Potential
Your potential is never lost—only buried beneath the weight of past choices.
Mistakes do not erase it. They only make the climb steeper, the vision hazier, and the journey harder to begin.
Yes, your choices matter.
They can stall your progress, dim your light, or let others cast shadows over your path.
And if you stop striving—if you stop living—it fades.
But every morning you wake is a new chance.
A chance to make things right.
A chance to thank the One who gave you breath.
A chance to fight for the life you were meant to live.
You are not defined by your worst day.
You are defined by what you do next.
So rise.
Rebuild better!
Reach higher!
See farther!
Because this race called life is not given to the swift nor the faint of heart but to those who endure and press forward to the end.
Darren Joiner
Something To Think About
There are Jackleg politicians who do not care about the plight of the people as they claim but are about gaining influence, money, power, greed and control. Sadly, there are many within the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government at the state, local and federal levels representing both political parties and other factions that are so full and drunk on themselves, they think their hind ends do not stink, their underarms do not get funky, and their breath never grows foul.
These folks are so arrogant and prideful they believe themselves to be the untouchable cream of the crop when in fact they are the thorn in the side of America’s flesh terrorizing, cursing and bringing the blight of affliction on the face of the nation causing severe yellowing, browning, spotting, withering, lesions and even death.
We should be looking for representatives who are supportive and who truly care about the grassroots needs of families, schools, and communities above their personal whims and political proclivities.
United in Values
The values that bind and connect us are rooted in the strength of family, the strength of community, the strength of education, the strength of economic development, the strength of leadership, along with the integrity and strength of the justice system.
About My Journey
Experience and Education
Mr. D. Joiner moved to North Carolina from New York at the age of sixteen, and it has been his home for the past 46 years. He retired from Rutherford County Schools on March 1, 2024, after serving its children as an employee of Spindale Elementary School for a little over 17 years.
He served in the U.S. Army during Operation Urgent Fury during the invasion of Grenada in 1983. He is a 2013 graduate of Gardner-Webb University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies. Joiner is also a 2005 graduate of Isothermal Community College with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood - Teacher Associate.
S.A.D.
First, Last, Only!
When rapes, murders, robberies, assaults, and other acts of violence, mayhem and gangsterism occurs it is a very rare manifestation for law enforcement to be on site as the deeds are being committed.
This is why it is vitally important for us and others to understand that when it comes to our families, communities and ourselves we are the First, Last and only line of Self-Defense everyone else is an after the fact participant.
Therefore, do not put your life or the lives of those you care about solely in someone else's hands. Learn the things necessary for your own self-protection and that of others when necessary and if you have to go down, go down fighting and never let someone just take your freedom or life.
Simple and Direct Self-Defense
More To Come
Silenced No More!
Our Voices and Actions Matters!
In this era where lies and falsehoods prevail, chaos reigns supreme, violence is sovereign, and the carnal corruptions of the body have seized control of the minds, desires, and spirits of our young people and others, we must recognize that now, more than ever, our voices and actions matter! One need only look at America with clear eyes to see that the youth of this nation, and indeed many others, are in desperate need of unbiased guidance and an agenda-free environment.
One thing I believe to be vitally important is that we never become or partake of the uncivil, vulgar, hateful, spiteful and violent social political spirit that is raging across this nation. Another thing I consider crucially important is that we do not forfeit, concede, turnover, or abandoned our most valuable assets, “Our children” to those individuals of today who are corrupting, confusing, and using them for today’s ploy in preparation for tomorrow’s agenda.
I have found that the most dangerous individuals, politicians, and organizations to the Republic are not always the ones pointed out by news outlets and others as being existential threats but are those who make outrageous promises of creating a utopian-like nation funded by the government under their leadership. Like the sneaky “Cheshire Cat” from Alice in Wonderland, these politicians will smile in your face and plot your demise like modern-day Dr. Jekyll's and Mr. Hyde's at the same time.
Let us do away with deceitful, twofaced hypocrisy and speak truth, for we are members of one another whether we like it or not. Let us temper our tongues and diligently leash our speech so that no corrupt word proceeds out of our mouths. Let us put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice so that we do not become a blight upon the earth. We should seek those who speak truth, for they will give honest evidence, while also being watchful of those who are false in their witness because what they utter will be full of deceit.
Time out for politicians pretending to be concerned citizens but who have instead given precedent to their political positions, titles, partisanship, money, personal ideology, party loyalty, and other decadent proclivities over the well-being of their constituency, communities, states, and nation. It is time for a changing of the guard at all levels of government by concerned citizens who have grown tired of the politicians and their political games.
Both political parties have contaminated this body and divided this house called America with their divisiveness and contempt for any thoughts other than their own. It is time to bring about a change that unifies the house and heals the body called America. Let us work together to ensure that each person is treated with equality, integrity, justice, and human dignity.
The time for change is now, and we are that change for such a time as this.