Brett Jolly’s Thought for Today (Confidence and the belief in yourself)

Years ago I played a gig in Atlantic City. I was on break and I decided to do watch what was happening on the roulette wheel (No, I didn’t gamble at all). I had nothing else to do so I watched the fortunes (or misfortunes) of other people. I noticed an elderly gentleman walk up to the wheel dressed in all white. He sported a derby and he was “absolutely clean” in every way. He had two (2) women with him, one on each arm and you could tell immediately that he was “already loaded with money.” This man walked up to the wheel, pulled out “a massive amount of chips” and placed them on the “long shot” to win. When the wheel was spun around he had a 45 to 1 chance of hitting. Well… he “did.” The man collected his winnings and simply walked away with his two women. When I saw this happen I had 2 thoughts. Either this wheel was “rigged” and he knew it, or he had an “extraordinary amount” of confidence in himself to pull this off. Even though this happened years ago I never forgot it to this day. Our day starts off with how we feel. We may wake up feeling like today is going to be a bad day (and most times when you feel that way, it usually is). You could also make your day a “great” day be feeling confident about it. You do have power when it comes to your own situation. When we realize that great things can result from you utilizing that power correctly we often make positive changes in our lives. Check out this video:

Please keep in mind that Oprah Winfrey is “already established” in her power, but how did she get there? She recognized her own abilities and made them work for her. You can do the same if you have enough “confidence and belief” in yourself. Grasp the aura of your potential and manifest it in a way that allows you to accomplish great things. You don’t need Oprah’s power. Focus on your own and “make” yourself have a “great” day. The energies of life are out there. It is up to “you” to collect them. Keep yourself in a positive light and spirit and see how your life changes. Thank you for checking out my Thought for Today and as always I wish you the very best that life has to offer.

My brother Bill Jolly, Jon Bon Jovi and Brett Jolly

Brett Jolly’s Thought for Today (Reaction to overturning of Roe vs. Wade)

I guess we knew this was coming. There had been a previous “leak” about the Supreme Court overturning Roe vs Wade, and now “it has finally happened.” This has implications from all around the world. Here is just a sample of what is going on:

The Supreme Court also decided to expand gun rights here in the US. That means that they want to “protect the right to life on one instance” while they want to “expand the right to kill someone on the other instance.” How “backwards” is that? Men AND women are joining in solidarity to protest this decision and this doesn’t seem to be settling down at all. Does the court have the right to govern a woman’s body with legislation? For the record, I am not in favor of killing anyone. However, if they are going to rescind abortion rights then they need to protect “ALL” life as well. “Capital punishment needs to be outlawed. Gun rights need to be more stringent. War needs to be illegal. The mask laws for pandemics need to be strengthened.” The biggest problem with ending abortion is that “the struggle doesn’t just end with birth.” A baby needs “a lifetime of nurturing and parental guidance to make it in this world.” A baby cannot survive on it’s own. If we cannot give the baby the proper guidance and love then what chance will it have? If a baby grows up to know frustration and the gun laws are expanded then “what chance do WE have?” The right to life isn’t just about babies. If we are “not prepared” to handle an ” already overpopulated world” then we will only be “contributing to our own extinction.” Maybe instead of sending babies to foster homes and adoption agencies we should send them to live with the members of the Supreme Court. Now wouldn’t THAT be special? Thank you for checking out my Thought for Today and as always I wish you the very best that life has to offer.

Brett Jolly with Robin Roberts, host for the television program “Good Morning America”

Brett Jolly’s Thought for Today (My experience with Angela Bofill)

Years ago I remember doing a gig in Rehoboth Beach. This place was a 2 hour ride from my house and we had late hours. After the gig was finished, I had arrived back home at 4:30 in the morning. I remember this so well because I got a call at “6 am” to play a gig in Atlantic City. At first I couldn’t quite think right because I was so tired. I had to go to Atlantic City to play for an artist who needed a bass player. I then found out this artist was Angela Bofill. If you have never heard of her, she was an established jazz artist with a couple of great albums under her belt. You might want to Google her. Here is a sample of one of her tunes.

The gig was a fairly early gig and when I got there we didn’t have much time at all for a rehearsal. The good thing about this was that I was already a fan of hers and I “knew” most of her tunes. When I met her she was this tall woman (with a lot of makeup). Since we couldn’t get a sound check or rehearsal I simply listened to a tape of her show in her hotel room. With my ear for music it was enough for me to learn her set. The show went well and the most important thing was that I got paid. In the years that followed I heard that Angela lost her voice and was doing shows with another woman singing her tunes onstage while she did sign language. I have no idea what she is doing now, but I wish her the very best. It was my pleasure to perform with her and I just wanted to share my experience with you today. Thank you for checking out my Thought for Today and as always I wish you the very best that life has to offer.

