Letter To My Younger Self :

People Magazine recently celebrated their 40th Anniversary. As part of that celebration, they had celebrities write letters to their younger selves. I always wanted to write something like this and now finally getting around to doing it. While I am not a celebrity, I think the quote "If I Only Knew Then, What I Know Now.." is very applicable here. But having said that there are no regrets. Everything is vessel to get you where you need to be in life.

Read on...


Dear 17 Year Old Chris:

Hey There,

This is an exciting and complex time for you right now. Your life is full of twist and turns and this is only the beginning. Brace yourself for these next 20 years.

Enjoy the ride and don’t rush it, you may think things will be easier for you when you get older and become an adult, and trust me you will love your independence but there is something about this time of your life that needs to be treasured. Believe me there will be plenty of times down the road when you will wish you were back here in this moment. Enjoy the ride and don’t speed it up.

You are dealing with a lot of people right now, you may be mistrusting of some of those around you right now, who claim to call you friend. Unfortunately, that does not change with time. What does change with time however is the ability to discern a little faster who those people are. Looking down the road, you are going to have some friendships that will dissolve over silly things but you will also gain some great friendships that will last a lifetime, they will add joy to your life and you will add joy to theirs, there will be NO QUESTION who those people are.

Family is everything to you and that will continue to be the case. Certain things will happen both good and bad, but hold close to the memories. You have a family like no other.

Right now, you are questioning your nice guy persona, you feel as If the old saying “Nice guys finish last.” Is true. I’m here to tell you they don’t. Keep being a nice guy; keep being a gentleman despite what others say about you. There will be great rewards for you. Also remember nice does not = pushover or weak. Don’t change that about yourself. People do honor and admire that about you. They may not always show it, but you will feel the love when you need it. Don't take things so personal, that will be a struggle for you. Don't internalize other people's moods, egos, and other baggage. Its often about something they are dealing with. As time passes, you will get better at it though.



God has you now and will continue to have you. Always look to him for strength. You will fall and get up, fall and get up. You may feel alone but the hand of God is always on you despite some of the things you will do. Always keep God first; there will be many rewards if you do.
You may not know it now, but each situation, day that you have lived up to this point is preparing you for your future career. You will have a few different careers and each will seem like that is the right fit. Know that a lot of things in your life will be for a season and then you move on. It’s all part of a bigger story in which you will enjoy your greatest success. Hang in there and don’t be discouraged when certain choices, certain paths do not work out even though it seems as if they should you are going where you need to go.


Lastly, don’t be afraid to dream, step out on faith, and listen to God. When he says, “move”. It will take you where you always wanted to go. Don’t get comfortable where you are because he has another area for you, your dreams will come true there. Your reality will include things right now that you are only dreaming of. Your destiny is being fulfilled. Your dreams are coming true.

Stay tuned… the best is yet to come

Sincerely,

Chris, Age 37.

Random Observations of Last Two Week

1. The line inside the bank was wrapped around the corner today. I guess people get paid on Mondays too. One lady was asking for a chair cause she did not want to stand up. Score one more for “Team Lazy”


2. Did I miss the part on the California Written Exam for Drivers License that said using your turn signals was optional? Have you ever been so lazy, that you couldn’t not put your hand up and turn on your signal to indicate a turn? Yeah, me neither.

3.

There are hundreds of conspiracy theories out there regarding the Ebola Virus. Everything from “The Government trying to kill us!” to “Jay-Z and Beyonce and the Iluminati is working to destroy us all…” If Jay and Bey truly were trying to kill everyone, who would buy their records and attend their concerts? Fear makes this worse people. Educate yourselves on what this is and is not. Fear and paranoia only adds to the chaos. God is STILL IN CONTROL.

4. Listening to The Heat is On by The Isley Brothers and The Songstress by Anita Baker on VINYL as I am writing this just makes me smile.

5. Save the drama for The Young & The Restless. Leave it off social media. Some of y'all are doing the most with your status updates.

