I'm Inspired By: My Friends

Photography by Michael K.

I went home to Atlanta for the first time in a few years and it was definitely an experience.  It was at some points disheartening but overall quite inspiring.  I was able to catch up with quite a few people...people I hadn't seen in years.  As the years pass friends and associates go about their way.  What was frustrating for me to witness was that there were people who kind of just seemed like life had happened to them.  Some were in careers that they didn't care for or relationships that they just settled for and I couldn't help but wonder..."What happened?"  Why have people given up?  I saw my favorite teacher, Ms. Page, and she said that it's about choices that people make.  If you make a succession of "good" choices then that's the direction your life will tend to go.  It seemed as though some have not really liked the choices they made but decided that it was too late to go a different route.  I mean, we're not 95 years old!  There is still time to go after what you want.  

Take my homie Mike Jones, for instance.  He's been at his corporate job since he was about 17 years old.  He graduated from college and continued on the path that he began while in high school.  However, he's always been drawn to photography.  This year, as a fluke, he was at a friend's party and went around telling everyone he was a photographer; completely joking.  A few days later someone from the party called him and told him she was ready for her session with him.  This took him completely by surprise.  He now had to make good on the joke he'd played.  He did some research and found a great factory refurbished Nikon and started making his passion become a reality in his life.  When he picked me up that was the last thing I was expecting him to tell me.  He's found his love, his passion and is going after it wholeheartedly.  He has since, shot several sessions with different friends, his fraternity brothers, the city of Atlanta, etc.  He decided to put himself on.  He offered deals to people to help build up his portfolio and to continue to learn.  I found this so incredibly inspiring because this is exactly what I'm talking about.  He could have decided that the life he's been making for himself for the past 12+ years was one he had to resign himself to forever.  Instead he chose to step out on faith and just give it a go.  When he was initially contacted by the friend from the party he could have merely stated that he was joking and moved on but he decided to jump at the opportunity.  I am so encouraged by his decision, it has changed the way I look at him, for real.  He's always been cooler than a fan but now he's someone I can talk to about this grind.   

I was so excited about his process that I interviewed him.  I want to showcase stories like his and ours to share what this process looks like.  There are people at so many points along the spectrum and I think that this will help all of us keep being inspired by each other because we're not alone.  I'm working on the edit of the interview and plan to have it done in a week or so as soon as I'm able to get it off my camera.  The footage looks pretty interesting but more than that, what this first of many stories does for me is it gives me my jump, my leap.  Even if it sucks, I was incredibly inspired to try to capture what I was feeling from our conversations and through more efforts I will gain experience and my vision will become more clear.  So, I thank Michael K. Jones, Shawn "KCutta" Williams, Parker Mathieu Word, April Perez, Keisa Davenport, Michael Curry II, Caleb Watkins, Chris Portis, Carla Odom, and Jade "K.C." Frazier for keeping me inspired and never ceasing their grind.

100.

Bright

p.s. You may view more of Michael K.'s work or contact him via www.modelmayhem.com/MichaelKPhoto

I'm Inspired By: Education

Happy New Years!!!!

I thought about my resolve to become a better person and to have more faith in pursuing my dreams in 2010. I wondered, why do people wait until the last damn day of the year to create a list of things they need to change?

Why is changing so brutal a task in the first place? I think in part ignorance is bliss, so why change? But my dad would say, "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance". The only problem with learning is that the more you do so, the more you start to challenge all things you've previously learned. And all of a sudden you feel like you don't know too much after all.
Hell, how we view the world in large is based upon what we've been taught. If we're taught that green folks are evil, we'll probably believe it until we meet a green person and learn otherwise. Thank God for experience. But sometimes experience lies, we have one great/bad experience with a green person and generalize about all other green people in the world.

Life is soooooo messy. It's book of rules is so not clear-cut, and often times rules don't apply or can be broken. Fun times! Well then, how can one benefit from real education. First off, in Latin the word education means (Educo) to draw out, lead out, to foster. Basically to extract information that’s already within a person. That’s totally contrary to western education that tries to stuff facts and info into the learner. Think about that for a sec. What if all the answers you need to become a great person lie within you? Hmmmmmm

I think we're moving into a new era in terms of education. A few great minds have just rediscovered that there are several different types of intelligences, perhaps many of them have not even been discovered yet. What does this mean? It means if you're a musical learner and you've been memorizing rote information; you're probably going to be a piss-poor student. And that's when it hit me when I was teaching in the classroom. Beethoven would have sucked at running a 40 yard dash. Einstein would have sucked at freestylin against Jay Z. NO CONTEST! Not now, not neva.

I remember a choir teacher at Morningside telling a student, “Oh wow, I didn’t know you can sing, I never taught you how to read the music.” To me that sentence captures it all. That’s where the majority of educators are right now. While a teacher I tried my best to remain a facilitator not an instructor. Socrates had that method down pact. He only asked the right questions, he only prompted his students to search for the answers. Without critical reasoning, our republic is doomed. Sorry for the dramatics, I'll continue.

What answers are you looking for? What do you need to know in the new year to be more successful? Perhaps it's time to think about WHY you do what you do? Or more importantly, why do you know what you know? Whose rule book are you following? I hope it's your own. I sincerely hope you created it. We borrow from others of course, but in the end, it's our own choices that create our life.

"Nosce Te Ipsum"

"Know Thyself"

Shak

100.

I'm Inspired By: Faith

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I’m inspired by this piece, Allegory of Faith by L.S. Carmona (1752-53). It reminds me that almost everything we see around us: cars, cell phones, computers, lights, buildings etc. was once unseen; unimaginable except in the minds of those who had inner vision, and the belief to make their creations visible to the rest of the world.

My New Year's Resolution: Believe more in the unseen=Have more faith.

Shak

100.

On Joy...The Response to Bright

One word for this ….DOPE! You’ve inspired me to post a blog about joy. Coincidentally it was written about a year ago to date. Maybe it should have been titled, "Joy=Pain".

I sensed it today too…I saw the sky, when I was driving from the track, and it was burnt orange again and there were swirls of pink. Sometimes there is no explanation for these feelings; all you can do is say WOOOOOOOOW!

