January 29, 2025 • 17 mins
What does it mean to truly choose?
In this episode of The Hood Debutante
Podcast, we step into the heart of one of the most haunting and unresolved stories ever told Frank R. Stockton's The Lady, or the Tiger? A tale where love and jealousy collide, where passion and power intertwine, and where a single choice determines everything.
Tying back to last week's episode, Blood in My Mouth, we explore what it means to own your decisions to let truth belong to the one who receives it. Because life, love, and destiny are not about the answers given to us, but about the choices we make for ourselves.
As we unravel this story, the question lingers:
When faced with the ultimate choice, will you act out of love? Or out of fear?
The door is in front of you now.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:13):
Let's roll up, it's a new high. 2 00:00:15,640.1 --> 00:00:17,320 Good laughs and some good vibes.
It's a safe space to talk about all the dope things that's on our mind. 4 00:00:20,749.999 --> 00:00:24,040 From world travel to philosophies, we stay stylish, come and rock with me. 5 00:00:24,79.999 --> 00:00:27,359.999 It's a good time, we got the sauce to make champagne, which is reality, uh. 6 00:00:28,339.999 --> 00:00:31,49.999 We do it for the culture, gotta show them what we can be. 7 00:00:31,849.999 --> 00:00:32,739.999 This is the high life.
Yeah, we old so fancy Keep it a G cuz We are family It's the hood debutant with london bambi, uh Hey, I don't care what anybody say I got the hardest Intro and sound of all podcasts.
(00:57):
My intro is a bop.
I'm I stand on that 10 toes down What's up rock stars welcome back to another episode of the hood w top podcast with Me, your host London Bambi, and today is episode 22.
(01:18):
Today's episode is titled The Lady or the Tiger.
.999Now that I'm thinking about it, I probably should have titled it Love, Passion, and the Consequences of Choice, but whatever.
Too bad. 14 00:01:31,234.999 --> 00:01:35,434.999 If you've been here for a while, you know I don't believe in just telling stories. 15 00:01:35,494.999 --> 00:01:37,214.999 I believe in living in them.
And filling them, letting them sit inside of you like something unfinished, something breathing.
(01:42):
And that's exactly what today's episode is about.
.001We are talking about choice, about uncertainty and standing at the edge of a decision that can alter everything, knowing that there is no turning back.
.9And I want to tie this into what I said in episode 21 last week.
Last week, Blood in My Mouth, that episode that was titled after the book I released the same day, that episode was personal to me.
(02:08):
It was about truth. 22 00:02:09,59.999 --> 00:02:17,979.999 And I'm going to quote myself, okay? So last week, I said, and I quote, the book was written to be read in a voice that is uniquely yours.
The cadence, the rhythm, the interpretation, I said it all belongs to you.
I did not want to dictate how you hear those words.
.9I don't want to define how they live inside you. 26 00:02:28,345.1 --> 00:02:31,315 When you speak the truth, it becomes universal.
(02:31):
I also explained that after I read the opening poem, I said I would step back and let the rest of the book be yours to interpret.
I want you to hold on to that.
.999Because that right there is why today's story matters.
.999Because, Part of the inspiration for me no longer, or not reading any of the other poems in the book, was inspired by the story I'm going to read today for you guys, alright? So, I want you to think about what happens when you are the one who has to decide.
(03:05):
When no one can tell you how the story ends.
Because the ending is yours.
I want you to take a moment and actually really think about that. 34 00:03:14,425.1 --> 00:03:26,420 Okay? Alright, now that you took your moment, I want you to know, at least to me, Real choice is about ownership.
(03:26):
.999It's about stepping into the uncertainty and deciding for yourself what something means, what something is.
.999And today we're stepping into a story that forces you to do exactly that.
.999Frank R.
Stockington The Lady or the Tiger It's a story that refuses to give you an answer.
It focus, it makes you focus on the choice at the ending for yourself.
(03:48):
Like it makes you choose your own ending.
.999Now I'm going to tell you this story and I'm going to tell it in a way that it is meant to be told fully.
I'm not going to read the full story because I don't want this podcast to be three hours long.
.001So like I do everything, I'm going to make the story uniquely mine, but hopefully I don't lose the message and you should still be able to receive it, from the way I'm going to tell a story. 44 00:04:12,65.001 --> 00:04:16,235 If you want to read the original story, just Google the lady and the tiger. 45 00:04:16,265.001 --> 00:04:18,225.001 It is a popular story. 46 00:04:18,265.001 --> 00:04:26,190.001 I It's just a story I remember from my childhood and it definitely have left an impact on me and the way that I actually, make choices. 47 00:04:26,230.001 --> 00:04:32,460 I feel like it's one of the reasons I'm able to make sharp choices, be it good or bad, in my life.
(04:32):
So I'm going to read that story.
And when I'm done, I'm going to leave you with the same choice.
The story leaves its reader.
So take a breath.
We're stepping into the arena now.
All right, let me put on my reading, my reading voice.
All right.