6. I think shows like The Voice, America’s Got Talent, and The X Factor contribute to the “Flash In The Pan” era that we are dealing with in the music industry now. There is too much instant fame. Where is the staying power?

7. Actor Stephen Collins just proved that you never know what goes on behind closed doors. Wow, color me shocked, saddened and disturbed. Not Pastor Camden from 7th Heaven. The hashtag for many is #childhoodruined

8. Super excited the Brach’s candy can now be found again at the grocery store. Can we say Royals and Fruit Slices?

9. Jimmy x’s 2 (Fallon and Kimmel) should do some type of merge event during Primetime. Hey it could happen.

10. George Clooney got married. I can now get a full night’s sleep. #sarcasmineffect

11. Viola Davis needs to prepare herself for awards season for How To Get Away With Murder. The cast of Scandal deserves some love too during award season. The fact that Jeff Perry (Cyrus), Bellamy Young (Mellie), and Katie Lowes (Quinn), Guillermo Diaz (Huck) have not even got nominations is beyond me. Shonda Rhimes is RUNNING Thursday night. Must See TV What?

12. This year is Saturday Night Live's (SNL) 40th anniversary. I am wondering when SNL will get out its creative slump. I still root for that show. Such a rich legacy. Where is the next Eddie Murphy? Will Ferrell, Chris Farley, Gilda Radner, Belushi? This is the longest slump I have seen.

13. You can make all the excuses in the world for Kanye, Yezus, or whoever he is calling himself this week, it still won’t be enough for me to get on the train because ultimately there is bound to be a train wreck.

14. There have been so many people that have lost loved ones this week. Tell the people in your life that you love them and that they matter. Rest in Paradise: Macarthur "Mac" Birzer, Rosalind Johnson Marshall, Cousin Richard Bruce II (Dickie),William Reynolds, and Michael Brenneman

15. As I am listening to All ‘N’ All (on vinyl) by Earth, Wind & Fire I wonder how we went from that to Miley Cyrus, Justin Beiber, and autotunes.

16. The Kool-Aid is always sweet…at first. Have a mind of your own in EVERY environment. Educate yourself on your surroundings. Don't always fall for the "okie doke"

17. Once again, please watch your use of hashtags. #threeto4limit

18. Self-absorbed people are too self-absorbed to even see this in my blog.

19. There are certain things I do not have to prove to ANYbody except for God.

20. Alfonso Riberio be prepared to win the DWTS crown. Thanks for bringing The Carlton back into our lives.Long live the 90s!

21. IT’S A GREAT TIME FOR KANSAS CITY!! KANSAS CITY ROYALS!! Can you believe it?? So proud of Kansas City!! Always home. #takethecrown

Give It Up, Turn It Loose.

“If they don’t want ya, you don’t need them…” – “Give It Up Turn It Lose”
-En Vogue

As I was sitting here listening to my music which I often do, I put the song “Give It Up Turn It Loose” by the 90s super group En Vogue and for some reason I was inspired to write. A light bulb went off in my head. While the song is told from the perspective of a girl dealing with a dead end relationship with a two-timing boyfriend, and her girlfriends telling her to move on, I thought of another scenario, toxic friendships, or friendships that simply are not going anywhere.

A few days ago, I found myself in my feelings because my feelings got hurt from somebody I thought truly was a friend. Because of the situation, it had me questioning a lot of my friendships and relationships and putting doubt into my head that was really down for me like they say they are, because as we all know not everyone who say they are in your corner, are truly in your corner.
Quiet as it’s kept, friendships are also relationships that require commitment on each person’s part. There are a lot of friends when push comes to shove are not there for you when you need them to be. When you need them, they are full of excuses, full of defensiveness, and then treat you as if you are the bad guy when you ask for a little bit of their time.
What I realized is that as I was taking inventory of people who I claim to be friends I had to do a mental “purge” or “delete” like on social media. I had to ask myself why I was tripping on this person who has done so little for me? Why was I allowing this energy to affect my day? Then what I came to realize is that there are a few friends that I have to delete. At the end of the day, I had to count my blessings and think of those friends that truly do mean the world to me and are there for me.
You have to give up relationships that bring you down, make you feel less than who you are, and make you question other relationships. The mind is a battlefield and often time negative people and negative energy can dance around in that battlefield making you crazy. As I was thinking about toxic friendships I had to devise a checklist. The checklist is simple.

