Everyone Has a Story....

I came across this very interesting documentary on twitter directed by Corey Davis a film director out of Atlanta. He's also apart of the City of Ink Family. This film literally had me in tears....PLEASE WATCH!! It's pretty lengthy but well worth it. We all make jokes about crackheads, unks etc. but everyone has a story. From this video we see that a lot of people got hooked and never saw it coming. It took one traumatic change in their life that they could never bounce back from. Others just experimented or it was apart of their lifestyle at the moment and ended up losing everything to just support a habit they fell hard in. These individuals all had potential, dreams and talents and all so quickly they can be washed away.

This definitely showed me how blessed I really am and that one bad decision can really bring a lifetime of pain. BUT I still feel their life isn't over....it will definitely take a lot of dedication, discipline and support to get their lives back on track but they have to WANT it. Some feel there is no way out but all it takes is that one person willing to listen and can begin to spark a interest in change. Thanks Corey Davis for shedding light on this epidemic that is still ruining lives and families.

Get to know the pages before you judge the books cover.....

J is for Junkie [Full Length] from Greedmont Park on Vimeo.

Greedmont TV presents a documentary by Corey Davis on a group crack addicts in Atlanta who live outside in a small cove behind a Texaco, infamously dubbed as the "Living Room." They share their stories and tell us what it's like to battle with a deadly addiction to crack-cocaine. "Growing up I never had a father, because he was out running the streets getting high… Right around the time I was born, the mid 80′s, African-American communities across the country was struck by the crack epidemic. Which robbed us our prideful culture and instantly perverted it into a counter-culture where playgrounds became warzones and families were destroyed." [Directed by Corey Davis]

Jay-N-Ye' Documentary

A behind the scenes look into the making of Watch The Throne....My girl Queen Bey was right by Jay's side! Looking forward to the album as well as the upcoming tour :-)) These men are definitely some hard working genius'...

Watch The Throne!!!!

I just saw the most exciting news of the month today!!!!! Jay Z & Kanye will be starting their "The Throne" tour!!! I've been waiting for this for soooooo long!!! We all know I'm an avid Jay fan and I love Kanye....can't wait!!! I've posted the tour dates released so far!! BE THERE!!! September 29th can't get here quick enough!!!

9/22/11 Detroit, MI Palace of Auburn Hills

9/24/11 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre

9/25/11 Montreal, QC Bell Centre

9/27/11 East Rutherford, NJ Izod Center

9/28/11 East Rutherford, NJ Izod Center

9/29/11 Washington DC Verizon Center

10/4/11 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center

10/6/11 Chicago, IL United Center

10/7/11 Chicago, IL United Center

10/8/11 Minneapolis, MN Target Center

10/10/11 Denver, CO Pepsi Center

10/13/11 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome

10/14/11 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena

10/16/11 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion

10/17/11 Sacramento, CA Power Balance Pavilion

10/19/11 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center

10/20/11 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center

10/21/11 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena

10/25/11 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center

10/26/11 Houston, TX Toyota Center

10/29/11 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena

10/30/11 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum

11/1/11 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena

11/3/11 Boston, MA TD Garden

The Blueprint...

Whenever I'm in a funk, this album always brings me back up to speed. Jay Z is always a good pick me up...he demonstrates how trials and tests will come but as long as you face them head on, never run and stay focused on you there will always be light at the end of the tunnel. Then you can tell people about it later or in fact, they will see for themselves :-)

People always thought the worse of him, no one ever gave him anything or a chance to prove himself so he did it his way and now he calls all the shots, has and is still turning all types of people into believers.

One of my random days, think I'll be posting things all day!

"a wise man told me don't argue wit' fools...cuz people from a distance can't tell who is who...."

Speaking Up...Truth Heals

SAY WHAT YOU MEAN & MEAN WHAT YOU SAY.....

Speaking up can be a scary thing for many of us, I know for me it is because I HATE conflict. Also when I say things at times I don't know nice ways to say it and I never want to hurt a person's feelings even if what I am saying is the truth. So to spare someone's feelings and avoid conflict I will rather just say nothing. The saying is true "you can't handle the truth"!!! We all say we want to hear it but if it does not line up with what we HOPE to hear we get hurt, offended and upset. But once the truth has been spoken and the feelings have died down, it can begin to heal situations and relationships because all parties are aware of true feelings. The key to the truth being a healer and not a killer is the motive.....

We should never intentionally try to hurt a person's feelings because that will definitely backfire and make matters worse. But if deep down inside the goal is to help one become better or to help two or more better understand each other, things will eventually work out. It will take time because people's feelings can get hurt easily especially if it is coming from a person who never speaks up or if the person is not used to others voicing their opinions. A lot of times we genuinely think we are right in many situations and until the truth is brought to our attention we will continue to act and feel the same. I know my feelings get hurt when I hear the truth but I can respect it and I also think really hard about what I've been told. But the source has to be reliable. Some people say things that are just really bogus but we know when a person really wants to help and we also know areas that we need to work on but we choose to ignore them.