Once upon a time in a kingdom that prided itself on order, there ruled a king, a man who believed in justice, that justice should be felt as much as it should be served.
(05:00):
He was not a man of mercy, nor was he a man of cruelty, at least not in his own eyes.
He was a man who believed in spectacle.
So he built an arena, a grand towering place where trials were not decided by argument or evidence, but by Faith.
.999When a man was accused of a crime, he was placed before two great doors behind one door was a lady, a beautiful maiden chosen by the king to be his bride, a symbol of innocence and reward.
(05:29):
Behind the other door was a tiger, a beast starved and waiting, ready to tear the accused apart.
The moment the door swung open a symbol of guilt and punishment.
The accused did not know which door held which fate.
He had to choose, and once he chose, there was no turning back.
.999Now, this king had a daughter, a princess.
(05:51):
Unlike any other, she was not delicate, nor was she docile.
She had a fire in her veins, passion that burned bright and wild, and she was in love.
.9Now, we all know, she was in love, so this is where things get a little bit sticky, alright? Alright.
All right, let's keep going.
She wasn't in love with a prince.
(06:12):
She was not in love with a nobleman by birth, but a commoner, I guess they would have called him a man who was everything she wanted, yet everything she was not supposed to have.
So obviously this was during a time of royalty where relationships was even political.
And so you couldn't marry nobody, or you weren't supposed to fall in love with somebody who wasn't considered your, your Equal in rank in society.
(06:40):
.999what she was doing back then, considering that even in that time, women were considered property of the males in their family. 74 00:06:46,934.999 --> 00:06:54,709.999 She, it was, it was foolish because she put He put him at risk, and he also put himself at risk, but you know, love make us do crazy things. 75 00:06:55,39.999 --> 00:07:07,59.998 They say, fuck this society structure, I love you, you love me, we are going to be together, alright? Now, what's important to know is, in a story, if you guys decide to go read the story, that they were careful. 76 00:07:07,319.999 --> 00:07:10,149.999 They were quiet, but love, we all know. 77 00:07:10,389.999 --> 00:07:39,174.999 True love cannot be hidden forever, you know, think about it when you like somebody and you don't want your friends to know And they come in the same room and you guys give yourself a glance If your best friend know you if your best friend really your best friend They're gonna know what look you guys exchange and you're they're gonna pick up on it right away So naturally, although they were careful, although they were quiet about it and tried to be really secretive, the king still discovered their secret. 78 00:07:39,474.999 --> 00:07:44,504.999 And as a punishment, he sentenced the young man to the arena naturally. 79 00:07:44,724.999 --> 00:07:47,954.998 Now, two doors, one choice. 80 00:07:49,174.999 --> 00:07:53,44.999 This princess you just like I said, she wasn't a delicate flower. 81 00:07:53,64.999 --> 00:07:57,164.999 She was like a firecracker She was not just any woman. 82 00:07:57,174.999 --> 00:08:10,864.999 She knew things Okay She had a mind that could bend faith if she tried hard enough and she found out she discovered which door held the lady and which held the tiger because That's how cunning she was. 83 00:08:10,874.999 --> 00:08:14,584.999 She knew she was going to, she was like, look, my man is going to be in this arena. 84 00:08:14,614.999 --> 00:08:15,894.999 I need to figure this out. 85 00:08:16,324.999 --> 00:08:24,934.999 And so on a day of the trial, she sat in a stance, her heart was pounding in her chest, watching as her lover was led to that arena. 86 00:08:25,514.999 --> 00:08:29,84.999 And he, he looked at her because he knew she knew. 87 00:08:29,489.999 --> 00:08:35,99.999 Okay, so he knew she would find out so he looked at her his eyes was desperate. 88 00:08:35,109.999 --> 00:08:37,39.999 He's pleading He's trusting. 89 00:08:37,49.999 --> 00:08:45,209.999 It was one of those baby, baby, baby, you know looks like help me out him So she lifted her hand and she flicked her wrist now. 90 00:08:45,259.998 --> 00:08:46,659.998 It was such a subtle movement. 91 00:08:46,699.998 --> 00:08:53,449.999 No one else would notice and She chose for him and he believes her so he walked towards the door. 92 00:08:53,449.999 --> 00:09:08,299.999 She had she chosen walk towards the door That she signaled to, he placed his hand on the handle, he pulled the door, he pulled the door open, and then the story ends. 93 00:09:10,469.998 --> 00:09:15,859.999 No answer, no confirmation, no certainty, only the question. 94 00:09:16,414.999 --> 00:09:28,254.998 Did she send him to the lady to live, but in the arms of another woman, or did she send him to the tiger to death so that if she could not have him, no one else would. 95 00:09:28,674.999 --> 00:09:31,94.999 What do you believe? I should know. 96 00:09:31,124.999 --> 00:09:36,584.998 Now, when this story came out, readers, a lot of readers were furious. 