This is the first month of the rest of my life. I’ve killed the old me literally and I’ve been reborn. I’ve done more in this one month then I have in previous years. I’ve witnessed the sky in its rarest form. I’ve ran a Palos Verdes hill in 20 minutes 25 seconds, I’m launching a dream, and I’m really living on purpose. I’ve also learned to submit which is all discipline. It’s taken me close to 29 years to wrestle that part of me. When I use the word submit, I’m talking about giving your all to a particular task that you don’t want to do. I’m building a project at work that I detested from the very beginning. I didn’t understand any part of it, not one piece and I had no desire to do it. I even plotted and planned earlier this year to leave the company just in time before its roll out.

And yet, I stayed knowing it was coming. I procrastinated, and then some more, still not understanding any detailed piece. Then finally the word was given, I had to have it done by a set time. But how was I going to get myself to do it? I talked to myself day and night and said you have no choice but to just do it. So I did the only thing I could do…I started. And I didn’t understand what the hell I was doing at first, but I thought just maybe I could wrestle with one piece of it at a time, one small victory to keep me going. As of today, I finally understand big chunks of it. I’m starting to connect the dots. Looking back, I remember when I ran 3 miles last year and could barely pick up my legs. Both folks I was running with finished well before me, and it took me over an hour to finish. I still remember how humbling that felt. I ran 2 miles uphill in 20 minutes…that’s crazy.

I never knew that it was possible to really detest doing something and yet by just doing it, like really just submitting and attacking it, something magical happens. You start to respect the task at hand, and while you keep attacking it, it slowly starts to become something that’s manageable; it begins to submit to you. And possibly, you begin to master your greatest fear or the thing you loathed the most. And when you master something through hard work there is joy, there is pride…there is a sense of accomplishment and self worth that fills one with purpose.

Now I understand why Russell S. says to start with a broom and sweep the ground like a master sweeper. Who the hell are we to always dictate what tasks will be laid out for us? I mean really, we do not know all that a business entails, all that this life entails. That is where I was defeated in the past. Most of us stop when it hurts a little, or when we don’t understand, or when we don’t like the task at hand. And you know what I found about this project at work? Everyday it becomes easier. Sure there are technical docs and codes galore I don’t understand. And I still don’t like reading through all the jargon and crap that holds my attention for about 15 seconds if I’m lucky. Every time I read a document it’s like starting at the bottom of the hill. But I tell myself, if I can master what I don’t like in order to reach my goal then I will master myself and success will be inevitable. Doing what I love is easy and effortless. But what about filing legal docs? Balancing budgets and payroll? Reading technical code for the website? What about all those things we have to learn and do in order to be great? Most of us let the hill get in the way of our finish line. We want it to be easy. We want it to be a fun ride the whole way which it can be once you submit. The joy comes after the work or maybe during it. Where there is no work there is no joy. I FINALLY UNDERSTAND THIS IS THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS!!! You can get cars, homes, and toys galore, but I can almost guarantee there is no joy. And we wonder why folks don’t have happiness. Ever wonder why we buy happiness and inspiration in a pill, a bottle or in the form of a car.

It’s right there in front of us…we just have to pick up that broom! When u reach the top of the hill no one in the world can take that away from you. You become a master of you. We have to become what we think is impossible, we have to do what is hard as hell in order to grow but more importantly in order to be happy. Then we see who we are, we know what we are made of and we witness the miracle of becoming something from nothing.

That’s why Shon said, “F your b-day”, he said, “When u run that biz, you’ll be working on your birthday because people will want to get paid and they’ll be depending on you.” I finally realize that happiness=working, and if you want to be ridiculously happy, then you’ll have to work ridiculously.

Shak
100.

I'm Inspired By: The Jump

My lil play sister called me the other day in a fret over her upcoming 27 th birthday. She was super anxious over the fact that certain things in her life were not in place. Out of all my favorite folks she's one of the most ambitious and determined out of the lot. And yet she was calling because she felt something was missing. Why? I mean after all she had bought a condo in Los Angeles, held down a pretty-damn impressive real estate gig and was rolling in a Lexus. But she said she didn't feel successful or accomplished at her present age. She wanted more. So she did what any self respecting woman would do. She left LA behind including the condo and the car and landed in D.C.

I often receive these calls from strangers, family and friends alike. It doesn't matter the time or circumstance. They call me to see if they should jump. Sometimes I think God is playing a lil trick on me, using all of these folks around me as a mirror. They're asking me if it's ok to jump and to follow their dreams despite the hard, cold facts that they make not make a dollar their first year or despite the fact that they may indeed fail. Those who have already jumped; call me on a regular to see if they should have taken the leap in the first place. Jumping is one of the most hazardous of all occupations because most simply don't do it. It's also the only way to become totally free, never locked into life's guaranteed options which leads to the path of BOREDOM. Actually, Dr. Seuss coined a much better term for the place, "the waiting place". That's what most of us are doing while we're here on Earth that is, WAITING. Taking up space, time and energy until retirement maybe, more like until death.

My sis said she was tired of living the 'LA life'. In her words LA had become reduced to window-shopping, high-glossed over people with little to no substance. OUCH! I told her that it was not necessarily LA but rather a certain mentality that we all can subscribe to from time to time. I call it the wall paper mentality. When we become consumed by the trappings of appearances. It's when we stop listening to the lil voice inside of us that wants to explore, to live and to dream. We become more intent upon living according to a prescribed plan. We're supposed to have 2.5 kids by 28 and of course be married. We're also supposed to have obtained a "respectable" job, one that pays the bills and stores a bit for retirement. Ahhhhh the all elusive retirement that will come after we've put in our "time".

But what about all the damn space in between retirement? What about our grind? It isn't the work that necessarily defines us, it's the quality of our work. And since it's damn hard to do something well that you absolutely hate; I suggest you find something that moves you, that brings you joy. I think the most dreadful disease that's spread throughout America is mediocrity. We've become content with good ol' comfort. In fact it's what we strive to gain in this lifetime. But a path only designed to bring about comfort is a straight shot to BOREDOM. And then there are those who want more...not later but NOW, like right NOW!

They're like my lil sis, just not content with the wall paper. They realize that all the glossed over things and people around them mean nothing if they are not truly LIVING. But how do you live? How can you truly get the most out of life? By never being completed.

Real living isn't about just "becoming comfortable". It's about using your God given talents to personally become more, and in the process, increasing more life and opportunities for everyone around you. Just when you think you've done enough. Your soul earns for more. This is the real reason why we want more money and more things. We really want to become MORE. It's the same for all things on this planet. The rose is designed to bloom. The catapillar becomes the butterfly. The seed becomes the tree. Why do humans think we are destined to sit around and watch TV? ARE YOU SERIOUS????????????????