Recently, I was in a situation where I was forced to say a lot of things that I had been holding in for years and I felt really bad after wards! But I reminded myself of the goal and my motives and they were all in line so I just have to leave it up to time to heal the feelings. In me stating how I had been feeling I got a lot of feedback that I needed and I felt a lot better. Some of my assumptions were even cleared up and we both knew exactly where each other stood. Conflict is inevitable so sometimes we need to move towards "healthy" conflict and it will make you a more confident person and you will also see the quality of relationships improve over time. Expressing oneself opens up the lines of communication and communication is key in any relationship not just with a significant other. You develop more intimate relationships when you get below the surface. We can all put on a good face but we all have things that we want to say to many people but are afraid of conflict or the outcome.

So find a way to say what's on your mind....be sure to think about your words because words are powerful. If you are just starting out, maybe write a letter then discuss the letter after it has been read. But there will be a big weight lifted once speaking up becomes the norm and in order to get what you want in life you have to SAY WHAT YOU MEAN & ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT! No one is a mind reader and hoping people will just know how you feel will leave you upset and frustrated every time.

I hope this helped someone....

Kelz's Pick-Me-Up....

Kellie is going to get me! I was supposed to do this post on Sunday...but like you said one thing a day so I can say i put up the picture on Monday morning lol

As she saved the day and fit me in her schedule to do my hair after a couple days at the beach it turned out to be a wonderful visit. We both were talking about our feelings, dreams, goals, moments of feeling stuck and also confusion. I left with a different perspective and more energy to continue working at the things I enjoy. I shared how I had been slacking off on the blog post updates, slacking on my photography and just at a state of confusion. I know what I love to do but I just can't think of what I want to call it that I want to be...if that makes any sense. The thing that stuck out the most was "you got the goods"...I have everything I already need and if I just continue to be diligent and improve on ALL the things I enjoy doing which also unknowingly help and inspire others God will guide me and it will all make sense.

I also expressed how I feel like I put time in and I never see anything come of those things so she asked "well how much time are you putting in"?? And as I thought about it, I have days where I go ALL IN then I won't do anything for a good couple weeks and that isn't good enough. So I am working on doing one thing a day involving goals I wish to accomplish. My problem is focus and discouragement. When I get discouraged I lose FOCUS. I'm working on it and I know I will see improvement in those two areas.

So thanks again Kelz and know that you really helped!! Be sure to check out her wonderful site Living For Purpose and be sure to order a copy of her new book !!!

Have a great one people and just remember, take everything one day at a time...don't focus on the bigger picture do your best in the NOW and the bigger picture will be more than you could even imagine!

Great Quote!!!

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I thought this was a great quote especially when we get hard on ourselves when working to accomplish goals. A lot of times it's the smallest achievements that actually define success. The big goals are awesome to tackle but don't overlook the small things that we give and get. Hope this helped your day, I know it has helped mines.....

#GOODDADSROCK!

With Father's Day coming up this Sunday I thought I'd post this really cute video!! I could not stop laughing! Men need to really step up and be there for their kids whether they have enough money or not, kids don't think about that. Fathers can do the smallest things and their children will remember it forever.


Also MEN, you don't have to be hard all the time! Loosen up and have a little fun with the kiddies.

I hope you enjoyed! If you do have a good father, husband, boyfriend, baby daddy etc. treat him good this coming Sunday. You don't have to buy an extravagant gift but just do something for him that he will remember forever.

GRATITUDE....

Gratitude: thankfulness, gratefulness, or appreciation is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive

I've been really slacking on blogging lately, I've been kind of busy doing other things in my spare time but I promise I'm back on it! I thought Gratitude would be a great topic to come back on...my plain and simple definition is appreciation of anything a person does for me, whether it be big or small! Having gratitude and being humble go hand in hand, life has a way of humbling all people who have a sense of entitlement, in other words ungrateful people!

We have to realize, we came in this world alone and we will leave alone so NO ONE...i repeat NO ONE owes us anything! The only person we can hold accountable is God based on His promises to us and even with that we may not get the very things we ask for but we will get the things that we need and that are best for us. So anytime someone does anything even if it's just a simple compliment that brightens up our day, we need to be thankful for that. It's the smallest gestures that make a huge difference in our day to day living. Individuals are always looking for fireworks, blow horns and fire spitting monkeys in order to be happy. when little things no longer make you happy, you will NEVER get to get the bigger things in life. Why would God give us more when we don't appreciate what we already have?? We sometimes need to take a look inside and see what's the problem when nothing makes us happy. Why do we always nag?? Why do we always complain?? Why do we feel it's others job to clean up our mess we made?? It's a form of self hate...point blank. When we hate who we are as individuals there is nothing any one or any THING can do on the outside to bring satisfaction.

This is why there are tons of sick minded people in this world because instead of searching within themselves they point the finger at others, throw dirt on others names etc. because they want everyone to feel like they do and try to make themselves feel better. When in reality the problem hasn't been solved! Everyone continues on with their life and see these individuals for who they really are. It's time for us (me included) to GIVE more, then you RECEIVE 10x what you put out. Don't give just to get something out of, give from your heart. Even if it's not appreciated just do it because it's the right thing to do. Good Givers are Good Getters as Russell Simmons would say and we all know he's getting IT! lol

Always remember, HURT PEOPLE...HURT PEOPLE and there are some things you can overlook but when you are no longer appreciated or respected it's time to re evaluate your self worth and make the necessary changes. We can make this world a lot better if we get out of our own way and think about ways to help others and we ALL will benefit in the end :-))

Kind of long but it's with good intention....