Brett Jolly’s Thought for Today (Last night there was an attempted car jacking on my street)

I live in a “fairly good” neighborhood. It is usually very peaceful and at times I will feel safe enough to even take walks at night. Last night my son told me there were a lot of police cars outside. We went outside to check and we found that there had been an attempted car jacking on my street. Two guys wearing masks went up to someone in a car and shot him. The good news is that the man survived and the attempted robbers did not get his car. However, the robbers did get away. Several of my neighbors were outside with us and we discussed the situation. Since we never had anything like this happen before we thought about measures we could take. Of course, more lighting was discussed. Thieves don’t want to be seen. Also cameras would be a great help. If you place them on rooftops then you can monitor any strange behavior. Most times thieves will canvass a neighborhood first to see if it makes for a good target to hit. With cameras you can survey them while they are surveying you. If you see “anyone” in any car wandering around suspiciously then it might make a lot of sense to write down the tag number and report it to authorities. Also take note of any vehicles with dark tinted windows. These people don’t want to be seen for a reason. My neighbors and I will get together soon to discuss strategies. We can’t assume anymore that this can’t happen to us (because it just did). The best way to deal with unwanted behavior is to have a well laid out plan for it. You may want to do the same. If you live in a fairly good neighborhood then you need to take heed because most thieves will think there is more valuable property where you live. Make sure to tell your family that wherever you go, look around “before” you get out of the car (“especially” women). Sometimes taking a little bit of time to make sure you are safe can make the biggest difference. This world is crazier now. Be prepared for it, and please be careful. Thank you for checking out my Thought for today and as always I wish you the very best that life has to offer.

Norman Connors, Brett Jolly and saxophonist Benny Barksdale

Brett Jolly’s Thought for Today (Father’s Day)

I know that people have seen this before, but on a day like today I would love to remember my father. He was a phenomenal man, and he was never afraid to think outside the box. He told me things that made me think and become a better man. He met with US Presidents and so many famous Americans and he was excellent at giving speeches. I could say a lot here, but I will let this video speak for itself. Happy Father’s day to my father, Elton Jolly in Heaven. I wrote this song for him and made this video. Thank you for checking it out and as always I wish you the very best that life has to offer.

Brett Jolly’s Thought for Today (Gas prices are “crazy now.” What can we do to save?)

As I witnessed gas prices escalate “yet again” I thought about how my everyday activities can change to deal with it. Gas prices seem to be at “an all time high with no relief in sight.” If these prices continues to skyrocket, what can we do? My current car is a 2014 model and it is still running well, but I really don’t expect this to last long. Of course, the cost of gas prices will be “strongly considered” should I need to get a new car. Here is a story on prices during the month of May:

Of course I thought heavily about purchasing an electric car. The big problem here is that I have heard stories that they have not gotten all of the bugs out of the system yet. I don’t want to save on gas only to have more troubles with charging stations and low mileage. Also, the prices of electric cars seem to be “fairly high right now.” Until they can get this thing right I will try to stick with what I have. As for driving my regular “expensive gas car” there are a couple of things that I have tried that seem to be working. First, I “coast” a LOT. What that means is that if there are no other cars behind me (and I am going downhill) I take my foot “off” the accelerator so that I won’t use gas. It will take longer to coast but if I am saving then it is well worth it. Also, I “drive slow.” If you need to take your car up to 60 miles an hour then don’t rush by pressing hard to get there quickly. If you take your time you can get to that speed “without” pressing hard on the pedal, thus saving on harnessing your gas. Also, leave early to arrive at your destination. When you are pressed for time you have a tendency to press harder on the pedal in order to get there. If you leave early enough you can go slower and save on gas. Drive in the right lane on highways and let all the speed bums waste their gas when they speed by you on the left side. Soon these idiots will run out of money to drive and there will be less of them on the road (one of the good things that can happen from this). Of course, driving less is a major factor. Plan your trips so that you don’t have to drive so often (Accomplish 3 things in one trip if you can). I have no idea for when this thing will get any better, but I do know that I will make any and all necessary changes needed to save money. Hopefully you will do the same. Thank you for checking out my Thought for Today and as always I wish you the very best that life has to offer.

Singers Anthony Hamilton, Bill Withers and his daughter in concert with Brett Jolly on bass guitar

Brett Jolly’s Thought for Today (White Nationalists apprehended “before” committing a riot)

Idaho Police recently thwarted a White Nationalist group with riot gear on their way to an alleged Pride event. The good thing about this is that they were apprehended “before” they could commit any acts of violence. Granted, that also means that no crime had yet been committed, but the main object is to “prevent” it from happening. We have no way of knowing to “what extent” they planned to take their operation but hopefully the police will obtain enough evidence to determine their motives. If you have not heard about this then here is the video story:

Since no actual crime was committed I don’t know how much jail time these men will get. You are “supposedly entitled” to freedom of speech even if people don’t like what you say. The best part of this situation is that a citizen reported their activities to police and that was how the authorities were able to apprehend them. If we “all” look out for activity that seems suspicious then we can be our own police monitors. A lot of people don’t want to get involved, but God bless the ones who do. A lot of these groups get their information from social media. We can infiltrate their social media (especially if that media is public) and report it to authorities. There is so much we can accomplish through “unification.” Hopefully this can inspire others. Thank you for checking out my Thought for Today and as always I wish you the very best that life has to offer.

