April 12, 2015

Lessons in Life: Once Upon a Time I fell for the Wrong Person….

Image Courtesy of depaul.edu

Most of us have had a Chris Brown…

The purpose of this piece is to reflect on the type of relationship that Karrueche Tran and Chris Brown had. One filled with dishonesty, infidelity, and betrayal. Truth be told thousands of women either had or have this type of relationship. I just use these two names in order to put a face on the type of relationship I’m speaking about.

A relationship where you are abandoned, misled and left with a broken heart. Truth is most women can relate on this level but it’s just not played out in public like Karrueche and CB. I should know…I was in this type of relationship myself. I was involved in a 3 year plus union with a man who I now realize was selfish and used the right words to manipulate me into thinking that much of his behavior was permissible all because he “loved me.”

March 10, 2015

Lessons in Life: Fear of Flying

Image Courtesy of canstockphoto.com

The first time I could remember being on a plane, I mean really remember being on a plane was going to see my friend in Florida. Perhaps it’s the fact that I was on a plane by myself that sticks out. Well next to me was a little boy, couldn’t be more than 5 or 6. He was with his grandma and she fell asleep. Long story short the little boy never flew on a plane before. He wanted to hold my hand, and truth be told I wanted to hold his. I was petrified but we decided we would open the window half way and watch outside. We would face our fear to fly— together.

As a result, even though I am not a fan of heights, I love to fly now. I can actually look out the window and every time before take off, right after I silently pray, I take a moment to think of that little boy. One fear conquered, a couple more to go.

March 9, 2015

Her Success is Not Your Failure: Why don’t Women Support Each Other?

Image courtesy of feministelizabethan.blogspot.com

The following is a topic I felt extremely compelled to write about. Why is it that women have such a hard time supporting one another? I must be frank; my personal opinion on why we tend not to advance as far as men is the fact that we will not help one another.

I remember back when I was younger if I went to a video or a photo shoot, I would meet a female. We would get along, strike up great conversation and then we would exchange numbers. Anytime I exchanged numbers with a male (straight or homosexual) I would always be able to follow up with them. We could talk, bounce ideas off one another, perhaps they would recommend a book or someone I should look into who may serve as a mentor or someone who is knowledgeable about the topic at hand.

February 4, 2015

Lessons in Life (Relationships): Subconsciously Sabotaging (Do you remember the time?)

Why is it that we allow our past relationships to dictate where our future ones are going?

The answer is pretty simple, because even after we have moved on, it doesn’t change the fact that the past is still a part of who you are. Even though we aim to live in the present, many of our choices are based on parts of our past.

We can’t seem to fully embrace the phrase, “You lived, you learned…”

It’s true the past can be an effective tool in the learning process but there is a time when letting the past dictate your future decisions can be ineffective; Such as in relationships.

January 31, 2015

Kickin it with Chris: Vine Time 2

Hello Everyone!!! Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. Many of you are probably gearing up for the Superbowl tomorrow!!

So in between your party preparations or if you are just taking a moment to surf the web, I hope you will take a couple of seconds out to have a look at a new vine by Kid prYme. This one is called “Switch Positions” and once again features yours truly.

Click to see the Vine

January 19, 2015

Lessons in Life: Self Discovery

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Aristotle

Self-discovery is such a crazy thing. Even crazier is the fact that it can and will continue to happen throughout the rest of your life. Sometimes you see it happening; you embrace and immerse yourself in the changes and discoveries. Other times, it hits you like a ton of bricks in the midst of a revelation or something that just gets down inside you and stirs you, whether for better or worst.

January 8, 2015

Kickin it with Chris: Vine Time

Hello Everyone!!! Happy New Year to all of my beautiful people out there. I know it’s been a minute since you read my words but much like many of you, I was taking a step back from the norm and the everyday hustle & bustle, to stop and live in the moment while spending time with the family.

While it was nice to relax and go off the grid for a week or two, I took the time to test out my acting chops in my very first appearance in a Vine via the charming and creative Kid prYme (look out for him in a future feature of Up Next).

Click here to peep the clip and support!!!

December 17, 2014

Lessons in Life: Love isn’t Supposed to Hurt

Image Courtesy of fanpop.com

Love isn’t supposed to hurt, or so I’ve been told but I am old enough to know that things don’t always turn out as planned. I never understood why people find it necessary to test another human being’s limits in order to truly call it love. In my lifetime I have loved and lost but I never could explain why some people felt it necessary, to attempt to break me down, only to come back into my life and claim how much they missed me and loved me.

December 16, 2014

Rest for the Weary

Image Courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

People tend to under estimate the true value of a thing called rest. Myself being no different from everyone else. One thing I can say is true, you need to take a moment to step back and smell the roses. I guess it’s true when parents tell their kids, “You need rest to be your best”. Not just rest of the body but also your mind and spirit. You will be surprised how many people truly lay awake at night anxious and uneasy over work related matters alone.

December 9, 2014

The More You Know…

Know well enough to know when you are being treated unfairly; when there’s no give, just take. Know well enough to know when you are not 1/1 of 1 but one of many, walk away. Know when to stand up for yourself, for someone else, for something bigger than us all. Be Strong, be Assertive, Be Brave…