Win, Lose or Draw... Keep Living!

Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is starting off really well, and I hope you're staying cool in this warm weather. We've got some catching up to do. Let's talk about life from an athletic point of view. The Warriors. The Avalanche. Special Olympics. The mentality. The dexterity. The audacity. Not saying that I'm an athlete, but just saying that we put too much stress on the athletes. We showcase athletic abilities and create role models in our society. But the second that they show vulnerability, we turn and attack our "fallen heroes". The latest example is Ms. Serena Williams. This dominant tennis champion had decided to play in Wimbledon 2022. Unfortunately, she lost in the 1st round after taking a yearlong break from tennis. Now, I applaud her for doing this. I applaud her for using her platform to showcase something that we rarely hear athletes talk about. Often times, athletes are expected to be superhuman. They are above everything else and they never get hurt. And when they do get hurt, they just bounce back immediately. In the blink of an eye. With the swooshable wand or wealthy doctor. That thought is furthest from the truth. If anything, you're seeing more athletes coming out now, especially after they retire, with all of their different issues. With all of their different health conditions. With all of their flaws. They really don't live up to the image that the media created when they were popular and can truly unveil themselves. I applaud Ms Williams because she decided- at the top of her game- to go for it. You win some. You lose some. But you learn either way. She put a year long pause on everything to focus on her own self care. Her graceful exit was the best message she could send. She gave her all and she kept it moving. Serena Williams represents more than the life of a sports star. She chose the life of an elite athlete, and I'm glad to see that her supporters are surrounding her. I'm glad to see that her endorsements have remained the same. I'm glad to see that she's actually picking up new endorsements while still competing. Our health is an important item that we need to work on in this country. I was shocked this week to find out that the WNBA has failed again. Britney Griner is in a Russian jail STILL! Is it because she's a young lady and these are political men committed to the Cold War? I'm not sure. That's a debate for another day. But on this bright day, I hope that you are taking care of yourself. I hope that you are setting the example you want to see. Take the time to really seek and search and find your mental health. Keep your physical dexterity in order. Make sure that your spirituality is addressed this week and this weekend. I really applaud this effort Serena, Coco and Britney are showing. I applaud the spotlight that other athletes are shining on this topic. I am standing with them. Standing for them. Standing behind them. Standing beside then. It's so totally and thoroughly important to protect your rights in this crazy mixed up world that we are living in. But let me hear your thoughts. How are your mentally? How is your day going? Are you protecting yourself today? Or have you exposed yourself to something that you don't need exposure to? Did you win? Or did you learn? Share your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blog space. Please stay safe, healthy, and cool. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Hot Fun In The Summertime

Happy Friday Everyone!!! Its the freaking weekend kicking off the summertime vibes. So many events going on outside. Parades, festivals, concerts, exhibits, picnics and sporting events are on the rise. Love is in the air as connections are being made. Everyone is searching for fun activities to engage in. Having fun is a universal language. The goal is to make memories that are filled with love and happiness. Often, music is involved... and so is dancing. You move across genres to enhance the mood of all involved. I must admit, I'm a disco queen. I love all club music and in particular house music. The bass moves you, the beat grooves you. And you just move. Fast or slow. Partnered up, grouping out, or going solo. There no judgement there as we're at the mercy of the DJ who keeps the party going. Summertime in Chicago brings about many neighborhood celebrations and themed settings. Watching old clips of the dance party held in Downtown Chicago truly gave me pause. They were old and young people there. From ghostly pale to dark chocolate, everyone was dancing to the same grooves. People were dancing, recording, taking selfies, all kinds of things on one accord. For the brief moments we had forgotten about the pandemic, vaccines, masks, boosters and social distancing. No matter your race, creed, or color, folks focused on music. It looked like pure fun and great excitement. I revel in the fact that the warm weather brings out the best in humans being humane to each other. Someday we will be free to be kind to each other.  Love one another. Live our lives to the fullest. Until then, let's focus on getting together and loving each other. Are you happy with the way your life is going? Do you need to change now? Join in as we walk this journey to see the best things in life. The purple life. Please  share your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay  safe and stay healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Ten Ways To Survive The Summer Heat

