#Earlyinthemorning #GapBand
Inspirational Song Analysis: Early in the Morning by Charlie Wilson, Lonnie Simmons and Rudy Taylor
How to Be Happy: Happiness Becomes You by Tina Turner
Tina Turner (November 26, 1939-May 24, 2023) was a famous singer, actor, producer and writer. Her hero's journey began in a small rural town in Brownsville, Tennessee. Turner's childhood was difficult due to financial poverty and racial discrimination. However, she was destined for greatness. Turner became an international star and sold millions of records worldwide. While browsing books at a recent library visit, Happiness Becomes You by Tina Turner caught my attention. Turner dedicated the book to her readers: "I dedicate this book to you....in honor of your unseen efforts to triumph over each problem life sends your way." Let's discuss...
Celebration Bowl 2025 - Prairie View A&M vs South Carolina State University- Lessons on Bouncing Back from Adversity
South Carolina State University overcomes a 21-point deficit at half-time to win the 2025 Celebration Bowl!
South Carolina State University Wins by 2 points!
At half-time South Carolina State University scored 0 points
I look forward to attending the Cricket Celebration Bowl every year. The bowl is a post-season game between the champions of the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), which are two prominent conferences of historical black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The competitive festive family friendly event is a fun time. Even though I did not attend a HBCU, I love supporting and sharing the experience with the community. On December 13th, Prairie View A&M played against South Carolina State University. The game is inspirational and a metaphor about overcoming adversity. Let's discuss....
Book Review: Men and Grief, by Mitch Cohen M. ED, Contributors: Jon Yaeger; Robert Rainey; Dom Caratzas; Derek Scott, RSW, and Stuart Smith, LPC
"Life is suffering," is one of the Four Noble Truths in the Buddhist religion. Even though I am not Buddhist, I agree. Suffering is universal because it is an integral part of the human experience. Grieving is one of the few experiences in life we all have in common. Show me one person who has never cried in life. Go ahead, I will wait. Everybody grieves. It is quite common for women to be vocal about grief. For an example, most talk shows are female topic focused. In contrast, it is not common for men to be vulnerable and openly share their grief. In the book, Men and Grief by Mitch Cohen M. Ed. and Contributors: Jon Yaeger; Robert Rainey; Dom Caratzas; Derek Scott, RSW, and Stuart Smith, LPC, men share their stories of grief and how they found strength to overcome sorrow through family, therapy, community and love. Let's discuss.....
How to Get Away with Murder: In Defense of Michaela Pratt
How To Get Away with Murder (HTGAWM), rated TV-14, is one of my favorite legal dramas. As of November 2025, it is streaming on Amazon Prime. Peter Nowalk is the creator and Shondra Rhimes is the executive producer. HTGAWM follows the lives of Analise Keating, a defense attorney and law professor, and five of her law students (K5), who are involved in a series of complex murder plots. However, the complicated relationship between the K5 is why I repeatedly watch it on streaming. My favorite character is Michaela Pratt, portrayed eloquently by actress Aja Naomi King, who on the surface is not very likeable until you get to know her. I know her. Let's discuss....Warning, this post contains spoilers.
Book Review: 10th Anniversary Edition: Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes is a prolific television screenwriter, producer and founder of Shondaland, her production company. Highly rated Shondaland produced shows include How to Get Away with Murder, The Residence, Scandal, Bridgerton and others. When I heard that Rhimes was coming to my city to promote the 10th Anniversary of her Year of Yes memoir, I didn't think twice before buying a ticket. Let's discuss.....
Movie Review: A Soldier's Story, a movie adaptation of Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize Winning Play
My dear mother passed away in July 2023, after living with cancer for over twenty years. I miss her dearly. Sometimes, rewatching movies we both enjoyed is my way of remembering good times. Recently, I thought about A Soldier's Story (1984 film). We watched the movie over and over again and quoted lines to each other. A few months before she died, I invited her to see the live play at a local theater. She was not feeling well, so she suggested I take my brother instead. Like Sinners (2025), A Soldier's Story is set during the era of Jim Crow, segregation of Black people in the United States. Both prominent characters in the films are from Mississippi. However, the villain in A Soldier's Story was not an Irish vampire promising "Fellowship and Love." Let's discuss.....