Most of us are scared to become more and we look down upon those who decide that they want more from life. The only catch is the day you decide you're too afraid to start living is the day you begin to die. Most folks think death comes when the breath ceases. Look around you! There are tons of walking zombies amongst us. Folks have checked out long ago. But every once and awhile someone catches fire and becomes inspired to live again.

So I told my sis, "to hell with the Lexo and the condo and the window dressings". Be free. Listen to your heart. There will be those who frown upon your decision to become a family therapist rather than a real estate tycoon. Of course condescendingly they will say, "but you were soooo good at real estate". And she expressed her concern of not becoming a millionaire by the age of 30. I couldn't help but to start smirking a bit. We must all learn to tune out the world. I told her be weary of those who say you should think realistically, to be more reasonable. There is nothing more unreasonable then not listening to your own heart. In the end, when all is said and done. There is only you. And you can choose to play this game however and the hell you choose. She's chosen to LIVE. And I salute her.

P.S. This blog is really only meant for about 5%, no 3% of the population. Those who have jumped or those who think about it almost every day. For every one else...carry on.

Shak

100.

Who's Watching You?

With all that is going on in the media re Tiger Woods (I don't even watch tv and I am so over hearing about it, seriously) it made me think of something Shak said to me last year, "People are watching you Bright.  I'm watching you."  The gift and the curse of a leader.  She can tell me that because she lives it, too.  When I'm on the hill and I want to just stop, because it always crosses my mind, I don't.  There's definite pride in there that won't let me quit but there are people who are motivated by what I do, as well.  How can this chick who looks like that not give up.  I mean let's be real, I don't have a runner's build but that's what makes it all the more dope.  I did my first 10k this year and I started running for the first time in life last year.  Like Shak says, you expect the thin chick to beat everyone or outlast everyone but what about someone like her (Shak) who has a similar shape to mine, fit and curvy, and is KILLING 'EM.  And I mean she kills them, beats everybody... dudes... chicks... it doesn't matter.  But she's fast as all get out because she decided to be so.  So, when there are people who are at the top of whatever game and they cheat on their spouse or pull a Kanye why are people like, "Damn, not you man?"  Why do we hold these people at such high regard?  Because they make us believe that we can be the best at something, too.  I don't think that they should be messiah-ed, because we are all human.  But the truth is people lose faith in themselves because you were that embodiment of what the best possible them could be if they tried.  The fact is when you sign up to be a leader, that's how you'll be treated.  I believe in second chances, at the same time you have to own your space.  

When I hear it said that these business men/women, athletes, musicians should just expect that they are role models that kind of bothers me because it sounds a liiiittle bit like sideline critics.  You don't know what it's like to live such and such a life, neither do I...just yet.  What I do know is the pressure I put on myself to succeed.  I now am aware that other people I know who've watched me grow up and move clear across the country by myself are also looking to me to succeed.  I don't have a model for what I'm going after and that makes it all the more nerve wracking but I'll be proof that it can happen, it will happen because when I want to stop you're watching me and I can't give up.

100.

Bright

Love and the Grind

emergise.wordpress.com

Is it possible?  Can you successfully date (ie have a relationship) while going after your dreams?  Shak & I discuss this from time to time & it's still up in the air for me.  I haven't been successful to date but the optimist in me believes it's possible.  The hard part is that the amount of time and devotion it takes to make things pop is serious.  Hell, having a "regular" job can put your grind into jeopardy.  I think that in addition to the general set of standards that one has in dating when you throw major passion for what you do into the mix the stakes get even higher.  That significant other has to be on that same level of intensity for it to work.  But man, retaining friendships can prove trying enough and romance brings it's own set of challenges. 

What if your partner doesn't have the same drive?  Nope, can't work.  They don't understand why you go so hard.  I remember this guy who was trying to date me couldn't get around the fact that I got up so early every morning.  No, dude I can't talk to you every night for hours, I gotta get up at 3:30a to kick my own behind.  Gotta be aware of the saboteur.  Well, what if he/she doesn't have the same level of self awareness?  Ahh, it might prove to be too much. Feelings of inadequacy start to creep in through the window.  Jealousy.  Resentment.  What if it's so dope on so many levels but you just don't have the time?  In large part, I do believe you make time for what you want.  But maybe this isn't the best time?  My boy Norio has a theory, he thinks that you can't get to that level of greatness if you're seeing someone seriously. His case & points?  Oprah and Bill Gates.  I think that finding that balance in your overall life of interdependence will debunk that.  Being confident enough in yourself to be able to depend on and trust in others in a healthy way may be the key.  I'm working on uncovering that happy medium as I'm coming back from being too independent.  

Are relationships just another level of comfort, though?  Do you have to sacrifice having someone around to truly focus on that goal?  Because getting to the next level when you're starting from scratch-ish changes the caliber of people you spend time with.  You know the adage, you are who you hang around....So if being a winner in life is what you are after then those are the people with which you have to consort.  That means no wackness.  No settling, not even a lil baby bit.  I believe once you start down that road it becomes easier the next time and the time after and you look up and you're still in that "regular" job that was only supposed to make ends meet until you blow and now you're being thrown a retirement party.  Not. The. Business.  

I think that you can have it all.  If that's what you decide then that's what you'll get.  I know that I have to be SUPER clear about what I want in every aspect of my life because otherwise, I'm just along for the ride and a ride is precisely what I'll be taken on.  So, just like I have the vision for my production company, philanthropic endeavors, etc clear in my mind and heart, the vision for my partner has to be crystal, as well. 

zazzle.com

100.

Bright 

Our Logo's Creation...The Blueprint

Man I found this in the archives, almost a year to the date. How are lil logo "the blueprint" was born.

The email is below:

From: Gagnier, Shakira
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 9:03 AM
To: 'Jewel Estephanos'Cc: Damani Rivers
Subject: RE: It's about that time...

Let’s see since the concept here is plugging into a dreamer’s blueprint…Hmmmm

I really like this concept below….ride with me for a minute… Do yall remember Kanye’s first video “Through the Wire”? Where the pictures were taped to the wall? I kinda like that idea of the blueprint being taped to a wall (peep image below). We all need a daily reminder of going after our dreams and we need to see it everyday. What better way to do that then to tape it directly in front of us?

Now as for the images on the blueprint, ride with me for another second…I can visualize a person with plugs coming into different parts of their body… (representing electricity/inspiration & power). I don’t know that might be hella weird-like. (The image below is usually equipped for science…we could make the person a big fresher, for one he/she wouldn’t be naked (HEEELO)).