Is this person truly your friend if (check all that apply):


______ 90 percent of the time, you are the one initiating communication with this other person. Never will you find this person checking in with you. Not even a simple text or phone call. Half the time you are lucky if you even get a call back or response from the text.
______ Your friend makes you out to be the heavy if you ask for some time to hang out. Throws out a laundry list of excuses at you.
______ Never supports or asks about your goals or what you are doing unless its gossip or mess.
______Throws shade at your achievements, goals/aspirations.
______Takes no interest in what you are doing, does not come to events in which you may be spotlighted (again comes up with a laundry list of excuses).
______Constantly insulting you and putting you down, but says, “that’s what friends do…” or “I’m joking...” (Note: there is a difference and teasing the ones you love and joking and full on insults…)
______Feels you are inferior if you are not at their level of life (example: they are married, you are single, or vice versa, you aren’t at on the same financial, social, and cultural status).
______Other people are comfortable going to him/her with mess, gossip, etc about you.
______When the “friend” does initiate communication, its because they need a favor, have a question. It’s never really to see how you are doing.
______Unwilling at all to be inconvenienced or make sacrifices for the sake of friendship. (I.e.: coming to your event or hanging out even though they are tired at times, eating at a restaurant they don’t like, etc).

Did you find yourself checking a majority of those boxes? I did. I put several so called friends up to test, and some failed miserably. They have since been moved to the “associate” pile. Now I will not waste so much energy and time worried about what that friendship means or where that relationship is going, because it’s going nowhere. I also used it for an accountability piece for me as well as sometimes I find myself guilty of the time and excuses issue. Life happens and well get busy, you sometimes lose touch with people, but it’s not a good excuse to just stay in that thinking. If it’s been a while, reach out to those friends who you claim mean so much to you, but if that friend has failed the test repeatedly, wish them well and move on.

“You’ll be fine, take this time to find peace of mind. Sooner or later bad feelings will die. You must be strong, don’t blame it all on love. In time good things will come…” (“Give It Up Turn It Loose” En Vogue)

It’s truly time to “Give It Up and Turn It Lose” purge, delete, and move on.

Does It Take All This To Be All That?: The Over Zealous Person

Ambition. That is a simple enough word, three syllables right? It’s a word that is not at all difficult to pronounce (maybe for some people). It is something we all should have in our lives no matter what our goals and aspirations are. Without ambition those goals and are like a driving a car from L.A to Vegas on a fourth of a tank of gas. You may want to get there soon enough, but you really will not get very far. No there is nothing wrong with having ambition and wanting to get to the top. However, there is something wrong when you do WHATEVER it takes to get there.
“WHATEVER it takes!” or “By any means necessary.” As a society we hear these terms often and they are applicable to certain things. Perhaps most parents would do what Denzel Washington’s character did in John Q if their child’s life depended on it. But it is crazy how many people apply this thinking to their business and professional goals, WHATEVER IT TAKES.
Over the years, Hollywood has given us characters we love to hate. Fictional characters that are willing to do whatever it takes to be on top. For example J.R Ewing from the show Dallas, J.R would do whatever it took to stay top dog at the family business including lie, cheat, frame his brothers, whatever it took to stay on top. Flash forward to the present with Rowan Pope or “Papa Pope” as die hard Scandal fans call him. (SPOILER ALERT) The season finale showed us that Rowan was willing to do “whatever it took” to get back B613 and get his daughter Olivia out of the country. He wanted to be on top by any means necessary, which included killing the President’s son, and Pope Associate Harrison. We all know that ultimately his machinations will be exposed, just like other over zealous go-getters.
Overly ambitious people scare me to an extent. While granted most if not all of the overly ambitious people I know would not go to the J.R and Rowan extremes, their limits to what they would do go far beyond what some of us could imagine. There are a number of people that I come in contact with from day to day that I simply do not trust, and overly ambitious people are right there at the top of that list. There are a lot of ways to spot an overly ambitious person that is willing to do whatever it takes. Mainly you see this person in the workplace or in your professional groups. They are often gunning for positions that are 1. Not even available, 2. That they are not qualified for. So they use their skills of manipulation to work their magic with often-disastrous results. Look at the following traits of an overly ambitious person, if you can identify someone that fits these traits…tread carefully.

