#29thingsmj

I love how he always stood out at virtually any (family) function. One of those times that really makes me laugh is his mother’s birthday celebration. I don’t think there was a super strict dress code but if there was they said “light, white and/or grey” and he SHOWED UP and said “aight bet! disco ball it is!”

It’s giving rainbow sheep of the family. I’m sure for them it was typical Michael tingz. But to the rest of the world it was methodological (fashionista) genius tingz.

Michael was hip to a lot of things especially in the music scene. And he was all about being mysterious and not saying too much. I can understand people thought he was solely wrapped up in his own world but he knew what was hot.

“I always know what’s going on, on the radio, in the clubs, what people are listening to. Even though people think I live in Neverland, mentally I’m in Never Neverland all the time but I'm always connected. I always know what’s going on in the music world all the time. Not just in America, but internationally, you know all over the world” - Michael Jackson interviewed by Anthony Decurtis

I always wondered if he jammed out to certain songs I used to listen to and when that clip of him and Brett Ratner came out. I lost it😂 it was cool seeing him dance and be hip to songs my friends and I would dance to. Idk it just felt surreal but also as I got older I’m like yeahhh he is the King of pop, rock and soul for a reason.

And I love Chris Tucker recounting Michael singing and beatboxing to 50 Cent’s song singing the lyrics. Michael was always down but it’s nice to know it really was true especially him singing lyrics randomly like, “we be illin’” I’m like, MICHAEL WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO SAY THAT!?😂

his deep love for candy and that it never really died out once he got older despite his strict diets and eating habits throughout his adult life. I love how candy was free and available in all kinds of flavors and types at Neverland. I grew up in a household where my father (still has) a sweet tooth but constantly made me feel bad (he’d argue it was for my health) about liking candy/sweet things (and as an adult). I remember as a child thinking I don’t want to grow up and start hating candy/not eat it because the adults in my life made it seem like candy was pure sugary evil. It fueled me to keep enjoying candy as much as possible because I knew I wouldn’t stay tiny forever😅 Funny how a kid’s mind works. But as an adult and even in my teen years I always believed (and still do) in moderation and balance. Too much water can kill you. Too much of anything can be detrimental to your overall health (not just physical). I just really love the emphasis on how much he enjoyed candy and sharing that with others🥹

Finding out he collected rocks and opals (gemstones). My heart skipped several beats. You have no idea how much my soul sang knowing he did something I was and still am interested in doing which is collecting gemstones (and using them). It was like a weird little spidey sense tingling moment watching this interview and hearing him say that. And I love that he did it together with his brother Randy🥰

That’s what sparked the idea for picking crystals, rocks and stones that match his outfits. How I pick the crystals is mostly intuitive. I go through my crystal books/decks and let my finger land wherever or whatever card comes out when shuffling.

The latest one is Rhyolite

You can view the growing MJ crystal series here: pink halite, amber, onyx, moonstone

Michael’s love for water. In his own books Moonwalk and Dancing the Dream as well as Honoring The Child Spirit in Conversation with Michael Jackson you learn how much respect and love he has for water/bodies of water. Lakes, rivers, beaches and the ocean even though he admitted he was a little bit intimidated by the ocean haha.

Quotes on water:

“There is something about our souls that need water… it’s like therapy, it’s like meditation. It’s like soul food for us. We need it” - Michael in Honoring the Child Spirit

“I see Neverland being a lot more water. I want lots more cascades and caves and it needs a lot more water. That’s how I see it. I think water is healing…” - Michael in Honoring the Child Spirit

“It’s like stepping into a river and joining the flow. Every moment in the river has its song. So I stay in the moment and listen” - Michael in Dancing the Dream

“Hold me like the River Jordan” - lyrics to Will You Be There written by Michael

“We are like ripples in the vast ocean of consciousness” - Heaven is Here poem by Michael

“I remember going swimming as a child and making a wish before I jumped into the pool…I wanted to do something special. I’d stretch my arms out, as if I were sending my thoughts right up into space. I’d make my wish, then I’d dive into the water. I’d say to myself, ‘This is my dream. This is my wish,’ every time before I’d dive into the water” -Michael in Moonwalk