And then see how the blueprint has lines pointing to explanations of the image? That’s where we can drop that ill word play on them that Bright discussed: Each plug going into different parts of their body will represent an intangible skill that’s needed for them to complete the blueprint. For example: One plug can be: Hard work (and then define it…what does it take? And the location of the plug will be matched with the word. Maybe for hard work, the plug can come out of the hands, or the legs), Patience, Inspiration, Sweat & Tears, Heart & Passion, Mental Prowess, ….

We can come up with a bunch of them. This is just what I visualized though, and yall all know my mind tends to get to wandering a bit. So I’m really curious/excited to see what you guys visualize?

Holla at the kid.
Shakira Gagnier
“The most important thing in life is to stop saying ‘I wish’ and start saying ‘I will’. Consider nothing impossible then treat possibilities as probabilities”. –David Copperfield

From: Jewel Estephanos
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 7:37 AM
To: Shakira Gagnier; Gagnier, Shakira; Damani Rivers
Subject: It's about that time...

Dude, ok sooooo.....why did I almost try to go on to our website? I was sitting at my computer and things calmed down a bit here on the shoot and I'm listening to seeing sounds and I thought hmm, anti-matter, I should look over my posts and see if I have anything about that and maybe write that one. are you kidding me?!?!?! Dude, yeah it's about that time.....If I'M forgetting that it doesn't EXIST yet then we've got to keep moving forward like we've planned.

Also, because we're meeting with Rich, the guy who is going to work on the logo, do you all have any specifics that you'd like for me to share in the vein of design? color choices for certain parts of the blueprint...like i thought the blue would be good for the general outline of the blueprint and maybe the green mixed with brown for the words and i don't know where the grey accents should go...oh, yeah on the plug! where do we want the plug to come into play exactly? Any ideas we can gather and then we can brainstorm with Rich tomorrow.

Shak

100.

That Heat aka The Challenge

What I'm reading: "Stealing Fire From the Gods" - James Bonnet

"If you go through it, you come through it." - James Bonnet

What I have been afraid of for the longest were my feelings.  I hated the fact that they are so intense, that I am soooo sensitive, that you can see them all over my face.  I mean that figuratively and literally.  My face turns red if I'm happy, sad or pissed.  I have spent so many years trying to hide and disguise them that it is only fitting that at this stage of my life and my career I am forced to not only deal with them but welcome them back to the forefront of everything I do.  I am working on several pieces and as I've been doing my research EVERY book tells me to listen to how I feel.  Pay attention to a negative feeling when writing because it tells you something isn't working.  Go toward that feeling, understand it and you'll come out all the better for it because your piece will be better because it the truest representation of what you want to convey.  Damn.  Really?  So, all of that crap I didn't want to deal with I have to look at head on because as I stated in "...Narcissistic", understanding me makes me better ALL the way around.

The writers, especially Bonnet, speak about really paying attention to our dreams.  Bonnet likens them to our own personal Rumpelstiltskin.  Rumpelstiltskin worked while the maiden was sleeping to make the hay into spun gold.  Our dreams are our subconscious (Rumpelstiltskin) working on our conscious problems (hay) to create solutions (gold) for us while we rest.  Fresh, right?  Sometimes I'll think that an entire idea isn't good enough because of that negative or "eh" feeling.  All it truly takes, though, is a little reworking most time to get to that "greatness" stage.  Sometimes I may have to scrap an entire piece and start again but I don't have to throw out the initial feeling.  Kind of like someone who creates music or paints.  You keep the heartbeat of the music or the color that you began with because that's the basis but the surrounding colors on the canvas or accompanying rhythms need to change.  A piece I was working on was feeling dead in the water because I couldn't see where my characters were going to or coming from after a particular scene.  I now realize that my first inspiration was the climax, I have to create the beginning for them so they'll get to that stage.  Mozeltoff!

"If you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen."- someone a long time ago

Addressing that "heat" is what makes us great.  Looking into the face of a challenge makes us actually face ourselves.  "I thought I was strong but now after going through (fill in the blank), I know I'm much stronger and better than before."  The part of me that I thought was the weakest is actually my greatest attribute.  It's how I connect with people and will get better at telling stories.  Sweet.

100.

Bright

I'm Inspired by Walt Disney

This b-day week has been Amazing! I went to Disneyland on Sunday and a Laker game on Wednesday. What could possibly be next? Best part about Disneyland was the end. When Bright and I were walking out on Main street it started to snow (fake snow of course) and the fireworks started to light up the night sky. A soft feminine voice announced over the speaker, "Happy holidays and remember to believe." I started thinking about what it means to believe in things as if you're a 6 year old walking around Disney's park for the first time. Kids don't reason about the time it takes to get on a ride or how many calories are in a damn funnel cake. All they know is that they're going to get on the rides they want to ride and live it up. Ask an adult about Disneyland and he'll usually tell you it's much smaller than he remembered, too crowded, too noisy and he's just there for the kids.

What is is about adulthood that kills our ability to look at things from a fresh perspective? Why are we no longer impressed with running around in a circle with our jacket over our head? Why can't we laugh at ourselves anymore?

I mean who and the hell wrote the book on being an adult anyways? Whoever they are, they pretty much suck. That's my best, humble opinion of course. One of my gentleman suitors gave me the greatest compliment recently about my age. Of course he didn't realize it at the time. He said, "you can't be turning 30 this year, where's the mature attitude? Shouldn't you be more worried about your bills." MUAHAHHAHAHAHHA! Umm really? I've had more bills and responsibilities than most folks my age since 16, however, I choose not to let those worries define who I am. Bills are bills are bills. I can take em or leave em. They're going to be there so why worry about them?

But how we choose to see the world is ALWAYS up to us. We decide. And up until this crazy point in my life where I finally feel kinda grown up, after all, I am 30 ish. I choose to live my life like it's brand new, exciting and an adventure. It's more fun that way, you don't know what to expect and chances are guys 10 years younger will still find you attractive. Not because you're wearing skinny jeans but because they'll actually think you're their age. Ok maybe that's the downside of this whole be-whatever-age-you-think-you-are thing. There is always a plus and a minus.

"All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them". ---Walt Disney

Shak

100.