97 00:09:36,614.998 --> 00:09:54,899.999 They demanded that he rewrite the story or he come up with an ending for the story because Believe it or not people like a lot of people like their choices to be made for them That is mind boggling to me because when I found that out because I see that in my everyday life A lot of people like their choice to be made for them. 98 00:09:55,19.999 --> 00:10:02,119.999 I work in an industry where I make choices for people all the time I see it when i'm in the street and people that can't make choices. 99 00:10:02,159.999 --> 00:10:08,244.999 They easily get frustrated and they're, they are, those are the type of people that are not really sure of themselves. 100 00:10:08,314.999 --> 00:10:11,524.999 People that cannot make choices for themselves, at least I believe it. 101 00:10:12,74.998 --> 00:10:21,554.999 And so, yeah, people were upset when this story came out and they were like, no pic, what did he choose, the lady or the tiger? Like that's what it's titled, the lady or the tiger. 102 00:10:21,554.999 --> 00:10:25,254.999 And people was upset and he stood 10 toes down. 103 00:10:25,314.999 --> 00:10:30,404.999 Arthur of this story stood 10 toes down and he was like, I'm never coming out with an ending for this story. 104 00:10:30,424.999 --> 00:10:32,654.999 story is for you guys to choose. 105 00:10:32,694.999 --> 00:10:40,624.999 And this is why I believe this story has lasted for ages it mind fucks people because people don't want to make choices now. 106 00:10:41,869.999 --> 00:10:42,659.999 That right there. 107 00:10:44,239.999 --> 00:10:45,469.999 That's the weight of choice. 108 00:10:46,449.999 --> 00:10:47,289.999 And here's the thing. 109 00:10:47,299.999 --> 00:10:52,979.998 Whenever, whatever ending you choose, it says more about you than it does about the princess. 110 00:10:52,979.999 --> 00:10:53,719.999 And that's the point. 111 00:10:53,999.998 --> 00:10:59,119.999 Because we are all in some way sitting in that arena, standing before two doors. 112 00:10:59,439.998 --> 00:11:01,979.999 And the question is never just what happens. 113 00:11:02,19.999 --> 00:11:07,989.999 The question is, who do we become when we have to decide? That is the real question. 114 00:11:07,989.999 --> 00:11:08,429.999 Okay. 115 00:11:08,639.999 --> 00:11:09,729.999 Now let's go deeper. 116 00:11:10,154.999 --> 00:11:12,449.899 Let's talk about what love really is. 117 00:11:12,859.999 --> 00:11:19,919.999 Because love is not just soft whispers and warm hands, okay? You know, the butterflies in the stomach. 118 00:11:19,969.999 --> 00:11:22,149.999 The, the I love you poems. 119 00:11:22,159.999 --> 00:11:24,319.999 The, the, the roses. 120 00:11:24,579.999 --> 00:11:25,699.999 Love is not just that. 121 00:11:25,709.998 --> 00:11:26,799.998 Love is a risk. 122 00:11:26,949.999 --> 00:12:00,714.999 For those of you who have actually loved with your full heart and Believe love is a risk just like that arena, you know, you're stepping in when you decide to fall in love You don't know what's going to come out because you're choosing from your heart So you don't know what's gonna come what the outcome is going to be because again love is a risk Love is choosing the princess had the power She held life and death in her hand and that's the thing about passion It makes you feel like you have everything and nothing at the same time. 123 00:12:00,974.999 --> 00:12:03,574.999 So, let's sit with, the choices she had. 124 00:12:03,774.999 --> 00:12:10,984.999 Okay? Okay, I'll hit, I'm like, is that a helicopter coming over me? Welcome to the hood. 125 00:12:11,34.999 --> 00:12:13,964.999 Debut time in the hood where helicopters fly over the building. 126 00:12:14,244.998 --> 00:12:16,224.998 All right, so I digress. 127 00:12:16,564.998 --> 00:12:16,944.998 I digress. 128 00:12:17,54.998 --> 00:12:18,624.998 So let's, let's think about these. 129 00:12:18,684.998 --> 00:12:21,644.999 Let's think about these, two choices that, she had. 130 00:12:22,434.999 --> 00:12:22,774.999 All right. 131 00:12:22,784.998 --> 00:12:23,184.998 So. 132 00:12:24,194.999 --> 00:12:25,244.999 Choosing a lady. 133 00:12:25,514.999 --> 00:12:31,924.999 If she would have sent him to the lady, she chose to let him live, but at the cost of her own happiness. 134 00:12:31,934.999 --> 00:12:36,284.899 She chose to give him life, knowing he will belong to someone else. 135 00:12:37,24.999 --> 00:12:39,214.999 Let's say she chose the tiger. 136 00:12:39,744.999 --> 00:12:44,324.999 If she sent him to the tiger, she chose destruction, for lack of a better word. 137 00:12:44,584.999 --> 00:12:49,514.999 She chose to end the story in blood rather than to watch him love another woman. 138 00:12:49,974.999 --> 00:12:54,384.999 And both of those choices, they are real and they are human. 139 00:12:54,404.999 --> 00:12:55,384.999 I hate to say it. 140 00:12:55,684.999 --> 00:12:57,404.999 They are what we wrestle with. 141 00:12:57,554.999 --> 00:13:01,134.999 Every day when it comes to love, to jealousy, fear. 142 00:13:01,494.999 --> 00:13:06,284.999 Because sometimes love is selfless and sometimes love is possessive. 