Happy Thursday? Did you get a chance to cool off? This week was a scorcher!!! I mean several days of oppressive heat with no relief in sight. We've had bouts of sunshine and rain and triple digit temperatures. Much better than snow but still sweltering. So many of us are sick of being shutdown but following the safety protocols. Cabin fever has taken over with the rising mercury. People are planning backyard parties, water sports, vacations, graduations, and holiday gatherings. Everyone has an agenda even if cut short due to the weather. But how do you beat the heat? How cool, calm and collected are you? Well I've found 10 tips to help you survive the heatwave:

1. Stay hydrated.
2. ​Take a lukewarm shower.
3. Avoid tea and coffee.
4. ​Eat light meals.
5. Cool your toes.
6. Wear loose cotton clothes.
7. Change light bulbs.
8. Unplug your computer.
9. Make a cold compress.
10. Block the sun.

I am sweating it out as I type this to you. I am home in Cleveland watching the NBA Draft 2022. Touching base with family and friends has been completely worth it. The weather forecast over the next few days is above average. Its a process to adjust to the climate change and seasonal fluctuations. But I am learning and growing and enjoying myself along the way. I'm still recovering from my surgeries, but getting stronger each day with prayer and perseverance. Have you done anything so exhausting yet liberating at the same time? Did it making a lasting impact? Or a wonderful memory? Would you do it again? I'll just say that I'm a winter baby and snow is my friend. I'm thankful for the experience and the opportunity to do better. Join me on this journey towards living the best life. The purple life. Please share your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay  safe and stay healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Blessing For Summer Solstice

Happy Tuesday everyone.  Did you stay cool today? Sunlight was maximized with the summer solstice. As we start the warmest season in the past few years, the possibilities are endless.  However, it meant more to me this year. Sheltering in place has created a desire to get out. Explore new places. Enjoy different things. The break in the weather was real and noticeable in Cleveland. We went from 60 degrees to 90 degrees TODAY!!! The warmth of the sun melted the aches and pains in my bones. I wasn't weary, I was energized. Looking around the hospital, I saw many people reclaiming their life, health and strength. I certainly understand the "snow birds" who seek the sunny destinations when it gets cold. People are seeking each other out to congregate and celebrate. Just this month, we've had Prince Day, Father's Day, Juneteenth and our church anniversary. People are bonding over their taste and style..... in an effort to push through this pandemic. Often, its the shared moments we treasure most. Why? Because that is the idea behind life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But are you chasing happy? Or blessed beyond measure? Is it all created for a social media post? Or are you in a moment? Only you can answer this question. As for me, I enjoy living my best life no matter what city I'm in. I invite you to embrace this journey as we discover our best selves and our best life. The purple life. Please share your comments below. Thank you for reading this  article and supporting this blogspace.  Stay safe and stay healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Juneteenth 2022: A Federal Holiday

Happy Monday everyone. How is your holiday going? Good? Bad? Floating and fleeting? Today is the recognized federal holiday for Juneteenth. We mark the day the last slaves were freed in Galveston Texas. We call into remembrance that the Emancipation Proclamation was signed January 1, 1863. These slaves didn't receive news of their freedom for two and a half years. Can you imagine that happening now? In this day and age of a 24 hour news reel? We get images of turmoil and strife within minutes on the World Wide Web. And we see rival factions debating politics while their constituents suffer. Unfortunately this is becoming "the norm". Conquerors seek profits over people and will destroy anything in their way. They hoard this wealth while the multitudes fight over the scraps. Group mentality fosters to make one feel superior over others to justify their ethical neglect and exploitive actions. Sadly, things appear to be worse and there is no hope left.....or so others would want you to think. What do you feel when you see these images? Can you empathize with those uninformed slaves? Do you have any compassion left? Or are you only looking out for you and yours? God blessed us with a moral compass to guide us through dark times. Our ancestors used these thoughts and prayers until freedom came. What will history say about us? Let's embrace the past and move forward. Faith without works is naught. And He covers all in his love, grace, and mercy. We want to maintain the high road and live our best life. The purple life.  Share this journey with me as reach the mark of the high calling. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe and stay healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Children's Mental Health Matters