To Be or Not To Be...Narcissistic

Narcissus by Caravaggio

I've found that a lot of people misconstrue narcissism with self awareness.  My desire to understand myself better enables me to be a better artist, friend, mate, sister yadda yadda yadda.  The difficult part of that journey is that many people are not on the same page.  I want to share my stories, the triumphs and failures because we can all learn from them.  The failures enable me to have compassion and empathy.  I am working to overcome my disappointment within when I feel I have slipped back into some previous way of being or thought process.  I mean, damn, haven't I outgrown that by now?!  The trouble is that when I think I've overcome something intellectually it may rear it's ugly head in a new form and here we go.  That tells me that what ever that habit may be, like having a cigarette when I'm out drinking with friends from time to time, is that subconsciously "I ain't there yet."  But it's painful for a person like me who strives for perfection (gotta figure out where that comes from) because I see that others are a work in progress but it's difficult for me to accept it of myself at times.  Intellectually, I understand it but subconsciously, I have to be more, do more.  The gift and the curse.  That means that I won't take "no" for an answer, I'll persevere through anything and at the same time when I faulter, sometimes I beat myself up terribly.  I, too, am unreasonable.  How else to you get unreasonable results?  Do the seemingly impossible?  

What have I been learning?  ....Well, something I now know is the strength in communicating properly.  What may seem obvious to me may not be to someone else who really cares about me.  So, that means being more assertive about what I think and feel immediately because that could cause a rift that was unintended.  My sensitivity is a strength not a curse.  For instance, I l-o-v-e the dvd extras and there's this director named, Gabriele Muccino, who directed "Seven Pounds" and "Pursuit of Happyness".  What Will Smith loves about him is that he is so in touch with his feelings.  I saw that my gift of empathy will enable me to connect with people on a deeper level.  However, if I try to fight that then my actors, crew, friends, etc. will come off equally repressed.  Funny, right?  The people around us are a mere reflection of what's within.  My digging to become more aware of self even shows up in the books I read.  I went to Borders to pick up several books on screenwriting and could only find two of the ones I was looking for and picked up another book because Shak mentioned something about psychology (message) just before I walked into the store.  I didn't find what I wanted instead I found what I needed.  Both books speak explicitly about uncovering self to delve deeper into your characters.  

I'm remembering to remember to listen to my inner wisdom.  Still don't have that down just yet but I'm making strides.  I was on set the other day talking to Shak about something quasi personal and a young lady happened to be standing within earshot. Normally, I would not continue to speak but something within told me to continue because she needed to hear what I was saying.  Sure enough, as soon as I got off of the phone she came over to tell me that she heard what I was talking about and then offered me a "life gem", she told me of a book entitled "The Four Agreements."  Tomorrow, I'm headed to Borders, again.  

This I know for sure (what up Ms. WINfrey!)...when I share myself with others I am truly giving and that's the most amazing feeling.


100.

Bright


p.s. it's almost our birthdays!!!!! wahoooooooooooooo :)

I'm Inspired By: Change

The wonderful thing about life is that it's always changing. Hell, even the things we perceive to be solid like the cubicle we sit in at work, the floor beneath us, and the car we drive is actually not solid. I'm not going to get into the quantum physics of materials and particles because frankly I'm not a scientist. But here's why change matters to you and I. It matters because it means that we're not locked into being who we are today. THANK GOD FOR THIS!

That means that no matter if you come from a broken home (Mom & Dad weren't there), I'm one of these kids; or you had an abusive upbringing; or you were born homeless; or you were born to a rich family that was always gone; or well I could keep going...the point is your destiny is not bound by circumstances. Whatever hereditary patterns that have kept you dating elusive women/men can be changed. How can I initiate change you ask? Well it's simple if your eyes are open, but you have to look around. If the last 10 dudes you dated all have mommy issues, there is a 99% chance that you have mommy issues too. Remember your mom or teacher used to tell you, "Show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are". Well, that statement applies to your entire life including your mate, your job, your friends, your lifestyle ETC. So if something in your life (job, boyfriend, friend, habit) seems way outta line from what you really desire; when would be a good time to examine it? HOW ABOUT RIGHT NOW?

Some call it change, I call it evolution. When an organism becomes too big or too great for its current position, it changes, sometimes the entire species of that organism changes. And people will start looking at you in wonder. How in the hell did that bum become a freakin' CEO? How did that chick who slept with everybody under the sun get happily married? Folks are very short sighted. They like to see you stay in one spot, it's comfortable for them, after all change can be painful, scary and downright risky. I never understood why Humans resist change so much. If you look around in nature it's all around us, constantly in action. Then again, you can resist the change that's trying to happen to you in this very moment. I'm sure it's easier to remain a caterpillar in a tight cocoon, on one branch of one tree. I've resisted change several times in my life until it got down right unbearable. Sometimes we don't have a choice, a mysterious force propels us to change. Maybe that's the real reason why you got fired. :)

I started small. I asked myself how can I be a lil bit better today? After all, changing one's physical, spiritual, financial and emotional state all at once can be paralyzing. But with each small success the momentum builds and real growth starts to take place. Don't worry, you'll start to fly and wonder why you waited so long to grow your wings.

Shak
100.

What's In a Name?

Michael and Shakira Caine

Do names have power? According to most folks they do. In fact I came across this one site that goes as far as saying a name should be based on one's astrology charts, temperament and gender of course. Check this site out, I was able to get an initial reading for free 99. The results were disastrous. It said in a nutshell that I'm going to turn out to be Wack Sauce. No thank you name generators. Perhaps a name is given power by the power we give it, but a name is really just a name. What do yall think? More important than the history of a name is the back story to the name itself. I think everyone should know why they were named what they were named because it's interesting and meaningful. http://www.kabalarians.com/cfm/what-does-my-name-mean.cfm

I'm actually named after Michael Caine's wife Shakira. That's right, there is an elder amongst us who pronounces her name probably differently than the belly dancing shaker and myself. So noooo my name is not pronounced like the singer but rather (Sha-Kye-ra). That's what happens when an American southerner tries to pronounce an Arabic name. But I appreciate it mom...after all it means Thankful. And I love the fact that you spotted her in a magazine and said I want my daughter to look like her. Well actually that's kinda creepy considering my dark features and the fact that we (moms and I) don't look anything alike. But Michael Caine is the man, what an honor it would be to work with someone of his stature. Lastly, my French last name means to win. (Gagnier) Yes I am a born winner. :)

P.S. Who knew? Shakira is also part of DC COMICS and first appeared in Warlord #32, 11/80. YES!!! She's a shape shifter.