Food Addictions: What Happens When Food Becomes an Obsession?
Food courtesy of Moonery
I enjoy food. All kinds of food. A chocolate cake to
celebrate a birthday? Yes, I want two
slices. Buttered covered popcorn and a
movie? I am first in line. Veggie pizza?
I want it right now. However, living a care-free food lifestyle has
consequences. Recently, a relative passed away due to Type 2 diabetes. As a
result of this loss, I analyzed my relationship with food. I noticed my
unconscious eating habits, and my tendency to snack when I am not even hungry. Why? As
we travel our own hero's journey to wholeness, we may self-medicate through
food to help us deal with the obstacles and challenges on our path. Let's discuss….
Sinners (2025 film) by Ryan Coogler: An Outside Look on the Inside of Ourselves
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Sinners film (2025) Rated-R, Written and Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan.(Courtesy of Wikipedia)
Congratulations on 16 Academy Award Nominations. Record.
On the way home from watching Sinners (2025), written and directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B Jordan, I felt a flood of conflicting emotions. I was shaking as I cried, laughed and pondered the layered story. I saw it at a full house movie theater of people who were invested in watching the story unfold because the only sounds I heard were screams, laughter and applause. As of this writing, I have seen the movie ten times in the theater. This is what movies are supposed to be about - a community experience. I will not expose the plot of this film because it is best to see it for yourself. If you like good movies, then you will probably like this good movie. But, Sinners is not just a movie experience to only entertain because there is an underlining theme which will mean different things to different people. The story is multi-layered which is unfortunately rare in movies now days. I left the movie thinking about how I can enjoy every moment of my life and that I should be careful who I invite inside my life because some people are human vampires. Let's discuss....
Happy New Year 2025!
Courtesy of Freepik
Happy New Year! Seems like yesterday we were welcoming in 2024. Time flies. I look forward to a great 2025! Time waits for no one as we travel this journey of life. The past is set in stone, but the future is yet to be written. We have another year to reach our goals for more joy, growth and positivity. We aim to learn from our challenges and move forward with courage. The see-saw of life, with its ups and downs, is common to all of us. We all have probably been hurt by life in some way or another. So, you are not alone if you ever feel overwhelmed. However, even with all of the bumpy roads we must sometimes travel, it is important to choose life!
I encourage you to write down your goals. Be clear about what you desire. Realize the differences between needs and wants. Accept that we can only change ourselves. Free will exists. We all reap what we sow.
Happy reading and thank you. May the Force be with us...
Happy New Year!
References
https://www.freepik.com/vectors/happy-new-year-2025
Entertaining Movies to Stream on Netflix - December 2024
There are several immensely entertaining movies streaming right now on Netflix as of December 2024. I have lost count of how many times I have watched these movies, but I notice something new each time I watch them. With each repeat viewing, I see nuances that spark new observations. Let's discuss....
See Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at The Center For Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia
Courtesy of the Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta, Georgia
November 12th - December 28th, 2025
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is one of my favorite movies. As a child, I enjoyed the story for its entertainment value; As an adult, I appreciate its wisdom. As a hero's journey, Rudolph is ridiculed for being unique due to his red nose. The story also explores what it means to be a misfit. The wisdom of the story is universal-appreciate your unique qualities. I saw the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer show at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia. It was a delightful experience. I highly recommend you see the show. Let's discuss....
Fun Things to Do With Friends
Courtesy of Pixabay
In a previous blog, we discussed how using Dr. Schafer's Friendship Formula can help you maintain friendships. Frequency, how often you interact with your friends, and duration, how long you interact with friends, are two elements. What are fun things to do with friends? Let's discuss....