Happy Thursday Everyone. I am writing this article really shocked and scared for the future. A lot of stories have been released recently about our teens. Teen issues, whether it be cutting or burning or fighting or shootings at schools, our teenagers are going through a lot. Now, I don't have any children. I've talked to my god kids and my friends kids. However, I have never had the full time duty of dealing with a teenager. Our children are shooting, fighting, dying and taking their own lives. This is frightening to me. They've barely have had a chance to live, let alone to have accumulated enough in life to want to end it all. The story comes out in the aftermath. There was an issue, problem or something that was bothering the child to the point where they felt they couldn't overcome. Teen suicide rates are on the rise, and are the third leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds. What's worse, murder has moved into the number one slot. How can you tell that a teenager is actually going through a crisis? How can adults take the non verbal clues, and come up with a plan to help kids survive what they're going through? These children need coping skills. They need parental guidance. They need a support system to build them up to the point where they can make it to adulthood. There's so much life to live and love to give. Young people need to learn we're never bound by our circumstances- even while being so young. Growing into adulthood gives us the opportunity to make the changes that we want in life. Kids think the end of the world is what they're going through. And it's not. We want to make sure that we're taking care of our babies. I'm concerned about these young lives. I'm concerned about the generations that are coming up behind me. I will do my part to make sure that every life that I touch- young or old- is known to be appreciated and loved. I'm also making sure that if there's ever anything I can do to make someone's day better or brighter, I can do it.  I will always make sure that someone is living up to their full potential. I will certainly encourage anyone to get the help they need to resolve their issues.  Let's do at least that much because we all deserve to live our best life. The purple life. Please share your comments below. Thank you for reading this article, and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe and stay  healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Rules Of Engagement

Its Hump Day. We're halfway through the week and I'm over it. Watching today's newscasts brought back bad memories.  Children dying in the crossfire. Drivers killed in carjackings. Innocent people dying from freak accidents. You go to school, work, (insert place here) going about you normal routine and then there's a shooting.  Our country is becoming numb to these recurring headlines. Chicago is constantly in the spotlight for the reckless abandon of the value of life. For a father to drown this three young children is heartbreaking. He the police on a chase then attempted suicide is the bottom of horrible. Our children are not safe at school or on their way to school. In the wake of Uvalde, the cries have come to arm teachers. Unfortunately, the state of Ohio has passed this ridiculous notion into law. Even worse, permits can be granted with as little as 24 hours of training. Teachers can't get proper salaries or supplies... how are they getting guns? And body armor? How would guns be stored in the classroom? How can we insure bullies or mentally disturbed students cannot access the artillery? Too many questions. Too many issues. If armed, shielded and trained law enforcement officers refused to perform their job duties, why push teachers into those duties? Our country hasn't always been this way. Where are these unproven theories coming from? Why does no one care about the carnage of these dead bodies? My question is why aren't there common sense gun laws? No other major country has these issues. We police the world but can't protect our citizens???!!! Really!!! I am thankful that there has risen a generation that says enough of this foolishness. People are tired of the lack of compassion and humanity. Our young people aren't posting about fluff topics. They are socially conscious citizens who are demanding that we do better. They are taking the world by storm demanding answers to these tough questions. I join them as I flashback to the shooting in Chicago 's Financial District a few years back. I never want to go through that again, and my heart goes out to those families victimized. I can only imagine the depth of emotions that everyone must have right now from Columbine to Sandy Hook to Uvalde. I know we can do more than sit by and watch. We can act, react and make the change. I'm just waiting for the country to pull together. Are you ready? I am. Join me on this journey as we aspire to live the best life. The Purple Life. Please share your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe and stay healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Dear Children Of The World💔💔💔

