salt water

   Last month I payed homage to one of my favorite artists of all time; Tupac Shakur. Along with an amazing talk about Tupac’s importance with Rob ——- of MTV, I recreated some of his most iconic pictures. Though people had both negative and positive things to say about my photoshoot, the pictures weren’t taken to garner opinions. They were my way of paying tribute and giving thanks to an artist that continues to inspire me and so many others. (Of course, if you read the article or listened to the interview you already knew that ;) )

  We live in a day and age where young people don’t have much patience. No patience to read anything longer than 140 characters. No patience to research. No patience to study the history of the art they want so desperately to be apart of. Not only is there a lack of patience, but a lack of respect. There’s not a lot of respect being shown to the true artists that came before us. Everyone is so hell bent on being THE best that no one is taking the time to honor the individuals who have influenced us.

 Well, I’m getting older and I realize that I am just a compilation of all the great creators who came before me. Not only is it my duty, it is my pleasure to show my appreciation.

  This month, for his 77th birthday (July 4), I want to pay homage to Bill Withers. Bill Wither’s music has been blessing my ears since I was a baby. I didn’t know it then and not until recently did I understand, that this man is responsible for some of the most beautiful, relatable, heart felt songs ever written. Bill is not only a genius songwriter, but an amazing singer and musician. The more research I do on Bill, the more I love him. Bill didn’t start creating music until he was in his 30’s, proving that there is no limit to what you are capable of. One of the things that inspires me the most about Bill is his attention to lyrics and storytelling. It wasn’t about his image, being flashy or putting on a “show”; it was about the song. No fluff, just pure feeling. It was about connecting. It was about the music. And it is still about the music.

“A mysterious, time traveling medicine woman has a prophetic vision of an early civilization in trouble.

The men have neglected the women and deprived them of love. By orders of their chief, the men of the tribe have taken away the women’s hearts and voices.

The women are powerless. The children are suffering.

The medicine woman travels for many days to reach the primitive village.

Upon her arrival, the medicine woman performs a miracle. She instantly restores the grace of the women of the tribe and gives them their voices back.

The men of this early tribe are not pleased.

With the men of the tribe’s attention, the medicine woman and the women of the tribe begin a ceremony in which they tell the story of how they are taking their voices back.

The chief is infuriated.

The medicine woman leaves the now capable women to conduct a private ceremony for the chief.

The chief is intrigued and frightened.

What he thinks will be a sexual experience turns out to be something very different.

After the ritual is performed, the medicine woman passes on her apocalyptic prophecy of how the world will end due to the lack of love throughout humanity.

The chief experiences ego death. He sees that it starts with him.”

She said, “Look Mommy, it looks so beautiful.”

I spent amazing quality time with her these past few days,

while countless lives across the planet perished.

I’ve been telling myself this:

“Be thankful for every second as it comes and passes… for every second brings us closer to our ultimate fate. Death is certain, but essential. We suffer because we fear.”

Social media continues to shed light on how out of harmony humanity truly is, but it has also proved that the energy of Compassion, Love, Understanding, Prayer, Hope, and Empathy is not completely lost.

I say to myself:

“Society teaches us to practice… not for goodness’ sake, but to be better than. Society teaches us to practice chasing an unattainable perfection. Teaches us to practice feeding our desires. Teaches us to practice neglecting our families (the true embodiment of love) to obtain a position on an imaginary throne with lots of useless, shiny things.

Living in your own bubble is easy. Giving into what Ego wants is fun, but every now and then you need to look around. Not down or to the Heavens, but around and into eyes of every living thing and see that every single one of them is suffering. Whether it be mentally of physically. On the surface or in the roots. 

Suffering is everywhere out there and inside of you.

Deny the practice society is teaching.

You will get great at what you practice.

Hug your daughter often.

Practice presence. Practice love. Practice compassion. Practice understanding. Practice acceptance. Practice empathy. Practice patience. Practice mindfulness.

Practice until you live every day in a state of grace. Living for and being led by

love and not fear.”

I tell myself these things everyday, all day… just to get through the day…

as I encounter disrespect and hate from all kinds. Be it because I am short and small….. because I look young… because I am a woman… because of my racial, (but undeniably ethnic) ambiguity, my semi popularity, my insecurities and lack of confidence, my sadness…

I digress.

I share what I say to myself, with other people… not to preach, but because it is in my nature to share.  

I don’t have my shit together at all and I will never pretend to.

Sorry for the ramble.

I hope whoever reads this finds a thought to hold on to, that will bring them the peace they need to get through the night.