Characteristics of an Overly Ambitious Person:

1. Every word out of his/her mouth sounds as if they are campaigning.
2. Constantly throwing shade at his/her coworkers (pointing out little petty errors, or mistakes, constantly making negative remarks) especially around supervisors, leaders, and other important key people.
3. Constant kissing up to leaders, supervisors, executives.
4. (The flip of #2 above). Overly complementing you for EVERY little thing. To a point where it really does not feel genuine.
5. Asking colleagues to do work that he/she feels is beneath them, but then takes the credit for it in front of leadership.
6. Refusal to own up to his/her mistakes especially around leadership. Makes excuses, gets defensive and/or almost combative when their error is called out.
7. Refuses to do something without a title, praise, or compensation.
8. Talks about everyone around the office, network, organization, but then acts like their best friend when they come around.
9. Views you as “trouble” or a “rebel” if you speak your mind especially if it challenges his/her ideas or projects.
10. Afraid to challenge upper management or key leaders or ask questions of leadership because they don’t want to ruffle feathers.
11. Never associates with you unless a favor is needed, or job to be done that will make him/her look good.
12. Only attends meetings, events, and planning sessions if there is a opportunity for him/her to shine.
13. Throws a tantrum if he/she looses out on a promotion, election, or appointment and results to desperate measures to get back on top (mud-slinging, demanding recount, etc). Sometimes this person will leave or quit all together (see #7 above).
14. Aligns him/herself with other sneaky, ambitious, and manipulative people with promises of an outcome… (“If you align with me, you will be my #2”. we can share the position, etc) that normally will never come to pass.
15. Leaving you out of important meetings with key people and then swear you were included but there is no documentation or schedule a meeting on a day you can’t attend (off work, out of town, another meeting) then make you look bad to leaders for not attending.

Recognize any of those characteristics? As you read, did you go “Oh my God that, is (insert name here)! ” You really have to be careful around these people. They may act like your friend, they may talk to you all the time, or the opposite they may not but then all of a sudden they are your best friend? Know the signs folks. Often time it helps to think like them, so that you can understand them. As you study the characteristics above, you will know who to steer clear from. The irony of the whole thing is often times the over zealous person has become somewhat a joke in many circles. Their reputation proceeds them within the organization, workplace, or other professional groups. This can spill into their personal lives, leaving them alone with no real friends, or meaningful relationships other then the ones they think they have formed but usually it’s his/her own mind. (“Oh me and the Vice-President are the best of friends!”)
If this person does make it up to the top (which is rare) their success is as temporary as Clear Pepsi. Often times, these are not the people leaders want representing their brand. In some organizations, there is an opportunity for everyone to have success and shine, yet the over zealous person shows their hand and tries to prove just how much more talented he or she is over the rest, which turns out to be an epic fail.
There is nothing wrong with ambition, having goals, and having the desire to be on top, but it should never, never come at the expense of others, sacrificing your morals and beliefs, and tearing down your reputation
It can be very, very lonely at the top. Is it worth it??