Dr. Jack Schafer's Friendship Formula: How to Make Friends or Lose Them
"Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone"
From Maya Angelou's poem, "Alone"
Dr. Angelou is right. Nobody can make it in the world alone. People need people. Everything is interrelated. Recently, I had car trouble. My over 300,000k miles sedan needed an alternator, but I did not know it at the time. Yes, my battery light came on, but I kept on driving. I didn't heed the signs (we'll discuss this in a separate blog). As I sat on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck, I started thinking about the interrelationships of life. As social beings, we need each other, but not all relationships work out. Sometimes it is challenging to find the right people for us. I took my car to one body shop, but they could not do the job on my schedule, needed to order the part and charged me double the price. So, I took it to another shop who had the right parts, time and price. Likewise, making friends is a hit or miss game. However, according to Dr. Jack Schafer, there is a formula for making friends. After you make them, then you decide which ones to let go of or keep. Let's discuss...
How to Cope With Holiday Blues
Courtesy of Pixabay
Holidays are times for celebrations, but they can also be times of immense sadness. Why? Holidays occur in the present moment, but memories from the past may visit. These memories may include family members who have passed away, happier times with loved ones who are no longer in your life due to circumstances or the passage of time. You may experience waves of emotions from happiness to depression. How do you cope with holiday blues? Let's discuss...
The Healthy Hero: Seeking a Healthy Balance With Food and Weight Loss
Nutrition Pyramid courtesy of Wikipedia Commons
It was a rainy Monday morning when I stared at my scale. Over the years, I added 20 pounds to my weight. I said okay and then went to work. My lunch was my usual high carb and savory fair. French fries, cookies, burgers and cake were literally my best friends because they were honest and never disappointed me. Whenever I felt sad, I depended on food to help me feel better. However, my reflection in the mirror did not make me smile. A doctor told me that I had unhealthy lab results. If I did not make changes in my diet, then my risk for illnesses would increase. So, I had a choice - continue eating and living a sedentary lifestyle and watch my health suffer or focus on my wellbeing by eating healthier and increasing my exercise. I made the right choice. Over the past year I ran my first 10k, 5k and racked up miles going to parks to walk and enjoy nature. Oh, and I lost 20 pounds. My lab results are better, and I like my reflection in the mirror. Why did I change? Per Nietzsche, "He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." Let's discuss....
Hope Can Set You Free: A Look at The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption movie poster, courtesy of Wikipedia
Warning: this article contains spoilers from the film The Shawshank Redemption.
Hope is defined as "a feeling of expectation and desire for certain things to happen." In the film, The Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne maintained hope for a better life even though he was convicted of a crime he did not commit and forced to endure 19 years of confinement in a dangerous prison. The film is also a story about hope versus despair, which utilizes inspiration from the Hero's Journey and the Bible. It is celebrated as one of the best movies ever made even though it was not a box office hit. A popular line from the movie, "Get busy living, or get busy dying" is about the options we have in life. It is possible to be alive, but not live. The choice is up to you. Andy's character encourages you to have hope and pursue the life you believe you deserve. Let's discuss...
Choices and Consequences - Red Pill vs Blue Pill - Choose Wisely
The Matrix poster - Courtesy of Wikipedia
Recently, I attended an exciting football game. One team had a choice to either kick a field goal for three points or run the football through the end zone for two points. Usually, a team with similar options would go for the field goal. So, it was shocking to me, and others, when the team went for the run. The team didn't score and eventually lost the game. This event inspired me to think about our life choices and consequences. With every choice we make, there is a corresponding consequence. Like Neo in The Matrix, every day we make life altering choices, so choose wisely. Let's discuss...
Celebrating Endings for New Beginnings - Independence Day and the Declaration of Independence
Courtesy of www.freepik.com
Independence Day, known as July 4th, is a federal holiday in the United States. The holiday celebrates the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776, which established the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence, signed unanimously by all 56 delegates of the Second Continental Congress, is an eloquently written historical document which explains the reasons why the Thirteen Colonies decided to sever ties with Great Britain. Likewise, in our personal lives, all relationships have a beginning, a middle and an end. What can we learn from the Declaration of Independence that we can apply to our own lives whenever we wrestle with ending relationships? Let's discuss....
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