A Beautiful Adventurous Journey

On the journey of life, things never go as planned.  But after every adventure, new visions, ideas and challenges have a way of changing us for the better.  After returning from and reflecting upon my recent vacation, I can truly say that this journey was comparatively and ultimately, life changing.

I took a lovely and adventurous vacation to Italy with over 70+ other women. During this vacation, my body–both physically and spiritually, was pushed to limits I never expected.  I laughed until my head hurt, ate until my stomach hurt, observed and heard things that made me emotionally hurt and walked until my feet hurt!  However through all of that hurt, I’ve never felt so much joy!  Joy to be surrounded by and learn from other beautiful, strong and positive women.  Joy to be able to lay my eyes upon monuments and sites which I once only read about.   Joy in knowing that blessings comes in many forms, as well as in abundance! The lessons I learned was more than any book, classroom or television program could have taught me.  I learned about life.  The art of living, trusting, giving, learning, experiencing and seeing the true essence of others, as well as myself.  Gaining self-confidence, awareness and learning how to navigate the journey of life through the eyes of others, is an unforgettable lesson. Forming new friendships based upon one’s inner and not outer self and letting down your guard with strangers while teaching and learning about life, is a beautiful thing.

So this journey, as well as the beautiful souls I met along the way, gave me memories that will last a lifetime.  Along with everything I’ve learned from them, I can only hope that they were able to learn something from me as well.

 

Published in: on September 21, 2011 at 12:59 pm  Comments (5)  

Blossoming in May

Spring brings a type of rejuvenation that we all yearn for.  Whether it be a rejuvenated spirit, wardrobe or home furnishings, we should all bask in the newness that the month of May offers.

Take a class, learn a language, travel, discover or rediscover something that has always intrigued you, but above all, bloom into May by blossoming in undiscovered terrain.

Published in: on May 6, 2011 at 10:53 am  Leave a Comment  

Professional Addicts

As of late, the name Charlie Sheen seems to be the topic of conversation.  By now we have all heard about his rants and arrogance about him being the greatest actor on prime-time television.   However, when observing and really listening to what Charlie Sheen is saying, in some strange way, I have to wonder, does he have a point?  I do not condone his behavior, his actions or his arrogance, but when observing the history of numerous drug-induced talents, is there some truth to what he is saying?

Some people are highly functional addicts-a proven fact.  However, when performing their jobs well and act accordingly, we don’t question or punish them for their addiction.  Once the job performance suffers, their behavior gets out of control or which ever comes first, then their addiction becomes a concerning factor.  This is exactly what has happened in Charlie Sheen’s case.  The public has known for years about his addiction to drugs and numerous liaisons with prostitutes, but as long as he behaved and performed well, not much was being said.  When coming to the television set to film his weekly show ‘Two And A Half Men’, it was reported that he was a professional on the set and performed his job well.  At times, he did this while being high.  Even with the drug addiction rumors, the chaotic circumstances involving him and his ex-wife Brooke Mueller drug induced fights, and the all night drinking and partying that surrounded him while being employed at Warner Brothers, there was no outcry by his employers or the public for him to get help.  He was doing such a damn good job, that Warner Brothers decided to give him a salary increase of $2 million per episode and the show ratings increased!  Yet, as long as he behaved and performed well, the producers and creator of the show, didn’t seem to mind.  Maybe because of the show high ratings along with the millions of dollars being made, no one at CBS or Warner Brothers noticed.  It wasn’t until his public rants and unflattering comments about the producers and creator of the show, that it was decided that Charlie Sheen must be fired!  The well-being of Charlie Sheen was not of  much concern in comparison to the image of  CBS and the creator of the show.  That is what’s so shocking.  He wasn’t fired due to coming to work late, not coming to work at all or poor job performance.  He was fired for acting unprofessional while OFF the set!  But being high ON the set is okay as long as you act professional and give a great performance?  Wow, the standards of Hollywood never cease to amaze me!  Depending on the circumstances of his contract, maybe he does have grounds for a lawsuit or at least he should.

When I think of actors such as Robert Downey, Jr., Colin Farrell and others, it is truly amazing to me that while high on dope, some of these people perform better than those who are sober.   Could that be the reason why Charlie Sheen is so upset?  To come to work on time, remember lines, perform well, and remain professional while high as a kite, yet your sober co-worker is bullshitting around, not remembering all their lines and acting like a clown–but you end up getting fired for some shit you said on your “off” time!?

When you look at it from that point of view, maybe he does have a right to be pissed-off.

Published in: on March 1, 2011 at 2:08 pm  Leave a Comment  

Social Grace

More and more people are now communicating via text, e-mails, e-cards and now (thanks to Apple) face-time.  With less one-on-one interaction, it seems as if people social etiquette and skills are not up to par.    Thank You, Excuse Me, Have a Great Day, are all social phrases that are being used much less and so infrequently, that people are not only becoming indifferent toward this ‘laid back’ attitude, but  are also accepting this new normality.