P.S. S. Sorry I had to take this elevated discussion down a notch but I couldn't help it. If you want to find out your Pimp Name, check this out:
http://www.blogthings.com/pimpnamegenerator/
My name is Pimp Mama Big Spenda. That works.

Mirror Mirror On the Wall...

I must have written about 50 emails to Bright this past week entailing information about obtaining success. On our mighty quest to find the ingredients for success aka THE BLUEPRINT for dreamers; I've found that one particular flavor overpowers the entire gumbo. I've been consciously researching success for at least the past 4 years. In fact it is the main reason for this site. We wanted to discover, and share with all, the blueprint to finding one's dreams. We thought, hell if we could learn how to grow and to gain success; perhaps others out there would heed the call as well.

In the beginning I thought it was talent, that if one was talented enough they could surely become successful. Maybe one had to be born with a hidden genius that predisposed her to a particular occupation thus giving her an advantage. But after a few years in the music industry trying desperately to "put on" a music producer with superb talent; I noticed that wasn't the case. There were several talents (producers, rappers, singers) who were highly successful (meaning they had obtained their initial dreams) with marginal amounts of talent (that's subjective of course).

That led me to research work ethic, maybe in order to make it to the "top" of the pile, one had to train like a total psycho, give up all comfort and attain success THE HARD WAY. I reasoned it had to be perseverance. If one could only persevere long enough he could finally reach his goal of being a (fill in the blank). In 08, I begin training with religious-like attention, waking up at 4:30 am, running the hills of Los Angeles and torturing myself with sprinting with chains and tires. I would work after and then hit the repeat button the next day. But I started to find counter arguments to this hypothesis, there were lazy people, chillin' at the gym, and all around me who had also found a way to manifest their dreams. How in the hell could this be? They irritated me as they sipped their lattes at Starbucks.

Well maybe it was education. In order to reach a certain level of one's dream one would have to possess the faculties of higher education via experience, college, a master's program or doctorate. If one had enough knowledge than he could reach his goal of obtaining one's dream. I looked at my own situation out of desperation. The majority of my friends had obtained an advanced degree (masters/doctorate). Maybe it was time for me to take it up a notch and gain more knowledge in order to get closer to my dream. The problem was, some of them didn't even have a job let alone a dream career. Most of you know someone with several degrees that hasn't gained any ground in reaching their dreams. Kanye, is a poster boy for this argument.

Then what the hell is the secret ingredient to success? You guys have no idea of my level of exhaustion, to what extent I've tiredly studied until the wee hours in the morning seeking this answer. I've studied ancient philosophers, religious doctrines, self help gurus, rappers, poets, actors, teachers. You name them, there's a 50/50 chance I've researched their theories. I couldn't shake it, I had to find the damn answer to the riddle, assuming of course there was an answer or answers to be found. Poor Bright, sometimes I wonder how she can deal with me at all. I would call her at totally unacceptable times of the night out of sheer excitement that I had gotten a step closer; only to realize the next day that I had found a dead end.

And when I finally saw the truth, it was so familiar to me, I'm convinced I knew it but lost it along the way. I realized how the truth is so simple. It sucks that it always is...kinda makes you feel a bit dumb for spending oh I don't know 3, 5, 10 years trying to rediscover it. The truth is that when you begin to believe in your own God-given power, NO ONE...and I mean NO ONE will be able to come close to what you are capable of doing. That's it...the secret ingredient to success is the power of BELIEF. And whether you want to believe this or not, everything that you have in your current life is because you believed it was so. I know I didn't want to accept the bad stuff that was in my life; that actually is what caused me to blame others and not take personal responsibility. On the flip side, I realized I had become a teacher, a music industry analyst, a corporate trainer because I believed I could. And most recently, I've decide to become an actress...and yes, you've guessed it...I'm acting.

"What so ever ye desire when ye pray, that ye receive and it shall be given..." As a man thinketh, so he is". --Mat 21:22
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened". --Mat 7:7-11

Not to get all religious on yall, because clearly I'm not an expert on the subject but it's in almost every religous doctrine, and it's also in every get rich book, soon I believe the same truth will be proven scientifically as well. And please don't take my word for it. Spend 2, 3, 6, 10 years discovering the truth for yourself. Perhaps, you may have to in order to gain the belief. That's the next puzzle I'm trying to solve. How do you give one belief? Is it possible? You tell me. I mean people see miracles every day and still can't see.

So I don't want to hear anymore nonsense about how Soulja Boy has ruined Hip Hop, or how Tyler Perry isn't that talented or how Britney Spears is a horrible singer, or how (fill in the blank) has no reason to be where they are as an excuse to why you're where you are at currently. Talent, ultimately does not matter in terms of obtaining one's dream. Yikes! What did she just say? Of course it's wonderful when one has an amazing talent; then we can revel in the beauty, the experience, the wonder of that person's gift. But it's all subjective. What I love you might hate. So is it helpful to have talent? Of course. But necessary it is not. Wait I'm starting to sound like freakin' Yoda here. (Jedi in training baby, you best believe it). Sorry, ok talent, drive, great work ethic all play there part in becoming successful. But the key is without belief, those ingredients are powerless. I REPEAT on the loudest, imaginary bull horn that you are now listening too: Belief in and of itself will give you the ability to gain talent, to gain vision, to gain drive and finally to succeed. Now how do you begin to cultivate that inner belief? Sorry, I'm still a pedawon in training. More to come from my research.

P.S. It's gotta be a damn good day. Google has cookie monster on it. (And I love cookies) Random but not really. Become everything you want to become. Just be careful about what it is you want to become. It's simple, look around you, listen to those around you...they will tell you who you are and what you've believed this far.

Shak
100.

$5 and 2 Hours

(c) Intalio

Last night my friend, Michael Curry, Jr., sent me a link to this video.  It's about a class focusing on entrepreneurship at Stanford.  As you'll see, the video speaks on creative problem solving and breaking through limitations.  One of my favorite parts is when Tina Seelig states that the teams who made the most took a look at the skills they had and the opportunites around them and became cognizant of the fact that those things were worth much more than the $5 she gave.  They realized that $5 was way too limiting.  That seems like "duh", right?  What can you do with $5?  I look at it like this, though: if I base my skills, accomplishments and altitude in life around what other people have already seen then my vision will be too limited.

"I can't base what I'm gon' be off of what everybody isn't." 

