Attention to words.....

Sometimes your subconscious (or some may call it the spirit, God, or what have you) speaks. You find yourself saying, doing, or reflecting on things that you don't understand or conceive at the moment. As you'll see from my Twitter post this morning, I ended it with three words: strength, courage, and wisdom. While India.Arie is one of my favorite artists, I was not thinking about her at the moment (that's hard to believe, I know). That was simply a quick post. But then I get to spin class this morning and the second song that we ride to is, yep you guessed it, India's "Strength, Courage, and Wisdom" from her Voyage to India album.



In that moment, it all clicked in my head. Those were the words God placed in my spirit for me. An answer to the prayer I raised about those very things (strength, courage, and wisdom) I need for some decisions and actions I have to take very soon. I receive that word! That word wasn't just for me either. There are those of you that are going through things, just coming out of something, or even about to enter a storm. I give you three words: strength (because you can do ALL things), courage (because you WERE NOT give the spirit of fear), and wisdom (lean not to your OWN understanding). I also give you the prophetic words of this song! Have a great day and be encouraged....I am!

Focus on these words: Strength, courage, and wisdom and it's been inside of me all along...

Lyrics - trust me, you wanna know these!

Thank you India.Arie for letting your ligth shine and sharing the prophecy with the world! Get to know Ms. Arie if you don't already!!!!
"Be the most open and honest YOU that YOU know how to be!"

Continued Tributes to the King.....

Considering I just returned from the Philippines, I found this story and the updated videos just that much more interesting. I mean, the outpouring of love is overwhelming. BET made a half-ass but valiant effort to show love from the ranks of the various music genres. However, the show left me empty and saddened at how it was thrown together and various performances (i.e. Beyonce's rendition of "Ave Maria" et al) were selfishly irrelevant.

At any rate, Star Jones said it best: "Talent is a flame, but GENIUS is a FIRE!" MJ's fire will burn eternally in our hearts, minds, spirits, movements, and most of all THE MUSIC! R.I.P. (like the old song says "there will be no tears in heaven")

TRIBUTE FROM "Prisoners of Love"

Enjoy the tribute and "Be the most open and honest YOU that YOU know how to be!"

Stop Thief...Two + One is not Three...It's Two!

This morning on my way home from the gym, I caught a discussion on relationships on Inspiration 1390 (Chicago Gospel station via iheartradio application on iPhone). The question was: "Is it possible for someone STEAL your husband, wife, partner, girlfriend, boyfriend, etc?" Personally, I don't think you 1) own your partner, 2) can steal someone who's willing, and 3) can blame the "thief" for what you or the other may have "allowed." I posted the question on facebook and got some great responses. I'm wondering what you think? I wanna know how you feel from experience, theory, or just rhetoric.

Here are some of the comments:

"NO! If your spouse/significant other can be taken....then they really weren't yours to begin with! Their heart was NEVER yours or at least NEVER completely committed to the relationship..."

"Someone can steal a thing from you only if you own that thing. Phrasing a relationship failure in that way suggests why the relationship failed, perhaps."

"if we're talking about someone who has taken vows to be faithful NO MATTER WHAT, then if they walk away, for any other reason than you being abusive (as determined by a legitimate standard), then they weren't stolen, and they certainly can't claim that they have to follow their heart...sure, your neglect or stubbornness might have contributed to pushing them over the edge, but they certainly have reason to feel guilty. And if a third party notices that your relationship is in a weak state and chooses to take advantage of the moment to help push your partner over the edge, then they are guilty, not so much of theft as conspiracy. Overall, everybody's at least partly to blame, and if anyone chooses to point fingers without dealing with their guilt first, then they're guilty two-fold."

"Blaming *anyone* is a bad idea. People are complex; its never one persons fault nor is ever in someone's best interest to look at people as the problem rather than the situation being a problem."

"What is this person, a piece of furniture? The only things that get stolen are those things that can't speak for themselves. Otherwise, they are just leaving your happy butt, and you're looking to blame the other one.

"For once, I wish people would stop blaming the "other"person and start pointing the blame gun at the one you were with. Its his/her fault that they decided to step outside the relationship. Also, that whole, if you aren't meeting their needs line is some crap! If you aren't happy, get your things and pump on. Don't sit there and make an excuse for your backwards ass behavior... "

(All respondents were my friends on facebook...names omitted from this post but available on my profile.)


"Be the most open and honest YOU that YOU know how to be!"

Work...........

This video absolutely made my day! I have a new song that will get me motivated when I just don't feel like "working." I also have a new appreciation for "work." Pay particular attention to 3:28 through 4:22....that's how you work! Get it 'ma! (Thanks Kofi for the link!)



"Be the most open and honest YOU that YOU know how to be!"

Girls can do what the boys do 2.....

Sitting in the airport in Japan, I decided to catch up on happenings in Women's Basketball. WNBA is in full swing and the injury bug is biting. But I came across this interesting tidbit (here). Now we have heard about men skipping college for the NBA (which is not an option for women due to rightly justified WNBA rules) or leaving college early for the NBA (which is only an option for women if they've reached 22 or played all their eligibility and just not graduated). Well, Epiphany Prince is taking that all to new heights. She will forgo her senior year with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and pursue a career in the Euroleague to prepare for the 2010 WNBA draft. Is this decision wise? Well, she said she would get her degree and give money to her family and the youth. She also is in her prime and getting the additional exposure could place her above the others in the draft. Sure, a few others have done the same thing, but none with the importance she has to her team. Rutgers will be a very different team without her and could miss out on a big opportunity in 2009-2010. But C. Vivian Stringer is a Hall of Fame coach, she'll make it happen.

I'm just wondering what your thoughts are about this? Like I said, boys do it all the time. Shouldn't women have the same rights, and not be criticized, for making $$$ decisions as well?

"Be the most open and honest YOU that YOU know how to be!"