I come from a working-class family where etiquette was and still is taken very seriously.  Growing up in a home with 9 older brothers, I was such a tomboy–something my mother hated.   So before starting kindergarten, she made sure that I knew how to ‘properly’ conduct myself as a little girl and  sent me to etiquette classes for toddlers (as she did with my brothers years earlier) to learn how to properly sit, the proper uses for cutlery, how to properly treat your ‘table-mate’,  etc., and I never forgot when my etiquette teacher said, “Good manners and proper etiquette will open doors that money and status cannot.” She made that statement everyday and she was so right.  When I look at our society and the informal way people greet and socialize with one another on a daily basis, it makes me realize how very essential it is to have the proper knowledge of formal etiquette.  When I recently bought my first formal dinner set, the sales lady was shocked upon my knowledge of the difference in dinnerware sets.  She said, “Not many young people, know about difference of formal and casual dinnerware sets, this is the easiest sale I’ve made in a while without having to give a lesson!”  I laughed, but totally understood what she meant and we had a long conversation about how the decline and the undervalue of etiquette is affecting our society.

So please, take an etiquette class and invest in both Emily Post and Amy Vanderbilt’s etiquette books because as the saying goes, ‘Money can’t buy class!”

Published in: on January 31, 2011 at 5:10 pm  Leave a Comment  

The Necessity of Travel

Oscar award-winning actor Matt Damon once stated, “I think many of our problems as a country would be solved if people had thick passports. There’s just no substitute for actually going and seeing things.”  As a person who loves exploration of all things, I agree.  So why don’t more Americans travel?  I believe many of us have one word to answer that question: Affordability.   However,  as a country full of people who live financially beyond our means, why are travel expenses not at the top of our debt list?

Let’s face it, travel is not cheap.  If it was, I would be on my second passport by now.  For the average working American, travel is an expense that we have put at the bottom of our priority.  Could this be because many do not understand the absolute need for it?  If we did, would we then find a way to be able to afford to travel more?

I believe that travel is a fundamental necessity in order to gain a thorough understanding of all things.  Exploring different places, cultures, food, etc., in their natural and original environment can enhance us in ways beyond our own comprehension.   National Geographic, The Travel Channel, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Travel and many other travel publications and television programs,  have brought the world into our living rooms.  Instead of this igniting a travel spark within some of us, it seems as we only became viewers and stop being explorers.  Many  Americans view travel as an expensive,  leisure activity for the rich and famous, business tycoons and others of a certain social status, but it is not.  Travel is the best educational tool that we have.  It is because of travel, that countries were found.  It is the only investment that has the biggest return which will not dwindle.  When we began to view travel as an investment then maybe more of us will find a way to afford it.  I know I have.  Last year, I decided to make monthly installments towards a 10 day Italian vacation that I will be taking later this year.  It is expensive, but so are my student loans.

I also plan to start a non-profit organization which will financially assist low-income families with access to take affordable, fun and educational vacation adventures.  Let’s hope Matt Damon can give a contribution.

Published in: on January 11, 2011 at 3:51 pm  Leave a Comment  

The Power of Words

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

As a person who loves literature, I was very surprised to hear that there will be editing to a book written by one of the America’s most beloved authors, Mark Twain.  His book ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ is not only a classic literary read, but a very prolific piece of literature for American culture.  However, a new edition of this classic book will now be published without the word ‘nigger‘.

Allan Gribben, who happens to be a Twain scholar at Auburn University, is the person who is responsible for this new edition.  Gribben explains, “Seems to me I’m doing something constructive by simply eliminating a word that’s a clear barrier for many people.”  The  word nigger is used 219 times throughout the entire novel, to intentionally shed light on 19th century racism in America.

But my real question however is, who are the “many people” Gribben speak of  when stating that this word is such a barrier, that it should be eliminated?  Who is he doing this “constructive” act for?  Personally, as an African-American who was educated in the South, I  find Gribben actions to be for the benefit of White Americans who don’t want to discuss American history in its true form.  Which is exactly what this novel does.   And I’m not the only person of color who thinks the word ‘nigger’ should remain as is, in this classic novel.   Morehouse College’s David Wall Rice believes that the word actually help Americans look racism in the face, “We have to have the discussion about it, we can’t skate over it.” I am in total agreement!

Dialogue is the key to growth, and uncomfortable subject matter will initiate dialogue.  That is the beauty of literature.  To edit a word can sometimes edit the tone of a story, which then edits the subject matter.  Growth and change are never easy (hint the phrase ‘growing pains’), but it is necessary.  We as an American culture can never be afraid to discuss our history. It is our history, both good and bad, that makes us such a wonderful nation.  To try to erase history with word editing is wrong and to edit a word to eliminate necessary discussion for a particular race of people, is just plain cowardly.

This novel was published in 1885 and from the first printing, the controversy is still ongoing, with recent attempts to ban the book.  But what amazes me is that the controversy always center around the use of one word, but the book is mostly about a friendship between two people who are of a different race, background, and generation gap, yet they work together and put their differences aside, in the face of adversity and for the betterment of one another.

And isn’t that what America should be about?

Published in: on January 6, 2011 at 2:09 pm  Comments (1)  
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