I L O V E water. Forreal. I’m a Pisces through and through! I grew up on the island Aruba. So we were in the water often. I lived near the beach. It was great. Water is sacred and spiritual aside from it being refreshing and quenching. And another thing I also love is the fact that he (unconsciously) used water as a spiritual practice (something I found out this year - and something I’ve been doing for quite some time). In his book in Moonwalk he mentioned making wishes before jumping in the water. It is said that water is a conduit and amplifier. Basically a wishing well.

I actually have a small cup of water and medium sized bowl of water on a table (I practice ancestral veneration) and I say my well wishes/gratitude into the bowl of water. I also speak positivity into water before giving it to my plants (and they grow beautifully). I think Michael might’ve heard of Masaru Emoto and his book The Hidden Messages in Water. Emoto is of course not the only one that believes and wrote about the sacredness of water. It’s just one of the many books that comes to mind in the moment.

It’s a really nice thought to know we share the same values/ideas surrounding how amazing water truly is ☺️

His love for reading and how that same love for reading (and animals) encouraged him to read up on peacocks (the little information he could find at the time) was what sparked him (and his brothers) to call their production company Peacock Productions and you see peacock imagery riddled throughout his work from when he was still part of The Jacksons to when he went solo.

I have family visiting from abroad and today we went this big bookstore and they had a paperback of Michael’s Moonwalk in the sale section. And I thought about getting it even though I have the hardcover. I decided not to and my family bought some stuff and at the checkout they had a few of these gilded and colorful, sparkly bookmarks. I saw one that caught my eye and it was of a peacock. My mom asked me if I wanted it cuz I kept looking at it and I said yes. She got it for me🤪

I love how intentional he was with every project down to the tiniest of details. The peacock being something that I look out for. It’s like an easter egg. I feel like I’m constantly being shown how far back his genius stretched to before and after Thriller. I’m always pleasantly surprised like he’s still leaving little peacock Easter eggs for me/us to find in his (art)work whenever I come across MJ/Jacksons content😌

Where do I even start?

Well first things first HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!

I spent the majority of the day watching a bunch of MJ videos, edits, performances and I got the bright idea to read several MJ books at the same time🙃 so in between switching from my phone to books I’ve been also crying and wishing he was still here not for the fans but for his children so he could physically be there for them and watch as they grow older and more into who they’ve always been but as an adult. My heart goes out to his kids and family.

So on the 29th day (and I missed so many days after the 19th or 20th) I want to say that his essence is what I love about him. Everyone’s essence is unique to them. Some try to copy but we can tell when someone’s trying to be someone they’re not. Which is why he cannot be replicated. And he shouldn’t be. What we are left with is his legacy and as fans we must preserve it in its entirety. Not just the music and dancing but also who Michael was as person. A true humanitarian who wanted to protect children all over the world. Providing a space(s) of comfort for everyone. Reminding people that they’re not alone and that together we can truly make changes in our own communities and the WHOLE world.

To make up for the days that I didn’t get to post brief sentences on why I love Michael for the days I didn’t get to post

Day 20: he was vegetarian but he loved him some KFC. I myself have dabbled in veganism/vegetarianism throughout my adult life but CHICKEN when fried oefff… that’s tough to let go completely haha

Day 21: his complicated relationship with dogs… I know he didn’t like dogs because they turned on him and some dogs bite etc. but I just love how he loved his half wolf half german shepard dog called Black Girl. She was abused by her previous owner and Michael and Janet tried their best to be gentle and gave Black Girl lots of hugs and kisses when they were younger. I’m a dog person so I was a bit sad he mentioned being afraid of dogs and mentioned dogs turning on him BUT Black Girl was sweet and gentle and Michael made sure to take care not to trigger her (unlike other people like his Father who used to point his gun at the dog—yikes!).