Happy Choose Day Everyone. The news is dominated by the storms, tornadoes and devastation that ripped across the country. This triple digit heatwave has captured the nation. However, there are miracles and survivor stories emerging around shielding loved ones and helping others during the chaos. I want to focus on the children. My mother always wanted us to try anything that we could ever think of because we might pursue it someday. Luckily, the three of us have found our way in this life. Now the reason why I'm focusing on the children today is because we need to do better by them. The world wasn't supposed to be like this. Buffalo. Uvalde. Sandy Hook. Parkland. The children have been quarantined with COVID. Their education disrupted. They have to deal with bullying, peer pressure and school shootings. They are inheriting inclement weather, climate change and global warming. Violence is plaguing our country. They are watching adults split over political views on a local, national and global scale. Most of them don't even have a formal concept of what it all means. We need to do better by our children. I don't have any children and I'm not raising any children in this crazy mixed up world. I try to influence all the young people who are in my life to do better. Grow better. Be better. But we adults need to help. We need a lot more mentors to reach back and pour into our children. We need a lot more schools to teach the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. We also need some law and order. The fact that people are shooting in schools on a constant basis finally spurred some bipartisan movement. I was actually in the audience for an Oprah show that never aired because the families of the killers were not pleased with how they were being portrayed. The killers of the students. So I say this very heavily because I see the pictures of the Civil Rights Movement. I see the pictures of schools and being integrated, busing and segregation that existed beforehand. So many generational curses have passed down the line that we really need to look back and see where the mistakes were made. We don't want to carry that into the future. We are halfway through 2022 and I want our children to be set on the right course. They are our future. They hold the keys to the world. They will be the ones traveling in space. They will be the ones in public office. They will be global ambassadors. They will have what we instill in them. So take your honor seriously. If God blessed you to be a parent, be a parent. Kids have enough friends as it is. Bestow the love, discipline and knowledge of a parent. Bruce Lee stated "Instead of buying your children all the things you never had, you should teach them all the things you were never taught. Material wears out, but knowledge stays.".  I couldn't agree more. Receive this message in the peace and joy intended. Pray for those who have suffered under these undeniable circumstances. While sheltering in place, be safe during this pandemic. Spread some hope for the future into your families during this summer season. But I certainly do want to hear from you. Please share your thoughts below. Thank you for supporting this blog space and reading this article. Stay safe and stay healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

STAND UP AMERICA!!!

It's a Monday Monday😒 The Jan 6th hearings are ramping up, and the racial decent is rearing its ugly head. Buffalo. Uvalde. Are you fed up? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Have you ever had one of those days? I mean hit the wall kind of days? Well this one was by far the one for me. I've been watching too much news, and can't blame anyone but me. God protects babies and fools.....you know the rest. But what are we doing to each other? I mean killings in Chicago are on the rise again after being sheltered in place. Chiraq is living up to this ugly nickname, and surpassing all considerable limits.  Continued killings of Black and Brown people sweep the country. The need to stop Asian hate has splashed across the nation. Since its "Pride" month, LGBTQ+ are the new terror choice. Social justice is elusive to most but swift to expose racism, sexism, and classism. Politicians are angling targeted debates and legal wranglings over the rights and wrongs of US policies. This self righteous grandstanding is reaching a frenzied pitch. During this election season, each side points fingers at the other. Our conversations are very guarded and sometimes filled with hatred. There's even been talk of voter suppression laws sweeping across many red states. We can't afford to go back that far. We can't afford to continue carrying this bitterness and vitriol. We as a nation must come to the table and talk to each other. We must stand up for our virtues and values as an industrialized society. Our lives hang in the balance and we need to secure our futures. Many grassroot organizations are taking our leaders to task. Get involved. Find a cause you believe in. If we can tout herd immunity, we can march to the polls for a healed community. I don't believe I'm living the best life now, but have joined up with others who are using our shared Christian values to implement lasting changes. So let's join forces and create our narrative and purpose. We only want to live up to this country's decree of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We must strive and move forward on our goal to live the good life. The purple life. What are you prepared to do? Can you volunteer? Can you contribute? Can you spread the word? Or are you paralyzed by fear, apathy and unbelief? Please share your comments below. Thank you for sharing your journey with me. Your support of this blog space is greatly appreciated. Please stay safe and stay healthy.Take Care and God Bless!!!