The LAULYPS: A Blessing That Keeps On Blessing

So by now, I am pretty sure you know how the story goes. In October 2011 I made the track for Kansas City to Los Angeles with nothing but my car, a few belongings and a whole of faith. One of the biggest concerns for me was making new friends and finding people to connect with who not only looked liked me but also shared some of the same beliefs, thoughts and common visions. Not that I did not have that in Kansas City, but I was leaving that behind. I knew why I was coming to L.A for and what the purpose was so I needed people that would help get me there. I also knew that I needed to be doing more civically and politically in helping my community prosper and move forward.
Of course I already had mutual friends though my relatives and I had watered the seeds of those relationships and they embraced me with loving and open arms and for that I am most grateful.
However, I needed something that was mine that I accomplished on my own, that was very important to me to come out to Los Angeles and succeed on my own terms. I needed to succeed in my goals, make friends, make powerful connections, and connect and serve this great city that I moved out here to be a part of. I was unsure of how to make this all happen until one day my cousin Nailah said to me, “Chris you need to go to a Los Angeles Urban League Young Professionals meeting. You need to be a part of that organization. It is so for you.” When she first told me, I kind of thought about it but put it on my backburner of things of “Yeah I will get to that later….” I kept putting it off until I went to one of their first events I want to say in early 2012. I went to a meeting at the Writers Guild of America in West L.A/Hollywood. I was hooked instantly. To see people of my age group be connected with some powerful players in the entertainment industry. It was definitely an eye opener and I knew that I was in the right place. I then went from there to a general body meeting and met Chanelle Brown who was (and still is) so passionate about this movement. I was interested but did not have the $100 membership fee and was not really trying to do that so I was like I will just come to the meetings and not pay for now. I was afraid to pay the dues but eventually I decided that $100 would be okay to pay, after all look what it connected me too.

I finally became a member and met our fearless and honorable President Abby Harris and she told me about a vacant Secretary position on the Executive Board of the LAULYP that I might consider. I was a little hesitant because I was not sure if I was ready for such a responsibility but I remembered what my goal was when I traveled out here and so I decided to go for it. I did some minutes for a meeting and submitted them and the rest is history. Fast-forward to almost three years later and I cannot imagine my life without the Los Angeles Urban League Young Professionals. It has helped me to push forward with all of my goals. I have met so many important people. I know that whatever I want to accomplish the LAULYP can help me get there. It is like a really good and planned out buffet – there is a lot to choose for everyone, but there it’s organized that it’s not overwhelming. I have made friends that I know will be friends for a lifetime. Now, I no longer just think of them as my YP friends but just friends who happen to be YP’s. We have common goals and visions. We work together to empower the community and then as result, we become empowered. I do not any regrets, but one every now and then I wonder what might have been had I went to a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and pledged a Greek fraternity. While there is nothing that can compare to those experiences I am sure, there is a connection here as well with the LAULYPS. Like Greek organizations, it’s a brotherhood and sisterhood that you can use to connect with other individuals like yourself. No matter where you go in this country, you can find other young professionals and it’s a bond their that you can instantly connect with for others.

Joining the LAULYPS has also helped me become more civically engaged. Through our Civic and Public Engagement Committee there have been plenty of events to help us understand more about our local and national government and how its policies affect us as young professionals. We are no longer the voice of tomorrow; we are the voice of today. We are the ones who elicit change. Dr. King, Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, and Nelson Mandela were young professionals who were age when they made their impact. We must know what is going around us if we truly want to grow our communities and see change happen. I cannot think of a better organization then the LAULYPS.

Our Community Service Committee works their behinds off with organizing events that help us empower the community. Just recently on Sunday, we helped to serve food to the homeless down in the Skid Row area of downtown L.A at the Midnight Mission. That was definitely an eye-opening experience. There are the events that make you feel good in the sense that you are giving back a little bit of what has been invested in you with your talents, gifts, and blessings. There was a time I was unemployed and the LAULYP was there to help. The Professional Development committee has events designed to help you find employment and our President has a goal of 100% employment before her term ends later on this year. Even if you just need encouragement on your current job or need strategies to be more successful on your current job, my LAULYP crew is there.