143 00:13:06,594.999 --> 00:13:11,694.999 And sometimes we don't know which part of us will win until that moment comes. 144 00:13:11,724.998 --> 00:13:12,484.999 And that's the truth. 145 00:13:13,9.999 --> 00:13:21,409.999 So, here we are, the arena is in front of you guys, think about it, the arena, the choices you have to make in your life. 146 00:13:21,439.999 --> 00:13:27,39.999 And I'm going to ask you again, what door do you believe? Think about the story. 147 00:13:27,309.999 --> 00:13:30,859.999 If you need to go back and rewind it to listen to it again, please do. 148 00:13:31,129.998 --> 00:13:31,639.999 Think about it. 149 00:13:31,669.999 --> 00:13:55,340.1 But what door do you believe she chose? And more importantly, when a time comes when you are faced with a choice that will change everything, when you have to stand in your own arena, will you choose out of love? Will you choose out of fear? Because that right there, that question is what defines who we are. 150 00:13:55,930.1 --> 00:14:00,690.099 Because like anything, we are not what we say we're going to do. 151 00:14:01,355.1 --> 00:14:03,365.1 We are what we actually are. 152 00:14:03,840.1 --> 00:14:27,220.101 Do all right, and yeah, so I hope today's story inspired you I hope it makes you think about the choices you have made in your life And I hope it actually helped you think about the choices that you are going to make In the future, because, towards the future, because, believe it or not, you are, you are always going to have choices. 153 00:14:27,800.101 --> 00:14:37,240.1 life is not what happens to you, it's how you react what happens to you, and a lot of times life forces you to make choices, because you can't stand on a fence. 154 00:14:37,470.1 --> 00:14:44,140.101 I heard this saying once, somebody said, you can't stand on a fence and keep walking because eventually you're going to split your ass, which is true. 155 00:14:44,570.101 --> 00:14:52,0.101 So, with that being said, my friends Friends, until next time, I want you to again, think about your choices. 156 00:14:52,10.101 --> 00:14:58,270.101 I want you to speak your truth and I want you to remember that the story ends with you. 157 00:14:58,530.101 --> 00:15:02,80.101 And most importantly, most important, this is the most. 158 00:15:02,575.101 --> 00:15:03,965.101 important part. 159 00:15:03,975.101 --> 00:15:05,575.101 I have to say it that many times. 160 00:15:06,385.101 --> 00:15:07,515.101 Go get blood in my mouth. 161 00:15:08,635.101 --> 00:15:24,445.101 If you haven't gotten a copy of Blood in My Mouth, which is the poetry book I dropped last week, or last week episode titled with the same name, go get the poem, the poetry book, because it's one of my most personal works. 162 00:15:24,525.101 --> 00:15:29,525.101 It also includes sculptures that I created with my hand. 163 00:15:29,935.101 --> 00:15:35,745.101 To go along with each section of the book and the portrait is pretty much about speaking your truth. 164 00:15:35,775.101 --> 00:15:38,535.101 And yeah, I'm going to leave you with that. 165 00:15:38,855.101 --> 00:15:44,355.101 I also want to let you guys know that for those of you who have gotten the book, thank you. 166 00:15:44,815.101 --> 00:15:45,245.1005 Thank you. 167 00:15:45,245.1005 --> 00:15:46,5.1005 I want to say that. 168 00:15:46,5.1005 --> 00:15:47,325.1 Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 169 00:15:47,355.101 --> 00:15:52,525.101 I sold some copies and, it just makes my heart jump with joy. 170 00:15:53,105.101 --> 00:15:58,95.1 If you notice, I really, I'm not really talking about the book online much because also. 171 00:15:59,35.101 --> 00:16:00,745.101 There's fires going on in California. 172 00:16:00,785.101 --> 00:16:04,245.101 There are fires going on in California and I don't want to be insensitive. 173 00:16:04,245.101 --> 00:16:08,935.101 So to anybody, if I have any California listeners, my heart is with you. 174 00:16:08,945.101 --> 00:16:10,695.1 My thoughts are with you. 175 00:16:11,105.101 --> 00:16:13,345.101 it's devastating and there's nothing much I can say. 176 00:16:13,385.101 --> 00:16:18,805.101 I feel that would make anything better, but I, yeah, part of the reason I'm not even talking about my book. 177 00:16:19,95.101 --> 00:16:27,235.1005 Anymore outside of this podcast because I don't I know it's just a horrible situation going on right here in America And it's really sad. 178 00:16:27,235.1005 --> 00:16:38,755.101 So to anybody out there that's affected by the wildfires I'm sorry you are going through this I I'm sorry, It's it's horrible. 179 00:16:38,855.101 --> 00:16:46,805.101 Um, yeah, well That's ending this podcast on a low note Anywho, uh, I love you guys. 180 00:16:46,855.101 --> 00:16:47,995.101 Thank you for being here. 181 00:16:48,5.101 --> 00:16:58,115.101 Thank you for listening to me And thank you for giving me this space I'm going to sign off and I look forward to spending this time with you again Next week.
