister in one house and then an older brother, younger brother, and three younger sisters in another house sometimes you just couldn't get a word in but in some shape I think they all helped me to discover my love for storytelling and people talking(LOL).

Friday will be my one month anniversary in the Big Apple and it took a while to figure out the most important things like the subway system but I think I have the hang of it now. One thing I really need to get the hang of is a pedicure, because all of the walking really does take a toll of your feet. Maybe I should add that to my calendar here soon, I think my feet will thank me.

Until next time,

peaceWORLD

behindtheLENZ S2E01: Starting Over

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 1 of my blog Behind the Lenz. The decision to pack up my Cedar Rapids, Iowa apartment, selling nearly all of it's contents and move to the city that never sleeps was no easy task, but it had to be done. Something clicked, turning 30 brought about so many changes and emotions that I wasn't sure on how to handle them. It's been a long road getting to this point. There are plenty of things that I still want to do in this life and could I have done them from the comforts of my home in Iowa, sure, but what I needed was push to make it happen and throughout the years as long as I can remember I have been my best self when the pressure is on and the stakes are high. I needed this move to get to a new point in my life and in my career.

I've been here in NYC for almost a month now and just today I started doing some freelance work. Working with this modeling agency in the position that I'm in really allows me the opportunity to revisit my love for fashion but it also lets me focus on one of my other passions and that's interviewing people. I get to write and interview models, casting directors, and a host of other people in video form. It keeps my journalism skills going. I like that! More importantly, I work very few hours and because of that I can do more work, like take on additional projects. I laughed with my sister on the phone just yesterday when I jokingly told her I'm going to become the black version of Ryan Seacrest. I want to eventually become a media giant and I know it can happen. Taking this job with the modeling agency is just the start but soon I'll be reporting from red carpets and hosting TV shows. My friends all I can say is stay tuned for Kelsey Minor because he's on the way to the top. Until next time.


peace WORLD