The Stylistics in concert with Brett Jolly on bass guitar

Brett Jolly’s Thought for Today (The Jan. 6 Riot hearings)

As far as I am concerned, this has already “taken too long.” A riot happened at the Capital in Washington DC in an attempt to overthrow democracy and government. The government was either “unprepared” for it or it was “turning” the other cheek” to what transpired. I remember hearing about what was going to happen “about a week before it actually took place” (and I am not involved in politics at all). People were warning me and others to stay away from the Capital on Jan 6. How can I know of this and yet government was not even aware of it? For those of you that are unsure of what is happening, here is a video:

There are some who will try to minimize the events that took place that day. If I had attempted to do what this crowd did I would be writing this Daily Thought from jail right now. The biggest issue here is what should we “expect” to happen from these hearings? I believe they will find that the President at that time “Donald Trump,” instigated the riot and refused to send in the National guard to quell it. He was also more than willing for the crowd to hang Vice President Mike Pence for not overturning the election. Of course, this is all “alleged.” If indeed, they find Trump guilty of a crime what will happen next? Will he be arrested or even brought to trial? This man was a former President of the United States, so I really can’t imagine him doing any jail time. Those political allies who support Trump would be equally as guilty, but if they can’t sentence Trump then can they sentence his political friends? If this trial finds Trump guilty and then finds he cannot be touched in any way then this trial is a huge “waste of time.” This is not an attempt for me to portray Trump as guilty of anything. I would rather the trial determine that. I just would like to know if he “is beyond justice.” In other words, can he be “held responsible if it is determined that he broke the law?” I guess time (and this trial) will tell… Thank you for checking out my Thought for today and as always I wish you the very best that life has to offer.

Jean Knight (Hit song “Mr. Big Stuff”) in concert with Brett Jolly on bass guitar

Brett Jolly’s Thought for Today (Idiots like this guy)

This guy is running for something in Arizona. Even though he has the right to run for office, his whole platform represents the “real problem we are having in the United States.” He “actually knows” that his stance will get a lot of (negative) attention, and he is hoping that this attention will win him an office seat. If he wins then likely “more candidates” will embrace his policies and run in hopes of achieving the same success. We cannot afford to have a country “run by idiots like this.” His name is Blake Masters. For those of you who are unfamiliar here is his story:

Blake Masters “isn’t the real issue here.” If the people of Arizona are the good hearted people that I know they are then this guy doesn’t stand a chance. However, the people who “copycat” off of him in other areas may represent the mood of our country. If they get elected into office then there will be “a lot of turmoil.” I don’t want to give this guy much publicity. I really don’t feel he deserves any. However, we all “need to know” about idiots like this if we are to preserve our democracy. He is hoping that his controversial stance will generate the publicity he needs to win office. For the sake of our nation he needs to be “rejected.” I can’t tell people how to vote. It is their individual choice. I can tell people that whoever they vote for “represents them in office.” Your vote is your voice. If you really want to “make America great,” then it is time to reject “idiots like this.” Thank you for checking out my Thought for Today and as always I wish you the very best that life has to offer.

Chubby Checker (The Twist) and Brett Jolly

Brett Jolly’s Thought for Today (Mass shootings. What’s next?)

I reside in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I have seen a “lot” of violence in my area. Thankfully, I have never been a victim to any violence. This past weekend there was a shootout on South Street in Philly, an area I have been to several times. Several people were shot and some were killed. This also happened in other parts of the country. Now mass shootings are becoming even more frequent. What’s next? Here is a video that examines the situation:

I can’t tell law enforcement how to do their jobs. They are the experts and they are doing the best they can to protect all of us. I can, however, make some suggestions (that may or may not help). Aside from the gun control we so badly need (I have spoken on this many times so there is no need to go back into this now) there are other things that I think can be done “locally.” I think more “undercover agents” should be patrolling the streets. These agents might be able to infiltrate activity and stop it “before” it happens. I also think cities should invest in “more cameras.” There are many cameras already in existence but I believe we could use “even more.” We could use more of them on major highways, in crime riddled areas, rooftops and in many public places (outside and inside). Finally, police can do a lot, but they can’t do everything. Drones can be used to spot suspicious activity and even follow those who commit crimes. Also, neighborhood watches need to increase. Stop relying solely on police and use block captains to get together with neighbors and implement their own surveillance plans (Make sure to first discuss those plans with local authorities). Things are really getting out of hand. Soon it may not be safe to go “anywhere.” If we are going to stop the violence then it needs to be done through a “united effort.” There is strength in numbers. Communication is a start. Planning will help as well. I don’t want to be a victim. Neither should you. Together, we all can do a lot more to “protect us.” Thank you for checking out my Thought for Today, and as always I wish you the very best that life has to offer.

Chuck D (Lead rapper of Public Enemy” performing “Fight the Power” in concert with Brett Jolly on bass guitar