Let's roll up, it's a new high. 2 00:00:15,640.1 --> 00:00:17,320 Good laughs and some good vibes.
It's a safe space to talk about all the dope things that's on our mind. 4 00:00:20,749.999 --> 00:00:24,040 From world travel to philosophies, we stay stylish, come and rock with me. 5 00:00:24,79.999 --> 00:00:27,359.999 It's a good time, we got the sauce to make champagne, which is reality, uh. 6 00:00:28,339.999 --> 00:00:31,49.999 We do it for the culture, gotta show them what we can be. 7 00:00:31,849.999 --> 00:00:32,739.999 This is the high life.
Yeah, we old so fancy Keep it a G cuz We are family It's the hood debutant with london bambi, uh Hey, I don't care what anybody say I got the hardest Intro and sound of all podcasts.
(00:57):
My intro is a bop.
I'm I stand on that 10 toes down What's up rock stars welcome back to another episode of the hood w top podcast with Me, your host London Bambi, and today is episode 22.
(01:18):
Today's episode is titled The Lady or the Tiger.
.999Now that I'm thinking about it, I probably should have titled it Love, Passion, and the Consequences of Choice, but whatever.
Too bad. 14 00:01:31,234.999 --> 00:01:35,434.999 If you've been here for a while, you know I don't believe in just telling stories. 15 00:01:35,494.999 --> 00:01:37,214.999 I believe in living in them.
And filling them, letting them sit inside of you like something unfinished, something breathing.
(01:42):
And that's exactly what today's episode is about.
.001We are talking about choice, about uncertainty and standing at the edge of a decision that can alter everything, knowing that there is no turning back.
.9And I want to tie this into what I said in episode 21 last week.
Last week, Blood in My Mouth, that episode that was titled after the book I released the same day, that episode was personal to me.
(02:08):
It was about truth. 22 00:02:09,59.999 --> 00:02:17,979.999 And I'm going to quote myself, okay? So last week, I said, and I quote, the book was written to be read in a voice that is uniquely yours.
The cadence, the rhythm, the interpretation, I said it all belongs to you.
I did not want to dictate how you hear those words.
.9I don't want to define how they live inside you. 26 00:02:28,345.1 --> 00:02:31,315 When you speak the truth, it becomes universal.
(02:31):
I also explained that after I read the opening poem, I said I would step back and let the rest of the book be yours to interpret.
I want you to hold on to that.
.999Because that right there is why today's story matters.
.999Because, Part of the inspiration for me no longer, or not reading any of the other poems in the book, was inspired by the story I'm going to read today for you guys, alright? So, I want you to think about what happens when you are the one who has to decide.
(03:05):
When no one can tell you how the story ends.
Because the ending is yours.
I want you to take a moment and actually really think about that. 34 00:03:14,425.1 --> 00:03:26,420 Okay? Alright, now that you took your moment, I want you to know, at least to me, Real choice is about ownership.
(03:26):
.999It's about stepping into the uncertainty and deciding for yourself what something means, what something is.
.999And today we're stepping into a story that forces you to do exactly that.
.999Frank R.
Stockington The Lady or the Tiger It's a story that refuses to give you an answer.
It focus, it makes you focus on the choice at the ending for yourself.
(03:48):
Like it makes you choose your own ending.
.999Now I'm going to tell you this story and I'm going to tell it in a way that it is meant to be told fully.
I'm not going to read the full story because I don't want this podcast to be three hours long.
.001So like I do everything, I'm going to make the story uniquely mine, but hopefully I don't lose the message and you should still be able to receive it, from the way I'm going to tell a story. 44 00:04:12,65.001 --> 00:04:16,235 If you want to read the original story, just Google the lady and the tiger. 45 00:04:16,265.001 --> 00:04:18,225.001 It is a popular story. 46 00:04:18,265.001 --> 00:04:26,190.001 I It's just a story I remember from my childhood and it definitely have left an impact on me and the way that I actually, make choices. 47 00:04:26,230.001 --> 00:04:32,460 I feel like it's one of the reasons I'm able to make sharp choices, be it good or bad, in my life.
(04:32):
So I'm going to read that story.
And when I'm done, I'm going to leave you with the same choice.
The story leaves its reader.
So take a breath.
We're stepping into the arena now.
All right, let me put on my reading, my reading voice.
All right.
Once upon a time in a kingdom that prided itself on order, there ruled a king, a man who believed in justice, that justice should be felt as much as it should be served.
(05:00):
He was not a man of mercy, nor was he a man of cruelty, at least not in his own eyes.
He was a man who believed in spectacle.
So he built an arena, a grand towering place where trials were not decided by argument or evidence, but by Faith.
