Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Antonio De’mon Robinson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Antonio De’mon, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
Being the only one in the room en route to accomplishing your goals can be difficult. Who doesn’t feel inspired, appreciated, or more self-worth when he or she has a cheering section? Support, in my opinion, is vital to the human psyche, but sometimes it’s not there. Applauds sound faint in an empty room when they are only coming from two hands; your hands. From what I’ve learned, when you feel all alone, you should view your circumstances optimistically. God has chosen this time in your life to bring you closer to him, pulling you in the direction of your dreams. Through your struggles, frustrations, and adversity; God is helping you become the best version of yourself.
Furthermore, success that comes too easily rarely lasts long, but achievements born from one’s hardships are usually cherished for a lifetime. Before a beautiful flower sees sunlight, it’s a seed planted in soil, surrounded by darkness. Imagine yourself as a seed God planted into fertile soil out of love. Do not concern yourself with the darkness surrounding you, for God has prepared a sacred place for you to grow. When we are alone, we develop greater focus, pay more attention to detail, and become the loudest person in the room cheering for ourselves. An incredible amount of self-belief also develops and challenges no longer look like obstacles rather opportunities to get better.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Before I put pen to paper and let my imagination unfurl while creating my poetry book, Heartfelt. I had a traumatic life changing experience that would alter the course of my future, leading me down a new path to my destiny.
In 2016, I was a glimmering embodiment of someone who is physically fit. I rigorously exercised four to five times a week, focusing on weight training, and I participated in full court basketball pick-up games roughly four times a week at a local LA Fitness. Even though I was 39-years-old at the time, harboring “hoop dreams,” that should have long since passed. I considered myself to be in the best shape of my life; mentally and physically. In addition to weekly basketball pick-up games, I was also a member of a Men’s League basketball team (Cyclones). During the regular season and postseason, we played “hoops” on Sundays, and on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, my entire life changed forever.
Although we normally appreciate our blessings when they come, a painful blessing in disguise was about to seriously test my mental toughness. Shortly after tip-off in a Men’s League playoffs basketball game, I felt a sharp jolt of pain in my lower left leg. Since I was accustomed to playing a very physical style of basketball, I was no stranger to injuries, but I had never experienced an injury quite like this before. On a play in which my arms were outstretched, attempting to corral a rebound, my opponent stepped on my left heel in hot pursuit of the same rebound, driving my left foot into the basketball court. Upon impact, my left Achilles tendon was instantly ruptured, leaving me shouting and writhing in pain on the hardwood floor.
As one might expect, this serious injury was a severe blow to my mental health. Once Dr. Paul Reiman (Loma Linda Orthopedic Surgeon) told me what had happened, I left his office feeling discouraged and filled with disappointment. The outlook of surgery, rehabilitation, and missing months of work also left me feeling dismayed. What I learned quickly about myself is that maintaining a physically fit body enabled me to mold an incredibly strong mind, so I only allowed myself to have a brief “pity party.” I wanted to ensure that I wasn’t being too hard on myself, yet I didn’t want to become complacent either.
After growing bored with watching Netflix and Amazon Prime, I felt an eagerness inside of me to try something new. Needless to say, I wasn’t an avid book reader before my injury, but once I blew the dust off a few books on my bookshelf; I started to blow through them. I became a voracious book reader, and I couldn’t put the books I was reading down. Surprisingly, I began using Amazon for its intended purpose: an easy and convenient way to buy books online. If I had not ruptured my left Achilles tendon, I would not have stumbled upon amazing books like: The Richest man in Babylon, Think & Grow Rich, An Autobiography of a Yogi, As a Man Thinketh, or The Twelfth Planet. These precious books, as well as many others, helped me improve my thinking. This seemingly subtle, yet monumental shift in consciousness aided in the rewiring of my neural pathways.
Every page turning book I read now inspires me to some degree, yet the book that had the most profound impact on my life during my recovery is An Autobiography of a Yogi. Reading the poetic style and artful vocabulary of Paramahansa Yogananda, author of An Autobiography of a Yogi, truly turned me into a fan of authors. I was enthralled with his writing, as much as I once was with the extraordinary play of NBA (National Basketball Association) basketball players. Perhaps the most significant thing I learned from Paramahansa Yogananda while reading his book is the importance of meditation.
Before I read An Autobiography of a Yogi, I knew nothing about meditation. However, once I started leafing through the pages of a book drenched with absolute truths, I incorporated meditation into my daily life. I never knew it was possible to be in charge of my own healing, or heal myself from years of: doubt, fear, shame, guilt, and regret from the inside rather than looking outside of myself for a remedy. Coming to the realization that there is a “mystical” side to life; non-liner elements, learning to align my chakras, and focusing on lowering my brainwave frequencies transformed me into a spiritual person. Consistent meditation also helped me unlock the greatness lying dormant inside of me, my “creative imagination.” For being my first guide on the “spiritual path,” and inspiring me to write my first book, Heartfelt. I owe Paramahansa Yogananda a sincere debt of gratitude. Even though he is no longer with us in a physical form, his spiritual presence permeates our world.
