Poet1Deep Patrick Harris shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Patrick , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Ive really been enjoying my day off from work lately. Sounds common enough, right? Who doesn’t look forward to days away from work? I think its what you do with it(them) that makes the difference. I find value in getting up at the break of dawn, taking my staffy for a long walk and just absorbing the sounds of nature before the rest of the world wakes up and it gets loud outside. I dont like it noisy. Afterwards, I come home have breakfast and clean up my space while listening to either some r&b or some jazz. I like to savor the day because its the only time im not caught up in the rat race outside so I minimize my trips away from home. Everything is so robotic now, I find pleasure in escaping the matrix albeit a brief escape, and actually feeling alive, if only for a short time.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Yoooo! Whats up everyone. My name is Patrick Harris I am a spoken word poet from Orlando Florida who performs under the name Poet1Deep. Ive been performing for almost nine years. Im also a barber in the Orlando area with over 20 years of experience.
As I said, ive been performing spoken word for almost 9 years all over the central Florida area. Ive also performed out if state and have recently begun to introduce myself to poetry scene in South Florida as well. I truly enjoy what I do. I have dreams and aspirations on performing on a grand scale and making lots of money one day just like most people I know. However, what im realizing is that the true riches come via the experiences along the way. Going different places, meeting new people, having my work appreciated and respected feels really good to me. Its the journey not the destination.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was Pat Harris. I was an artist and a comedian. I was the class clown who wrote poems and drew abstract pictures on test papers when I wasnt disrupting the class with some kind of humor. I was always the shortest in whatever crew I was running with and I learned pretty early how to use humor for attention and as a defense mechanism. Later on I had to learn other ways to compensate for my shortcomings and that turned me into someone else. The kid is still in me though. He comes out when when we’re most comfortable with our surroundings.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Truthfully I still hide a lot of my pain. Im just recently getting to the early stages of being able to show vulnerability in my art. I typically just channel it into a topic with a broader reach. That helps but it doesnt totally alleviate the pain. Speaking on it and actually saying the words definitely has a healing quality to it. Im still a work in progress with that though. People want to get to know you through your work when you do what I do and im a very private person so its a battle for me sometimes.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
I think smart people are getting it wrong by thinking they’re smarter than everyone else. Educated and intelligent are not the same thing. You can’t tell people like that anything. Even if its about something you know first hand and they havent seen or done for themselves. I always say “you can experience education but you cannot educate experience”
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I believe im doing what i was born to do. Ive always been a creative even before I knew what that meant. God gave me a distinct voice and a way with words for a reason. Who knows, my purpose may continue to reveal itself in an even more robust way somewhere down the line. But for right now, im using gifts He gave me and im starting to learn to let Hime speak through me; or at least give me the vision for what needs to be said.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @poet1deep
- Facebook: One-Deep
Image Credits
@orangeismedia
@arjunbalaphotos
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