There are parties with a purpose. There are red carpet events that I have attended, award shows I have been invited too. None of this would be possible without the LAULYPS. God sent this organization into my life and it is one of my greatest blessings. The same could hold true for you.

I could go on and on about what the LAULYPS means to me, but I think you all get the point. It is a great movement to be a part of. It is a family, a network, a resource, a lifeline, whatever you want to make it, is there. So I encourage you to join this great organization. It is money well spent, that money is an investment into you and your community. It’s a deposit into your dreams and goals. Its time to get started and as our President would say, “keep is pushin!”

See you at the next meeting! #wegotnow #joinweek #ypsrunla www.laulyp.com

Everyone Sits On The Toilet

Does it seem like lately or maybe it has always been this way that we tend to put certain people on pedestals and keep them there? What is up with that? There a lot of examples of people in our worlds that we hold in such high regard that we have convinced ourselves and often ties convinced them that are a bit superior to us. It seems like it happening so much more lately.
Look at how popular culture celebrates our celebrities now. Often times the trivial things such as Prince William and Kate eating a pizza, and Kim and Kanye shopping at a store make even the world news. We celebrate these stars and hold them to such high regard, yet often times, our public figures let us down, they prove that they are human just like us, yet when we find out we get so bent out of shape. Since I moved out to California, I have encountered a few celebrities here and there and have even worked with a few. Sometimes, I have been apprehensive about approaching them because I do not want to encounter a possible “attitude” that some have been known to possess. It can be intimidating for sure to approach people that you hold in high regard.
Often times if it’s not a celebrity or a public figure, it can be people at work. Often times at your place of employment you get some higher up boss that is coming in for a visit to observe and inspect your department. You are told to make sure on that day to cross your t’s and dot your I’s. You have to be on point, and be ever so productive, or “heads will roll” so to speak. Often times, that higher up person does not even show up or make an appearance and when they do its brief, yet our day is stressed and strained because we anticipate their visit. And while yes, you should be on top of your game at work, sometimes these higher ups are so out of touch with reality and day to day operations, their visit is often resented and unappreciated as if gracing us with your presence is some type of huge honor.
It is very frustrating at times to deal with larger than life personas, you may feel intimidated or frustrated at having to deal with them, but there is something that I remember my favorite singer Chaka Khan saying a long time ago, she said that “Everyone sits on the toilet. And if you can remember that you can’t go far wrong.” Yes that ay give some of you a visual image, but hey why not? It is like when you are afraid to speak in public and someone suggests for you to imagine them naked. That breaks the ice most of the time. It is basically the same principal. We all sit on the toilet. It’s a part of life, even CEOS of companies, even Justin Timberlake, pastors with their fancy entourages, and our bosses and supervisors. They are really no different than us. Maybe they have a bit more money, more power, more prestige but that should never intimidate us because again everyone sits on the toilet.
Its even trickled into some of our churches, some of our leaders in ministry are so high up that we cannot even access them. They have their cliques and assistants and its like getting through secret service just to get to them. None of my pastors have been that way but their have been so many that are like that. It’s a shame. Yes, we should hold our clergy in a high regard, but even our religious leaders sit on the toilet.
So its time to stop putting so many people on that high horse. We do it so much that we become fearful, envious, jealous, and resentful of people who are in higher rankings. Why do we do this? Yes, maybe their ship came in a little earlier than ours has, but does that make them better? Does that give justification for some of their actions, and some of ours? I think humbleness goes a long way in helping some of these leaders and public figures and those close understand that we are all human I mean after all, everyone sits on the toilet.

Random Thoughts Part 2

Here is where My Head Has been since July. Sorry for the delay...




1. Why is it that the Wal-Mart’s in the suburbs are really nice, and you still get great customer service, but the ones in the neighborhood or in the boonies are a ratchet mess (merchandise all over the place, long lines, consistently out of merchandise)?