Fast forward to now, at 46-years-old, I still meditate consistently, and read books with the utmost joy. I would much rather read a book than watch a movie, which makes me very proud of this new version of myself. Although I’m not as physically fit as I used to be, primarily because I don’t play basketball anymore, I’m working on putting physical fitness at the forefront of my agenda. By no means do I lead a sedentary lifestyle—I still exercise regularly, but I’m not the insane gym rat I once was. Most recently, I turned my poetry book, Heartfelt, into a phenomenal audiobook. The audiobook edition of Heartfelt is an amazing entertainment experience and is available on a host of retail platforms, namely: Audible / Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Apple / iTunes, Books-A-Million, Audiobookstore.com, Chirp and many more.
In 2024, my sights are set on becoming a better entrepreneur and a more dedicated artist. Due to momentary lapses of focus, I let internal strife and outside events slightly derail my progress in 2023. As much as people want to argue that meditators should be immune to internal conflict or issues from the outside world, we are only human. In fact, since meditators are more self-aware than the average person. Their deep spiritual connection with the world and keen intuition from their sixth sense cause them greater discomfort. Meditators aren’t indifferent from the world, having the ability to live life in the fifth dimension (5-D), yet are more interconnected with this three-dimensional reality (3-D) we are all forced to endure. Now, it’s time for me to sharpen my focus and re-dedicate myself to my craft. Next up, I plan to publish an exciting second book project, which should be available in 2024. Surely, this book is going to be as fascinating as the first one, and I’ll follow it up with a sensational audiobook version.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
When I consider the courageous steps I took on my bold journey, there are three integral components that aided me along the way. If not for my resilience, overall commitment, and being consistent. I don’t think I would have achieved much success. Resilience is an underrated character trait that allowed me to overcome the adversity I faced. I would love to say everything went according to plan, but this is simply not so. There were many frustrating moments. After living through one of my favorite Bob Marley quotes: “You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.” I realized that during difficult times is when we learn the most about ourselves. Staying committed to my book project, even when things weren’t going my way, gave me a level of focus I had never had. As Albert Einstein once said, “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a dream, not to people or things.” In 2021, I fearlessly took an audacious leap of faith and quit my job of almost ten years. At my age, approaching fifty-years-old, this sort of risk is unusual—but for the first time in my life. I decided to bet on myself, tying my happiness to a burning desire to become a writer. I saw my tenuous situation as a defining moment on my journey. If I was going to give myself any chance at all to become a renowned author, I had to seize the opportunity by going all in on myself. Of course, there are plenty of people who would scrutinize my decision. They are probably the same people who are afraid to pursue their dreams. However, every time I write a new fascinating poem, short story, or essay. A huge smile beams across my face as I’m reminded of how I am the happiest I’ve ever been. This is why it’s important not to care about what other people think or give people control over your happiness. Lastly, consistency gave me tremendous confidence in what I was doing, as well as a sense of completion throughout the process. My newfound confidence enabled me to keep pushing myself until I was finished. Nothing we do on the lonely road to accomplishing our goals will mean anything unless we find the courage and perseverance to finish.
As for those brave souls courageous enough to start out on their own bold journeys, I have a few keywords of wisdom. When you start, don’t look back no matter how tough things get. Always stay focused on moving forward, regardless of uncertainty. In addition, please don’t quit! If you quit, you will never accomplish your goals. Also, minimize distractions by staying committed to your dream, and be mindful about surrounding yourself with the right people. If you have to remove people from your life, admittedly, people who threaten your quest for success. I recommend doing so, and quickly. Moreover, maintaining a high level of focus and being consistent will put you in a position to succeed, but you must pursue your goals relentlessly in order to finish. Above all, completion is the most important thing.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
By far, An Autobiography of a Yogi, written by Paramahansa Yogananda, had a monumental impact on my development as a person. With that being said, after recently having the privilege of reading The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho, I hold this book in high regard as well. I highly recommend it for the wisdom Paulo Coelho imparts, as well as encouragement to follow our hearts and pursue our dreams.
As I mentioned previously, An Autobiography of a Yogi had a profound impact on my life, acting as my initial guide into the spiritual world. It was the first book to introduce me to meditation, unveiling a beautiful inner world that exists inside all of us. I also credit An Autobiography of a Yogi for unraveling the concept of polarity inside my mind, stemming from the many institutions and illusions of “separateness” that exist in our natural world. With his pen, Paramahansa Yogananda compassionately replaced my ideas of division with a deeper understanding of our universal oneness with all life. He also eloquently conveyed the significance of: Self-realization, Self-actualization, and Self-love as anecdotes in poetic form.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: bazerks_2nd_life / poet_author_antonio_robinson
- Facebook: Antonio Robinson
- Linkedin: Antonio De’mon Robinson / Poet-Author
- Twitter: Poet-Author Antonio De’mon Robinson / @MeBazerk
- Youtube: @antonioD.robinson77
- Other: TikTok: @poet_author_antonio_1111
Image Credits
Enrique Salado