Music Fuels The Soul

Happy Friday!!! Hopefully it was a wonderful day for you. Its raining in Chicago, so that made things very interesting. The weather certainly made things clear for evening plans. I'm hoping that you spend some time this weekend to really take care of yourself. For me, I'm still recovering. Oftentimes we as individuals will burn the candle at both ends during the work week only to wear ourselves out. People trying to burn the proverbial midnight oil to get things done stress the very limits of their capabilities. When that last drop of energy has gone, what do you do to replenish? What do you do to fill your empty cup? Are all of your tanks empty? Are you running on fumes? Or are you recharging? Are you taking a moment for yourself? These are some very important questions to answer. More importantly, you really need to figure out what it is that fuels you back up. Determine what it is that gives you the energy to keep going forward. One of the things I always like to do is refuel my soul. Music is one of the things in life that feeds my heart and soul. Activities like healthy relationships, enjoyable physical activity, a fulfilling career, and meaningful spiritual practice are often accentuated with a soundtrack. Music is often used to engage individuals into action. Whether it be just for a moment or sitting down and having meaningful conversations, music enhances the enjoyment had by all. One of the things with the pandemic that I hate, is the fact that many businesses are still shut down. Even with the vaccine rates, mandates and such, many events still have restricted access. Due to the rate of COVID and the variants, it is not safe for some people to literally be out and about. Now the wonderful thing that has come about is there are so many streaming services that are online. Whether you're using YouTube channels or other platforms, the music is still getting across. So what feeds your soul? What refreshes and replenishes you? Share your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe and stay healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

The Power Of Healing Harmonies

Happy Friday Eve everyone.  Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Monica, and I'm still recovering from my surgeries. I just experienced the most common yet most shocking health scare in my life. My eyes fell victim to the pandemic and my diabetes. Sheltering in place  kept me safe but affected my vision. When going to a routine checkup with my doctor, she referred me to two different specialists to remedy my diabetic dilemma. After having surgery in November and April, I just received my progress report. SUCCESS!!! Why am I blogging about this? Twofold. First, because I felt nothing. I noticed no changes. I was in survival mode in a COVID environment. I blamed my tiredness on lack of sleep and poured my energy from cups of tea. If I hadn't had that appointment, I shutter to think what may have happened. I have been a diabetic for over 24 years,  and I thought I knew my body. WRONG!!! I'm on the right path as I intend to keep strong and get healthy. I use my story as a warning to you. Do you feel out of sorts? Are you stressed out? Googling symptoms? Self medicating? Avoiding hospitals and doctors? Asking your friends and family for advice? Holding it all in? Putting on a brave face while quietly dealing with your issues? Stop🛑🛑🛑 Get tested. Get treated. Save yourself from the headache and heartache of not knowing. Second, taking the necessary time to recover. Music saved me. Music helped me heal as my eyes rested. Music kept my mind strong by registering all the memories of my mind. Music conforted me during those uneasy moments. Music brought connectivity to others during live streams. Gospel music accompanied my prayers for divine healing, miracles, health and strength. Music is the core of my being and the energy source to vibrate highly. I listen to so many styles and so many DJs which allows lyrical understanding and record relatability. During this Black Music Month, take the time to educate yourself and lend your support to your favorite genre. I ask you to join me on my journey back from the brink....moving toward living the best life. The purple life. Please share  your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe and stay healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Until the end of time💜💜💜

Happy Hump Day!!! Did you make it over? Or did you even try to climb? Well I'm still basking in the Purple Love from Prince Day. With a new mural, music, and street dedication, Prince has accumulated more accolades after his passing. The new immersive experience opens in Chicago tomorrow and more events are coming. Since its Black Music Month, I welcome it all. As a forever fan, I will love Prince until the end of time. He has one of the biggest international fan bases of any artist. Why are Prince fans so awesome? Hands down, they act like your family. There's an automatic bond with one another. I've been a fan since 1978 when I was 10 years old. At 13, my parents took me and my siblings to my first Prince concert. While waiting outside the arena, Prince fans offered my Mom wine and my Dad weed.  We laugh about that unto this day. The connection everyone has to Prince's catalog is ravenous. People collect any piece of memorabilia they can get their hands on. April 21, 2016 is when Prince left this world in utter shock and disbelief. The world turned purple as people reminisced about the Purple One. Seemingly, Prince fans opened their hearts, minds, and vaults. So many creatives have produced artistic renderings of his music, his art, and his image. His estate has released several sets of remastered music. Facebook has numerous groups of fans from around the world. Most group only require respect for one another. Prince taught us to have love for one another. It doesn't matter your race, your sex, or your socioeconomic status.  It's the love for Prince and the love of his music that binds us. We are not just Prince fans, we are the Purple Family. We support one another unashamed and unabashedly. So I wrote this post to share and spread Purple Love to anyone who needs some. May it overwhelm you, energize you and overflow to others in need. So what's your story? When did you become a Prince fan? Do you have any fun fan moments? Please share your comments below.  Thanks for reading this  article and supporting this blogspace.  Stay safe and stay healthy. Peace and Be Wild!!!