2. People are really confused about what “turn it up” and “turndownforwhat” means. Example: “We going hard on this rocky road ice cream at Baskin Robbins..” #turndownforwhat.. umm…no.

3. Why do some people get so mad and worked up at fantasy football? It’s called “fantasy” for a reason. Unless you owe money to a bookie or something…. I’m just sayin…

4. When will this Kanye/Kim & Miley Cyrus nonsense be over with? Does anyone else get severely irritated when they see him or her on the television especially on local and world news. Is it a slow news day? I doubt it.

5. Why do people consider sagging your pants artistic? What is artistic about seeing your draws? When will this fad end?

6. Why do people say “no offense but…” then say some really ignorant BS like the “no offense” part makes up for it.

7. When will we get that racism and discrimination are still very much a part of the equation in 2013 going into 2014?

8. There are many things that make you a man. Sleeping with different women each night should never be one of them especially if you are not taking care of the kids that result from it.

9. Why in the world is American Idol still on the air? At this point does anyone even care about the contestants? That horse has been beat. Pull the plug!

10. It seems like Spike Lee is the ultimate Hollywood Hater. Unless his name is attached to it, he finds it offensive, buffoonish, or degrading (Have you seen Girl 6? Summer of Sam?)

11. I tried to get on the Aresenio late night bus...I tried. I went to sleep.

12. I am really glad that I am seeing less and less of the bathroom mirror pics on social media. THANK YOU.

13. Arrogant people really, really annoy me but none more than arrogant men. You make us all look bad. You are not as good as you say you are or you would not have to tell us all the time.

14. You can always tell when somebody’s bark is bigger than his or her bite. Always.

15. In my day my authority figures (parents, teachers, etc) were just that, they were not my friends. There is a level of respect that you have in regard to the people who have authority in your life. I wish I would have called my teachers and parents by their first name, kicked it with them, etc. Times have certainly changed.

16. When you talk about a genuine person who is universally liked behind their back, it will always get back to that person. Busy bodies and two-faced folks always show their poker face.

17. I really, really try to watch the news to stay informed but sometimes its just too much from the ignorant to the depressing to just the WTH?

18. For those that say “Down with the Government!” You should be at least able to tell me who your local city officials are or what the local issues are in your city or neighborhood, otherwise all I am hearing is well....nothing.

19. The Best Man Holiday is one of the best movies that I have seen in a while. A great story about African-American people without having to be about African-American people. This is where our stories should be going. Figure that one out!

20. It annoys me that people hate on Scandal with Kerry Washington. She plays a strong, independent woman with flaws. Isn’t that pretty much all of us? I mean I thought we were all flawed? Its one of the best shows I have seen in a while.

21. I wonder if Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Patti Labelle, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Al Green ever get together and talk about the state of music today. I wonder what they really think of Miley Cyrus and Two Chainz?

22. The same goes for Robert Dinero, Jack, Harrison Ford, James Earl Jones, Sidney Potier, and other legends for the state of Hollywood. How do they feel about Kim K, and all of these other flashes in the pan?

23. The safe and easy route always leads to boredom and misery and then you spread that to others. DREAM BIG.

24. Your blue print may not match other people’s and that’s ok. Quit making people feel bad for not living the life you think they should be living.

25. Is it me or is it too early, too soon and in bad taste to be asking, “What is gonna happen to the next Fast & Furious movie?” That really should be the furthest thing from anyone’s mind. Those actors will still be rich, the producers will still get their cut. There is a void in two people's families that can never be replaced especially during this holiday season. That is always worse. It always amazes me at the level of insensitivity that our culture, particularly our media can project.

26. Everyday that I walk into my new apartment, I still smile. Its been so long. To have my own place again. My own personal hideaway it feels so good.

27. For those that are so impressed and in awe of Lady Gaga's weirdness and out of the box antics. Let's remember she was not the first. Grace Jones and David Bowie truly changed the game back in the day..and they were not even trying to. It was just who they were.