.999When a man was accused of a crime, he was placed before two great doors behind one door was a lady, a beautiful maiden chosen by the king to be his bride, a symbol of innocence and reward.
(05:29):
Behind the other door was a tiger, a beast starved and waiting, ready to tear the accused apart.
The moment the door swung open a symbol of guilt and punishment.
The accused did not know which door held which fate.
He had to choose, and once he chose, there was no turning back.
.999Now, this king had a daughter, a princess.
(05:51):
Unlike any other, she was not delicate, nor was she docile.
She had a fire in her veins, passion that burned bright and wild, and she was in love.
.9Now, we all know, she was in love, so this is where things get a little bit sticky, alright? Alright.
All right, let's keep going.
She wasn't in love with a prince.
(06:12):
She was not in love with a nobleman by birth, but a commoner, I guess they would have called him a man who was everything she wanted, yet everything she was not supposed to have.
So obviously this was during a time of royalty where relationships was even political.
And so you couldn't marry nobody, or you weren't supposed to fall in love with somebody who wasn't considered your, your Equal in rank in society.
(06:40):
.999what she was doing back then, considering that even in that time, women were considered property of the males in their family. 74 00:06:46,934.999 --> 00:06:54,709.999 She, it was, it was foolish because she put He put him at risk, and he also put himself at risk, but you know, love make us do crazy things. 75 00:06:55,39.999 --> 00:07:07,59.998 They say, fuck this society structure, I love you, you love me, we are going to be together, alright? Now, what's important to know is, in a story, if you guys decide to go read the story, that they were careful. 76 00:07:07,319.999 --> 00:07:10,149.999 They were quiet, but love, we all know. 77 00:07:10,389.999 --> 00:07:39,174.999 True love cannot be hidden forever, you know, think about it when you like somebody and you don't want your friends to know And they come in the same room and you guys give yourself a glance If your best friend know you if your best friend really your best friend They're gonna know what look you guys exchange and you're they're gonna pick up on it right away So naturally, although they were careful, although they were quiet about it and tried to be really secretive, the king still discovered their secret. 78 00:07:39,474.999 --> 00:07:44,504.999 And as a punishment, he sentenced the young man to the arena naturally. 79 00:07:44,724.999 --> 00:07:47,954.998 Now, two doors, one choice. 80 00:07:49,174.999 --> 00:07:53,44.999 This princess you just like I said, she wasn't a delicate flower. 81 00:07:53,64.999 --> 00:07:57,164.999 She was like a firecracker She was not just any woman. 82 00:07:57,174.999 --> 00:08:10,864.999 She knew things Okay She had a mind that could bend faith if she tried hard enough and she found out she discovered which door held the lady and which held the tiger because That's how cunning she was. 83 00:08:10,874.999 --> 00:08:14,584.999 She knew she was going to, she was like, look, my man is going to be in this arena. 84 00:08:14,614.999 --> 00:08:15,894.999 I need to figure this out. 85 00:08:16,324.999 --> 00:08:24,934.999 And so on a day of the trial, she sat in a stance, her heart was pounding in her chest, watching as her lover was led to that arena. 86 00:08:25,514.999 --> 00:08:29,84.999 And he, he looked at her because he knew she knew. 87 00:08:29,489.999 --> 00:08:35,99.999 Okay, so he knew she would find out so he looked at her his eyes was desperate. 88 00:08:35,109.999 --> 00:08:37,39.999 He's pleading He's trusting. 89 00:08:37,49.999 --> 00:08:45,209.999 It was one of those baby, baby, baby, you know looks like help me out him So she lifted her hand and she flicked her wrist now. 90 00:08:45,259.998 --> 00:08:46,659.998 It was such a subtle movement. 91 00:08:46,699.998 --> 00:08:53,449.999 No one else would notice and She chose for him and he believes her so he walked towards the door. 92 00:08:53,449.999 --> 00:09:08,299.999 She had she chosen walk towards the door That she signaled to, he placed his hand on the handle, he pulled the door, he pulled the door open, and then the story ends. 93 00:09:10,469.998 --> 00:09:15,859.999 No answer, no confirmation, no certainty, only the question. 94 00:09:16,414.999 --> 00:09:28,254.998 Did she send him to the lady to live, but in the arms of another woman, or did she send him to the tiger to death so that if she could not have him, no one else would. 95 00:09:28,674.999 --> 00:09:31,94.999 What do you believe? I should know. 96 00:09:31,124.999 --> 00:09:36,584.998 Now, when this story came out, readers, a lot of readers were furious. 