The Answer Key

Let us take a collective breath... a beat... a pause... a moment and show some love, gratitude, and acknowledgement to the magic that exists in the simple beauty of this time despite the chaos and uncertainty. Certainly, recent times have proven that both can exist simultaneously, that people can be kind while others are hateful, that some can be ethical while others are unscrupulous, some can be educated while others are ignorant. For this moment, you can choose to appreciate the beauty that exists right now: a long overdue phone call over a quick text, a day of boredom instead of rushing from one obligation to the next, a break from a stressful job and time to search for a new one, quality time with your loved ones instead of living like passing ships in the night, and the freedom to stay up late or sleep in and catch up on much needed rest instead of managing your life under extreme exhaustion. Let us take a collective breath and see the beauty of life right now. If you look clo...

A childhood friend of mine is being buried today. If I were still in state I would be present for this one; a truly kind, gentle, and genuine person I am glad to have known. Today, my heart is heavy, a life lived so brief in the grand scheme of things; it can really shake you. I am reminded of the many who have left this world before me in my so few years here. A few questions came to mind, one, how will you knowing what you know, (that it can be so brief) how will you live life more fully? Two, how long will you be sad and what are you going to do about that? After a moment to ponder I concluded to myself that I will practice my passion with more urgency. It is easy to think that you have plenty of time, but you must remember that you are not the one holding the watch. I intend to remind myself of my purpose and get to work every day putting it into action. Great or small, my efforts count and will eventually add up to something. (Yes, that is my new affirmation.) I look forward to se...

It's election season! Soon there will be television ads, debates, and (especially because the state I live in is a newly deemed swing state) visits from politicians with all the works: eating our food, attending our townhalls, and posing for pictures while shaking hands and kissing babies. I love politics just as much as the next person. A discussion over laws, policies, pundants, and surrogates brings me great joy. Unfortunately, that joy is quickly turned to irritation every election year. Social media sites are flooded with ignorant, political filth and fallacies. The beauty of social media during election year is that it allows us to open up our own political debates and discussions with our friends and family near and far. I have participated in many discussions and was able to teach and learn from them. Most of them were pleasant if not enlightening, but we must be careful not to use these outlets to spread falsehoods and misinform our peers. I would love for th...

While somewhat reluctant, (solely based on my typical taste in genre being non-romance and anti-fad reading) I decided to give the 50 Shades of Grey Trilogy a try. 50 Shades of Grey depicts a fantastically, sloppy, unconventional relationship, an intense power struggle between the couple, and their incredibly jaw-dropping, passionately, intoxicating chemistry. The source of their fears, fights, and drama is completely unimaginable and equally overwhelming for both parties. The baggage of the past is constantly present and terribly heavy, but their extraordinary physical connection provides a welcomed distraction that often unleashes steamy, blush-worthy performances throughout. There is very little left to the imagination as the author gives a vividly explicit description of their sexual exploits. (I have no idea how they're going to make the movie.) At the heart of this tale, both characters are struggling to determi...

Once upon a time I actually would entertain the nonsense that haters spewed about me. Unfortunately, I've even deemed it necessary to defend myself against it. I suppose, sometimes it may have hurt my feelings a  or angered me, but as I have gotten older, and maybe as I have taken more than one opportunity to show and prove my haters wrong, I have embraced the ideal that I am who I subscribe to and not what anyone else labels me. Nobody knows me better than myself, so if I am honest with myself, acknowledging and accepting all that I am including my flaws and room for improvement, there is very little room left for anyone's opinion to really matter.  When people think that making the most of their time is used by trash-talking someone, you better believe that person is so sad, so disappointed, so burdened by the lack luster in their own life and the grand-slam of their own trials, flaws, and failures that at the end of their day, you are all they have, and that is a sha...

I absolutely must address the Grammys b.k.a the circus-fiasco last night. As a true Whitney Houston fan; I have to get this off my chest. Whitney Houston is a true iconic, diva, legend, and idol. I, personally looked up to her when I was a little girl. I don't know a little Jersey girl with big dreams that did not or does not look at the Queen of Pop as an inspiration. Whitney Houston is literally in a league of her own. No one has been imitated more than Whitney. No one's voice is more recognizable around the world. The things she has accomplished most artist only dream of. For example, she, Whitney Houston is THE only soloist to have the #1 song in every country in the WORLD at one given time. Yes, I Will Always Love You reached everybody. With all of that being known and said, the Grammys, in my opinion, did not do her justice. This award show in particular is suppose to celebrate music royalty. What better place and time than in a room full...