Good Evening, Everyone:

On Thursday, June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson, the King of Pop passed away.  His sudden death has caught the entire world by surprise.  May GOD comfort his entire family in their time of sorrow.  He was an incredible performer and will be greatly missed.  My generation essentially grew up watching Michael and his brothers perform as the Jackson 5 and they were the absolute bomb!  The song entitled, “Butterflies” that was released on his 2001 album, Invincible, is one of my favorite Michael Jackson recordings.  His vocal delivery on this song is impeccable.  It‘s like a trip down memory lane and reminds me of the more joyful aspects of love.  Michael Joseph Jackson may you “rest in peace” and “fly like a butterfly”.

Although his passing was unfortunate, it has reminded me to count my blessings.  Fame and fortune does not always guarantee happiness and its’ weight can come with a hefty price tag.  The endless competition, scrutiny and fight to stay relevant are enough to overwhelm anybody.  Audience demographics and tastes are constantly changing forcing entertainers to practically become “chameleons” in order to stay on top can take its’ toll.  I’m thankful that my life has been somewhat ordinary which has given me the personal space to develop the inner resources to effectively deal with life’s ups and downs.  Many individuals in the public arena don’t seem to have this luxury.

It’s sad that we live in a society that idolizes “youth” as opposed to “wisdom”.  Nothing in life stays the same and things will change as part of the natural ebb and flow of creation.  The process of aging is frowned upon and as hard as we may try, the clock will continue to tick and time will continue to march forward.  I really feel no different than I did twenty years ago.  I look different but genetics and spirituality have helped me age well.  Some people actually can’t tell how old I am which is a compliment in itself.  I could not have gotten this far without GOD’s grace and a mature understanding of life’s challenges.  It has not always been easy but dealing with the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of life from an ordinary person’s perspective has made me a much better person.  I don’t waste my time “stressing” many things that other people do because if it’s going to take anything away from “peace of mind”, I can do without it.  Too many of us seem to get all “bent out of shape” about little things that just are not that important.

Please remember as you walk the road of life to take some humility and compassion with you.  We’re all going to have our ups and downs and receiving some can be a “godsend” when you hit a rough patch.  We’re all human and we will make mistakes.  If you don’t give any, you certainly won’t receive your share when you need it the most.

May Peace Be With All of You,

Sistah Selah