Prince Day 2022💜💜💜

It's Prince Day 2022!!! 64 years ago, the love of my life was born. The world didn't know it yet, but this musical genius came into this thing called life and took it by the horns. Prince did things his way. Sometimes good and sometimes not so much, but every experience taught him at a young age to depend upon himself. Since his passing in 2026, many have unearthed pictures, videos, recordings and other mementos. Thank God his talent was recognized early as he gave us his soul in song. It hard to imagine that his first single "Soft and Wet" was released forty four years ago today. That's the song I fell in love with and loved him ever since. As an awkward  ten year old, I gravitated to his unmistakable falsetto and vibrant beats that reached out of the radio and grabbed my heart. The boldness of the music. His fresh take on classic songs. His inventive style, sound, and swagger commanded attention and respect.  Prince drew fans from across the globe with his love of God and his musical talent. He gave us his all and every performance was one to remember. I had seen him several times in concert, but it always felt like a private show. Prince loved us through his music and we the fans will never forget him. His Royal Badness continues to reign with new music, murals, proclamations and honors. He left us filled with his love and his catalogs and his vaults of treasured materials that will outlive us all. Prince was a champion for artistic rights and forward progression. He was also a humanitarian and silent benefactor to many fellow artists and individuals alike. Prince moved in silence but his good deeds speak volumes. As does his life. As does his legacy.  It doesn't get much purpler than this. Are you living your best life? Your purple life? What will people say about you when you're gone? Will they remember the good? Or will you be a distant memory? I challenge you to change your narrative. There's still time to rewrite your story. Its certainly worth the effort to make the rest of your life the best of your life. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blogspace.  Stay safe and stay healthy.  Take Care and God Bless!!!

Express Yourself

Happy Monday everyone.  Summer is springing forward and folks are heading outside. Everyone is relaxing their COVID-19 protocols and events are happening live... not zoom or stream. People have been sheltering in place for two years. The desire to reengage and reconnect are rising along with the temperatures. The sense of community builds strong bonds especially through the internet.

I've joined several Aquarius groups during the pandemic, and many folks are artistic, opinionated, exotic creatives who are entrepreneurs. MIm transitioning my job to focus on my career goals. So many folks are in the depths of despair and they're grasping for straws of hope. Often, there is a need to express themselves. Blow off steam. Shout it out. Expel negative energies. I will drop gems of positivity and light to all, but I had to recharge and recover from my surgeries. What's my secret? Where do I get my power from? JESUS!!! Jesus through scriptures. Jesus through morning prayers. Jesus through church community. Jesus through music. Music came down from heaven above to help praise and uplift God. Over time, music has evolved into what it is today. Music still has the capability to influence mood and relax the mind. Throughout my research, I've found many entertainers are Aquarius creatives who excel in their crafts. Even the Aquarius symbol♒♒♒ looks like the transfer of energy. Chicago just hosted several religious events including Gospelfest which definitely brought thousands together for praise and worship. Let's lift each other up as we proceed through life. We are stronger together and we can do this. How does music affect you? Do you have a theme song? What songs bring back strong memories? Do you have a tune or lyric that motivates you? Please share your comments below.  Thanks for reading this  article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe and stay healthy. Take Care and God Bless 🎶🎶🎶