- Jay-Z "So Ambitious"

The video offered a reminder to me about self imposed limitations.  I used to spend a lot of time thinking about what I wasn't ready for instead of focusing on where I'm going.  I used to think that I couldn't make this video or PSA or short because of lack of funding.  I have to make every step count along the way and trust that through faith in my vision the skill set will become apparent to me and needs will be met.  I'll learn all I need to know as long as I pay attention.  Another really important part of the video was when the bike team realized they were limiting themselves by asking for only $1 and when they opened it up to donations, they got much more.  Thinking on the fly and being willing to change catipulted them to success.  When I make moves and decisions based on creativity and not competition I am more connected to my true vision. I am able to see people who can help me along the way and through sharing my knowledge gained I am able to receive more.  So, "give it to me." (tm Shak)  lol  Our lives and joy are for the taking as long as we are able to see life without limits. 

100.

Bright

I'm Inspired By: Love...(Kinda)

I wonder how much time we spend waiting for someone else to make us happy? I wonder how many people are happy with themselves? Not happy with self=No Love

Love,
Shak
100.

Things I Love... Pt4 aka xkcd

October 30th

By: Randall Munroe

A lil something for the "Back to the Future" lover in me.

100.

Bright

Say Hello to the Bad Guy

Photo: Mazur/Getty

Sunday evening on 60 Minutes there was a segment about Tyler Perry by Byron Pitts.  What ensued over the next 24-48hrs was quite interesting to say the least.  I engaged in a thread on a friend's facebook page about said piece.  Here are some excerpts of my responses.

"....TP makes a point when he says that there is an audience he speaks to and gives them a msg in a way that they can understand. "art" is subjective. for instance, everyone doesn't like bjork but i think she's amazing... he talks about drug abuse, spousal abuse, relationships, family, etc. all of the characters are not buffoons. there is room enough for everyone. if he wasn't actually actively trying to bring a msg to the table i would agree totally but the fact is that he is."

"he attacks, as aforementioned, abuse of all kinds to show his audience they can win. a lot of the ppl who patronize his works do feel like they can see themselves in them. "why did i get married?" was a departure from madea. even though one of the characters was one of those over the top kinds she still had a bit of an arc.
speaking of him directing a movie that you couldn't tell was directed by a black director: don't you think spike lee "suffered" from that stigma until oh i don't know 2002 when he released "25th hour"? then came "inside man" in 2006. he had his 1st major break out in 1980 with "she's gotta have it". so that's over 20 yrs of knowing that you're watching a movie about "black" issues by a black director. the challenge is to dig deeper. there is a reason behind every artists "theme" in their chosen medium. tyler's is that he suffered major abuse and watched his mother go through it, as well. he has an audience, albeit which does not include many of us on this thread, that support him wholeheartedly. he doesn't promote prostitution, nor any type of demoralization of women, so likening him to say, Gucci Mane, is a bit extreme to me.
re people who support gucci mane and the like: there is supply and demand. if ppl keep buying it, it keeps getting pumped out. "real" artist sometimes don't like to liken themselves to attracting financial gain b/c they think that success somehow makes them less "real". THAT is the problem. gucci mane won't be around forever b/c his content is lacking. but "indie" artists have to put themselves on, too."

"tyler made his movies using his own money precisely b/c he didn't want anyone to be able to dictate how his ish was made. he used the $$ from all of his plays to fund them and kept putting money back into himself to further himself. that's how he built his studio in the a. what is incredibly strange and hi-larious to me is that as a filmmaker myself, i am actually defending someone who i don't align myself with artistically. his hustle, though, 100%. lionsgate is for distribution and only recently as investors. please believe that this man is doing things his own way. he had another director do his 1st movie and that didn't work out so well because he wanted it his way and this i know 1st hand. partnering w/lionsgate puts more $$ in his pocket while allowing him to write his own ticket. he only got to that point b/c he showed a following on his own. he put himself on. just as spike lee did. but i think it's a bit early to say that someone can't grow. after spike's 1st 6 films would someone say they could see him directing the likes of edward norton in a film as his lead? probably not. but he did."

 

What I find incredibly interesting is that it seems as if people are looking to Tyler Perry as some type of savior.  "Why isn't he representing black people like this?"  "Why aren't his plays focusing on that?"  "He's selling out."  Next you'll hear someone say: "Tyler Perry doesn't care about black people."  Geeez come on people.  Tyler Perry, nor Spike Lee, Oprah, Will Smith, etc are here to save the black race.  These are real people.  Artists on all mediums are real people.  Guess what, real people are flawed.  Surprise!  I read an excellent post by another blogger but one problem I had was that she stated that Tyler Perry talks about how he's grown up with abuse but the fact remains that he grew up with both parents.  What?!  You've got to be kidding me.  Growing up with an abusive parent is worse than growing up with a stable single parent.  Artists usually use their chosen medium as a place to show the world as they saw it, see it or want to see it.  I am not of Tyler Perry's demographic, his films do not speak to me on a level deep or surface.  His grind, however, does.  Before I turned off my cable, I caught a couple of episodes of "House of Payne".  Definitely not my cup of tea.  I'm partial to shows like "Girlfriends", "The Game" (when they were on) and "Private Practice", if we're discussing mainstream tv.  

"Bottom line is his pieces effect people.  I might not be you but look at the box office numbers." -Shak

Sideline critics crack me up.  Tyler Perry erected his own studio in Atlanta and employs so many people and shows through actual proof of his existence that you can make your dreams come true.  But dude, you still can't win!  Time out for the competitive mindset.  There is more than enough out here for everyone to do and be more without having to down someone else without offering a solution.  Sideline critics always want to say what's wrong with what you're doing but have never tried it themselves.  Instead of talking about what's wrong with what he's putting out let's address why so many people need to get their information in that manner.  Why do people need "a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down?"  Most times people seek out entertainment to escape their daily lives.  I think that's one of many reasons.  To treat the problem and not the symptom is key.  Bring on the creative mindset.  Do you volunteer in your community?  Do you seek to expose those less fortunate than you are currently to things/places/people more than they're used to experiencing?  If not, you're truly no better than the person you're slamming.  I'll bet that when you spend your time being a part of the solution you'll have less time to focus on what you deem to be such an ergregious error in judgement and start to see the light that we all possess.  And maybe that person who is doing something differently than you would have chosen can inspire you, too.

100.