Day 22: also love that he was so curious about the universe and why things (meaning a leaf, space, insects etc.) were the way they were. I want to go more in depth about this at one point because he was just naturally curious as most kids are and he continued to indulge that curiosity as an adult. He asked a LOT of questions. Something I used to get told as a kid “that’s just the way it is!” but I didn’t let that stop me. Reading/researching truly keeps me going for hours and hours. You just get lost at every new bit of information and he was huge on that. We truly can learn so much from his approach to life

Day 23: I’m also reading a book about Prince lol and of courseeeeee I’d find Michael in it. Long story short in the introduction Prince mentions how he wants his memoir to be written and doesn’t want to use the word magic to describe him/his music. He said “just look at a word and see if it’s one I would use. Because MAGIC isn’t one I’d use. Magic is Michael’s word. That’s what his music was about”. It’s true. It truly is Michael’s word.

Day 24: I’ve been struggling with my drawing. Like my lessons are going fine but when it comes to drawing Michael I’ve had really nice moments and other WHO TF IS THAT!? moments xD and i came across a video that showed roughly 200 drawings Michael did. There were I think about 10 ish drawings I haven’t seen before. And I noticed he would do light sketches and go into realism to more abstract and self potraits. Not everything was perfect. And by perfect I mean like super clean. I struggle with that at the moment and I love that his drawings reminded me that I’m doing this for fun. And to trust that when I draw something I’m proud of I should rejoice and when I draw something I’m not too happy about it then I can try again another time. He’s re-drawn so many of the same characters in varying styles over and over again. I mean he’s been sketching for DECADES so I've only been drawing for what 10 days🙃 it was a nice reminder to gently tell me to chill out haha.

Day 25: I love how big of fanboy Michael is when it comes to his idols and the greats he learned from and also having the chance to meet some of them. I’ve been thrusted down a small hole and have been busy collecting info regarding his idols. Seeing the patterns, the inspirations and just trying to get a feel for what fascinated him so much. Aside from their great talents/showmanship you are also expressing one of your highest forms of yourself so I want to see more of what he saw in them the same way I see and feel about him.

Day 26: this one is a bit sad as I really feel he was snubbed from acting. It’s very clear that becoming an actor was the next step in his plans. From a very young age. It’s sad roles were promised then suddenly given to someone else. Audition tapes not considered and even having a shitty meeting with the person who’s going to play the character you were promised to play just to get some sort of rise out of him. At least that’s why I think that person did that and set that meeting up. Anyways I’m just so happy that he chose to invest his own money in Moonwalker and made it happen. I always thought I’d see more of him on screen and we were robbed by a lot of jealous people and people who felt he wouldn’t add anything aside from the fact that he’s famous. He still continued to pursue it in smaller ways and I hope in the next lifetime he’s able to be the full fledged actor he’s always wanted to be and directing and writing movies left and right!

Day 27: his music is truly healing and positively affirms a lot of great things. I’ve kept track of affirmations in his music from the Jackons up until Invincible. I struggle with anxiety and would repeat some of the affirmations throughout the day or when I wake up in the morning. I make sure to be grateful and I affirm a good and positive day with one his lyric affirmations. I’ve used affirmations before but THESE stick with me because it’s Michael lol but he truly was ahead of his time in so many subjects that people would and WILL be baffled when they find out. He was a SMART, curious man. And very big on positive thinking and positively manipulating the subconscious mind.

His funny faces. Growing up I was the friend who made it her mission to screw up her face as much as possible to make her friends laugh. It got a bit bad when my bestie took a picture of me and showed it to her whole church lmao! I got invited to her church’s beach day party and everyone that met me were like, “wow… you sure look different in person” eye—okay…? didn’t think much of it until she told me AFTER the party that she showed everyone the one picture🙃 anyways I love that about Michael cuz he’s always done the same funny faces throughout his life. Unfortunately, the media didn’t think it was cute anymore and sort of made him out to be this clown when he’s made the same face they ridiculed him for since childhood, to teenage years, to young adult to his older age… he always made the same funny face🥹