97 00:09:36,614.998 --> 00:09:54,899.999 They demanded that he rewrite the story or he come up with an ending for the story because Believe it or not people like a lot of people like their choices to be made for them That is mind boggling to me because when I found that out because I see that in my everyday life A lot of people like their choice to be made for them. 98 00:09:55,19.999 --> 00:10:02,119.999 I work in an industry where I make choices for people all the time I see it when i'm in the street and people that can't make choices. 99 00:10:02,159.999 --> 00:10:08,244.999 They easily get frustrated and they're, they are, those are the type of people that are not really sure of themselves. 100 00:10:08,314.999 --> 00:10:11,524.999 People that cannot make choices for themselves, at least I believe it. 101 00:10:12,74.998 --> 00:10:21,554.999 And so, yeah, people were upset when this story came out and they were like, no pic, what did he choose, the lady or the tiger? Like that's what it's titled, the lady or the tiger. 102 00:10:21,554.999 --> 00:10:25,254.999 And people was upset and he stood 10 toes down. 103 00:10:25,314.999 --> 00:10:30,404.999 Arthur of this story stood 10 toes down and he was like, I'm never coming out with an ending for this story. 104 00:10:30,424.999 --> 00:10:32,654.999 story is for you guys to choose. 105 00:10:32,694.999 --> 00:10:40,624.999 And this is why I believe this story has lasted for ages it mind fucks people because people don't want to make choices now. 106 00:10:41,869.999 --> 00:10:42,659.999 That right there. 107 00:10:44,239.999 --> 00:10:45,469.999 That's the weight of choice. 108 00:10:46,449.999 --> 00:10:47,289.999 And here's the thing. 109 00:10:47,299.999 --> 00:10:52,979.998 Whenever, whatever ending you choose, it says more about you than it does about the princess. 110 00:10:52,979.999 --> 00:10:53,719.999 And that's the point. 111 00:10:53,999.998 --> 00:10:59,119.999 Because we are all in some way sitting in that arena, standing before two doors. 112 00:10:59,439.998 --> 00:11:01,979.999 And the question is never just what happens. 113 00:11:02,19.999 --> 00:11:07,989.999 The question is, who do we become when we have to decide? That is the real question. 114 00:11:07,989.999 --> 00:11:08,429.999 Okay. 115 00:11:08,639.999 --> 00:11:09,729.999 Now let's go deeper. 116 00:11:10,154.999 --> 00:11:12,449.899 Let's talk about what love really is. 117 00:11:12,859.999 --> 00:11:19,919.999 Because love is not just soft whispers and warm hands, okay? You know, the butterflies in the stomach. 118 00:11:19,969.999 --> 00:11:22,149.999 The, the I love you poems. 119 00:11:22,159.999 --> 00:11:24,319.999 The, the, the roses. 120 00:11:24,579.999 --> 00:11:25,699.999 Love is not just that. 121 00:11:25,709.998 --> 00:11:26,799.998 Love is a risk. 122 00:11:26,949.999 --> 00:12:00,714.999 For those of you who have actually loved with your full heart and Believe love is a risk just like that arena, you know, you're stepping in when you decide to fall in love You don't know what's going to come out because you're choosing from your heart So you don't know what's gonna come what the outcome is going to be because again love is a risk Love is choosing the princess had the power She held life and death in her hand and that's the thing about passion It makes you feel like you have everything and nothing at the same time. 123 00:12:00,974.999 --> 00:12:03,574.999 So, let's sit with, the choices she had. 124 00:12:03,774.999 --> 00:12:10,984.999 Okay? Okay, I'll hit, I'm like, is that a helicopter coming over me? Welcome to the hood. 125 00:12:11,34.999 --> 00:12:13,964.999 Debut time in the hood where helicopters fly over the building. 126 00:12:14,244.998 --> 00:12:16,224.998 All right, so I digress. 127 00:12:16,564.998 --> 00:12:16,944.998 I digress. 128 00:12:17,54.998 --> 00:12:18,624.998 So let's, let's think about these. 129 00:12:18,684.998 --> 00:12:21,644.999 Let's think about these, two choices that, she had. 130 00:12:22,434.999 --> 00:12:22,774.999 All right. 131 00:12:22,784.998 --> 00:12:23,184.998 So. 132 00:12:24,194.999 --> 00:12:25,244.999 Choosing a lady. 133 00:12:25,514.999 --> 00:12:31,924.999 If she would have sent him to the lady, she chose to let him live, but at the cost of her own happiness. 134 00:12:31,934.999 --> 00:12:36,284.899 She chose to give him life, knowing he will belong to someone else. 135 00:12:37,24.999 --> 00:12:39,214.999 Let's say she chose the tiger. 136 00:12:39,744.999 --> 00:12:44,324.999 If she sent him to the tiger, she chose destruction, for lack of a better word. 137 00:12:44,584.999 --> 00:12:49,514.999 She chose to end the story in blood rather than to watch him love another woman. 138 00:12:49,974.999 --> 00:12:54,384.999 And both of those choices, they are real and they are human. 139 00:12:54,404.999 --> 00:12:55,384.999 I hate to say it. 140 00:12:55,684.999 --> 00:12:57,404.999 They are what we wrestle with. 141 00:12:57,554.999 --> 00:13:01,134.999 Every day when it comes to love, to jealousy, fear. 142 00:13:01,494.999 --> 00:13:06,284.999 Because sometimes love is selfless and sometimes love is possessive. 