Bright

I'm Inspired By Shakira Gagnier

 Opening night: DJ, Tamara, Shak & Joel
 

Closing night: Me, Brandi's Dad, Tiff, Shak & Shon

Who better than your friends to inspire you?  When you are working to carve out your place, to bring that vision that you only have to life it can get a liiiiittle lonely.  When you can't find a mentor to share in this process of discovery and you get frustrated who do you talk to?  There have to be more grinders out there.  People who understand what it's like to do something different.  So, I talk to Shak.  Shak started taking acting classes last year and feel in love.  When the opportunity arose for her to be in "Shh...Quiet as Kept" she jumped at it even though it was nerve wrecking to go after something she'd never done before.  As she and I discussed at lunch today, most people assume that it's so damn easy but it isn't.  People expect you to shine but the truth is that you shine because you've made up your mind to do so.  Seriously.  You get anxious, you question whether or not you're going to be good...good enough.  And not good enough for "them" but for you.  There is a level of excellence that you hold your self to that can sometimes be paralyzing.  The fear of failure is so immense but the "not trying" kind of failure is greater.  Much much greater.  You stare that fear down and jump off the ledge...anyway.  

Like a proud papa: Shak & Larry

All Love: Shak & Kieran

Shak starred in the closing of "Shh..Quiet as Kept" October 11th, 2009.  It was another of many sold out nights for Brandi Burke's play.  It was amazing to see Shak's growth to this point.  She was great (and I mean it) her opening night and she was A-Ma-Zing closing night.  I'd heard about it before but I witnessed people being moved to tears.  She wasn't acting like her character she was being Candice and that's what got people invested in her role.  They believed her and wanted her to win, to be ok.  So much so, that after some shows audience members would come up to her to give their support regarding her "relationship" with her "father".  Ummm, she and Mr. Gagnier are cooler than a fan.  lol

What is truly inspirational is that she chose to do what she wanted.  She chose this art because it's what made sense to her spirit so, she followed that.  She didn't ask for a lot of input or for kudos for stepping out on the ledge.  She did it because she wanted to be the change she wished to see.  Shak put in countless hours of rehearsal time with the other actors and on her own.  She opened up her home on many nights as additional rehearsal space.  She gave up every weekend to rehearsal and then for every performance for months.  She accomplished this while going to work everyday.  She wanted people to see her going after something that she'd never done before and see it unfold for themselves.  And maybe through this one step of many more to come others will see that they can do it, too.  

 

 Tammy, Damani, Shak, Dawan and Dietric

 

The After Party: 

Tamara & Joel, like me, came to see the beginning and the end.

100.

Bright

Frustration

I haven't been able to sleep well for a minute now.  This morning I woke up and was still out of it, annoyed.  Got up at 3:30a to do my daily work out and was so frustrated, feeling defeated.  I've found myself feeling resentful and jealous.  Why?  Because my dreams have yet to come to fruition.  I see the people around me, those I love most doing it, being it.  But me...not so much.  I felt fraudulent.  I have all of these visions and ideas and still...nothing.  Nothing has come to life.  The webisodes that didn't pan out, different people who have flaked on projects, miscommunication and there's me.  What if this never happens?  What if I'm all talk and no show.  I can't stand those people but what if I'm one of them?  I am not a hater but I felt a disheartened part of me growing inside.  This ish is so important to me, of the utmost importance but nothing seems to be coming.  I am trying so damned hard.  Knocked on so many doors, done so much research...What am I supposed to do?  

Sitting in my trainer's car after I told him I had to leave, he talked me back down to reality.  He told me to take a deep breath and to just. breathe.  I shared my anger and frustration through tears.  Why can't I make it happen?  I'm 28 years old and feel like I have nothing to show for my love of what I aspire to do.  He told me that just like I told him a few days prior that I have to keep going.  That I have so much to be thankful for and to remember that.  He told me that I don't know the actual course of action that will take place to get me there but that place is still where I'm going.  I just have to continue to forge ahead.  He said, when they do the "True Story of..." are they gonna say "oh, she struggled for a year or 2 but everything was ok"?  That won't inspire people.  He reminded me of the people I give my love and support to, including himself.  The people I don't let fall.  He turned the mirror on me and showed me my true self.  The happy positive self, he reminded me of all that I've done and showed me that glass that wasn't half full at all.  It's nearly full.  Then, we saw a falling star.  Wow.  I had to laugh and smile. :)  

I have to fight my tendency to stress that which I don't have control over.  What I do have control over is how hard I push and for how long I'll go.  So, I'm remembering to remember that I've decided this path (or is it the path that chose me? lol).  And that I really am grateful for everything and everyone, including the people who don't want to be involved.  When I think I can't give anymore I have to go even harder.  And for how long?  Until the wheels fall of this thing.  Like Diddy circa '97 and beyond, "Can't stop, won't stop."  hahahahaha 

 

You can go hard or go home.  Choose your own adventure.

100.

Bright

I'm Inspired By: Aristotle

Aristotle suggested, "A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself ... with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions."

I don't know why I'm enthralled by Tragedy. Macbeth was by far my favorite Shakespearean play. I had such high hopes for him before his downfall. Perhaps it's the depth of emotion that occurs when I engage in the Tragic Hero's journey. I feel a sense of release by empathizing with the character. One thing's for sure, I better be careful what I'm paying attention to because reality has a way of mirroring art.

Come on...happy, happy thoughts. No more dating guys that mirror Joaquin Phoenix's deep-brooding, poor, tortured soul. (Ahem)

I think it's the tragedies that make the most apathetic hearts feel something. And isn't that what acting is all about? Making the audience FEEL. It's wonderful to laugh and to experience joy while taking in a flick. But sometimes, in those dark and seemingly isolated theatres when we cry our hearts out for the "tragic character"; we're become deeply invested in his/her final results. But why? In effect, we're sympathizing with the character while also purifying ourselves from personal past hurt.

In a world where feeling and emotions are somewhat Taboo. And boys are told to 'act like a man', translation, don't show your emotions or else you'll be perceived as weak. The opportunities for emotional release are few and far between. Thank god for the mighty Arts, it is the goal...no it is the job of the artist to conjure up human emotions like a alchemist turns lead into gold.

I have to quote Yeezy here to illustrate my point, "Now I speak from the heart, you all fronting. Everybody feel a way about K but at least you all feel something." Couldn't agree with him more. Most characters, I mean people, are just blah, blah, blah...just there in the background. I couldn't pin-point if most folks annoy me, inspire me, irritate me or what. They're just there. Wouldn't the world be much more interesting if folks weren't afraid to be who they really are?

Shak

100.