Happy Music Mindset

Happy Friday everyone! Summer's here and the time is right for dancing in the streets. Outdoor festivals are ramping up for the season, and we are here for it. Celebrations are shorter and more localized, but they promise to pack on the family fun and enjoyment. Its really doing my heart good to see things coming together again. As an added benefit,  everyone's mood and mindset are reaching new heights. So looking into this further, why does music make us so happy? Universities have been studying the effects of music on brain health, and the results are wide ranging. They all agree that music helps to release dopamine, which is known to modulate reward experiences. You are literally treating yourself whether you're singing or listening. Music helps with people who have dementia and those on the autism spectrum. There are no negative symptoms that come from the songs we enjoy, whether new or old. Scientists have proven that music with strong beats can encourage focus, activity and concentration. On the flip side, songs with slower rhythms reduce stress, increase relaxation and aids meditation. Some additional benefits include:

1. Pulls attention from negative stimuli 

2. Increases the "feel good" chemical

3. Stimulates brainwaves

4. Improves your state of mind

5. Reduces the perception of pain

I love music. Sweet, sweet music. Growing up in Cleveland, music was and still is life. We treasure the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and our hometown heroes, the O'Jays. Diving deeper into the research, music is a part of the fabric of our lives. It's no wonder that radio stations run 24/7/365, and online options are endless. The pandemic lockdown has brought back the sweet sounds of R & B, Rock & Roll, Pop, Soul and Rap music. Online DJs saved our lives and live streamed events brought universal joy to us all. Join me as we pay tribute to Black Music Month this June. Let's take the scenic route of our journey to living our best life. The purple life. Share your comments below. Thank you for reading this  article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe and stay healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

A Moment In Song

Happy Thursday everyone.  Today they are unveiling a 100' by 40' mural of Prince in Minneapolis. My recovery is limiting my travel, but my heart is with my Purple Family. The 2022 Celebration is bound to be the most memorable yet. This is definitely a moment in the history of song. I love music. Any kind of music. Cleveland's own O'Jays made these lyrics famous over their 50 year career. My favorite rapper, Rakim, stated that " to me, MC means Move the Crowd". Music blares during special events, classes, lounges, nightclubs, schools and churches. Why is that? Well this "feel good" chemical is triggered when listening to music. Memories are made, cherished and remembered in an era or space in time. How does that work? Researchers have uncovered plenty of evidence for the benefits songs have on us. Many doctors are musicians in their own right, and incorporate music into their therapy/recovery plans. Doctors have found that social isolation is a cardiac risk factor. As we are surviving this pandemic, we are just now creating a new normalcy. Music helps by lowering blood pressure. The healing vibrations even stimulate the skin and the sensations felt. They even found that work performance is better when completing tasks and tests. Most of the studies centered on physical abiity and musical influences. Music affects the capacity and arousal of the muscles based on the speed and variance of the tempo. So no matter the genre of music you like (or don't like), do yourself a favor and add music to your daily routine. As we take a deeper dive into Black Music Month, you will discover that the lyrics, melodies, and arrangements can truly transform your environment. With social distancing, we need to keep our minds and bodies right. This will help ensure that we're living our best life. The purple life. So what kind of music do you listen to? How does it help you? What moments have you had to a certain song or melody? Please share your comments below. Thank you for reading this article  and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe and stay healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Black Music Month 2022

Happy Hump Day. It's the first of the month... and the unofficial start of summer. June is designated as Black Music Month. Established in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter to recoognize the cultural and historical contributions of our original American art forms: blues, jazz, R&B and hip-hop. As we celebrate the range and complexities of our music, we acknowledge the artistry and ancestry from slavery through to today. Black music is universal. In my travels, I have found that people gather and celebrate with music. More impressive, they can appreciate music in English even when they don't speak the language. We have the ability to emote with the song selection chosen and transfer energy between each other. There is a sense of comfort and community established with the harmonies, timbres, and textures of the melodies played. Often, the music brings up memories of times past. Many musicians are remixing their catalogs to create fresh perspectives on past successes. Researchers have found that music can evoke empathy of mankind towards each other. As I engage others, they respond in kind. I often project positivity, which draws people in. Rarely have I had issues expressing my thoughts when music and movement were involved. During my recovery from my procedures, music kept me calm, cool and collected. Even though I still have a long journey ahead of me, I feel confident that the music will pull me through. How has music translated for you? What are some nontraditional genres that you listen to? Are there any cultures you'd like to immerse yourself in? Please share your comments below. Thank you for stopping by. Stay safe and stay healthy.