143 00:13:06,594.999 --> 00:13:11,694.999 And sometimes we don't know which part of us will win until that moment comes. 144 00:13:11,724.998 --> 00:13:12,484.999 And that's the truth. 145 00:13:13,9.999 --> 00:13:21,409.999 So, here we are, the arena is in front of you guys, think about it, the arena, the choices you have to make in your life. 146 00:13:21,439.999 --> 00:13:27,39.999 And I'm going to ask you again, what door do you believe? Think about the story. 147 00:13:27,309.999 --> 00:13:30,859.999 If you need to go back and rewind it to listen to it again, please do. 148 00:13:31,129.998 --> 00:13:31,639.999 Think about it. 149 00:13:31,669.999 --> 00:13:55,340.1 But what door do you believe she chose? And more importantly, when a time comes when you are faced with a choice that will change everything, when you have to stand in your own arena, will you choose out of love? Will you choose out of fear? Because that right there, that question is what defines who we are. 150 00:13:55,930.1 --> 00:14:00,690.099 Because like anything, we are not what we say we're going to do. 151 00:14:01,355.1 --> 00:14:03,365.1 We are what we actually are. 152 00:14:03,840.1 --> 00:14:27,220.101 Do all right, and yeah, so I hope today's story inspired you I hope it makes you think about the choices you have made in your life And I hope it actually helped you think about the choices that you are going to make In the future, because, towards the future, because, believe it or not, you are, you are always going to have choices. 153 00:14:27,800.101 --> 00:14:37,240.1 life is not what happens to you, it's how you react what happens to you, and a lot of times life forces you to make choices, because you can't stand on a fence. 154 00:14:37,470.1 --> 00:14:44,140.101 I heard this saying once, somebody said, you can't stand on a fence and keep walking because eventually you're going to split your ass, which is true. 155 00:14:44,570.101 --> 00:14:52,0.101 So, with that being said, my friends Friends, until next time, I want you to again, think about your choices. 156 00:14:52,10.101 --> 00:14:58,270.101 I want you to speak your truth and I want you to remember that the story ends with you. 157 00:14:58,530.101 --> 00:15:02,80.101 And most importantly, most important, this is the most. 158 00:15:02,575.101 --> 00:15:03,965.101 important part. 159 00:15:03,975.101 --> 00:15:05,575.101 I have to say it that many times. 160 00:15:06,385.101 --> 00:15:07,515.101 Go get blood in my mouth. 161 00:15:08,635.101 --> 00:15:24,445.101 If you haven't gotten a copy of Blood in My Mouth, which is the poetry book I dropped last week, or last week episode titled with the same name, go get the poem, the poetry book, because it's one of my most personal works. 162 00:15:24,525.101 --> 00:15:29,525.101 It also includes sculptures that I created with my hand. 163 00:15:29,935.101 --> 00:15:35,745.101 To go along with each section of the book and the portrait is pretty much about speaking your truth. 164 00:15:35,775.101 --> 00:15:38,535.101 And yeah, I'm going to leave you with that. 165 00:15:38,855.101 --> 00:15:44,355.101 I also want to let you guys know that for those of you who have gotten the book, thank you. 166 00:15:44,815.101 --> 00:15:45,245.1005 Thank you. 167 00:15:45,245.1005 --> 00:15:46,5.1005 I want to say that. 168 00:15:46,5.1005 --> 00:15:47,325.1 Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 169 00:15:47,355.101 --> 00:15:52,525.101 I sold some copies and, it just makes my heart jump with joy. 170 00:15:53,105.101 --> 00:15:58,95.1 If you notice, I really, I'm not really talking about the book online much because also. 171 00:15:59,35.101 --> 00:16:00,745.101 There's fires going on in California. 172 00:16:00,785.101 --> 00:16:04,245.101 There are fires going on in California and I don't want to be insensitive. 173 00:16:04,245.101 --> 00:16:08,935.101 So to anybody, if I have any California listeners, my heart is with you. 174 00:16:08,945.101 --> 00:16:10,695.1 My thoughts are with you. 175 00:16:11,105.101 --> 00:16:13,345.101 it's devastating and there's nothing much I can say. 176 00:16:13,385.101 --> 00:16:18,805.101 I feel that would make anything better, but I, yeah, part of the reason I'm not even talking about my book. 177 00:16:19,95.101 --> 00:16:27,235.1005 Anymore outside of this podcast because I don't I know it's just a horrible situation going on right here in America And it's really sad. 178 00:16:27,235.1005 --> 00:16:38,755.101 So to anybody out there that's affected by the wildfires I'm sorry you are going through this I I'm sorry, It's it's horrible. 179 00:16:38,855.101 --> 00:16:46,805.101 Um, yeah, well That's ending this podcast on a low note Anywho, uh, I love you guys. 180 00:16:46,855.101 --> 00:16:47,995.101 Thank you for being here. 181 00:16:48,5.101 --> 00:16:58,115.101 Thank you for listening to me And thank you for giving me this space I'm going to sign off and I look forward to spending this time with you again Next week.
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