Motivation for Perspective: Go Getter Monday

Each time you seek resolution and peace, you win. No matter how difficult it may be to not tell your side, choose the option that gets you to the “wrapping up” of the situation.

And while sometimes you think, naw, I gotta say this…umm, actually, you don’t.

If all you “have to say” is so someone knows they have you “messed up,” then you’ve lost, because you are voluntarily engaging with someone who has committed themselves to misunderstanding you and arguing with them only proves their perception.

I know it can be difficult to have others be inaccurate about you, but sometimes, that’s their role to play in our lives at that time.

If everyone treated us as if we were golden, imagine how complacent most of us would be. How relaxed we would become and comfortable being where we are.

Sometimes, that constant wrong point of view of us is forcing us to make changes to our surroundings so that we can get to our proper placement. Our tribe with like vibes.

So when you find yourself having to have hard conversations with people who you know are committed to misunderstanding you, view them for who they are: lit exit signs to show you this isn’t the last stop of your journey.

When we begin to view people, places, and things for what they truly are, we can begin to appreciate the lessons they show us.

Fix what you know you can. Allow what you can not fix to be handled through prayer and a positive attitude; help is on the way.

Flyy Girl Friday Feature: Shae Collins

Some of us wear who we are like an armor.

Some of us wear who we are like a mask.

And some of us are who we are because of what others think or expect.

Today’s Flyy Girl is none of the above.

Equipped with an assuring personality and a clearly defined mission,

she is well on her way to awakening many with the knowledge she has to offer.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

                                                      Miss Shae Collins.

Please introduce yourself to the readers.

Shae Collins – born and raised in sunny Los Angeles.

Tell us about your blog; A Womyn’s Worth.

A Womyn’s Worth aims a Black feminist lens at all pop culture, examining race, gender, and sexuality. AWW discusses several hot topics including respectability politics, twerking, women in the media, and more. Link: awomynsworth.com

Why did you begin blogging?

I started blogging my senior year in college because I wanted to jumpstart my writing career and learn more about how I fit into society. The blog really took off when I started writing my senior thesis on Women in Hip Hop, and explored the ways in which capitalism and white supremacy influenced the ways women artists are portrayed. That thesis changed my thinking and the goal for the blog, and A Womyn’s Worth became a way I could express what I learned about Black womanhood.

What motivates you to dedicate time to blogging?

Writing is my first love, so I always find moments in between work and school to write. I’m motivated by how much I learn through my writing. Whenever I have a blog topic that requires a bit of research, I get the opportunity to explore diverse ideas. Blogging has definitely taught me a lot about myself and the way others in society view me. A Womyn’s Worth forces me to confront dissenting opinions—and that’s what keeps me going.

I’m also motivated when others tell me how inspired they are by my work. My goal is to present alternative ideas for people to consider. For example, I have a series on the blog dedicated to debunking myths about the usefulness of respectability politics, which many black people still cling to. I like to challenge people’s ideas about Black sexuality and culture. So when people hit me up on Facebook or the comments section telling me that they learned something, I feel my job as a blogger has been accomplished.

In one year, what do you hope manifests from your blogging?

I hope to inspire more people. I hope my writing allows people to consider new ways of looking at the world. I also want to expand my reach and write for publications I don’t have bylines in yet. I’ve got my sights set on The Root, For Harriet, Ebony, and many others.

I’d also like my blog to support more activism. I was very moved when I participated in the Black Lives Matter protests here in LA, and I’m hoping to bolster this activism through my blog.

Name two of your favorite bloggers you follow.

Areola Bandz, PhD AKA Monique John’s blog, Twerked is always a good read. She talks about sexuality in our generation and always has an interesting perspective. She’ll make you think twice about judging Amber Rose and have you wish you could twerk like a video girl.

There’s also Blavity, my favorite blogger collective. It’s a blog written by and for Black millennials—and it’s bomb. The bloggers are so on point. The blog makes me laugh, smile and clap my hands because of all the truth. It’s encouraging to see so many young Black writers doing their thing. I plan on writing for them in the near future.

What legacy do you want to leave behind for others to know about you?

I’ve never thought about that one. I guess I’d want to be known as the sassy culture critic that spoke her truth and was a leader for change in our country. Maybe like Angela Davis—but bald.

 

Stay connected with Shae via social media:

Twitter: @awomynsworth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awomynsworth

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/awomynsworth

 

 

Flyy Girl Friday Feature: Amber-Janae

 

Happy Friday everyone and welcome back for this week’s Flyy Girl Friday Feature.

Today we celebrate a writer who bares her self to her readers.

Whether she gives blogging advice or heart to hearts, or some good girl talk,

her blog is like chicken soup for the soul.

Ladies and Gents,

Amber-Janae.

Welcome! Please introduce yourself to the readers.

Amber-Janae from San Francisco (Bay Area) California.

Tell us about your blog, whoisamberjanae.com

I’ve have never learned how to classify whoisamberjanae.com. I just say it’s one of those blogs that feeds your soul and inspires you to be better.

Why did you begin blogging?

I started blogging to free my mind and spirit of all the situations from my past. I wanted to inspire other women. More importantly, when I had begun to learn that my struggles and stories were inspiring other women I couldn’t give up on them. It fueled my fire to continue blogging.

What motivates you to dedicate time to your blog?

There is so much that motivates me to dedicate time to blogging. The number one reason being my readers and supporters. I truly believe that without their honest love and support, I wouldn’t be as motivated as I am every day. There’s always a special comment and tweet that goes a long way and inspires me to keep pushing. I am always thinking toward the future; another reason that keeps me motivated. I’ve had a vision of what I’d like to see my blog develop into for years and now that I have the platform to make that happen I am motivated not to give up. There are times when I want to give up on blogging, but I always look at how far I have come. I have come too far to give up.

In one year, what do you hope manifests from your blogging?

 In one year I hope to be more socially connected than I presently am as far as the blog goes. I’d like to see the audience grow and continue to inspire more women around the world to be a better version of themselves. A bigger platform for me to live in purpose and chase my destiny is what I am claiming to manifest in this New Year. I would also love to see me step out the norm and incorporate a variety of content into the blog. I’d like to add more of my outgoing, fun personality to the blog and not have it be serious 24/7. I would love the strength and consistency to produce more books and other written projects. Overall I just want to see my work ethic grow. A lot can happen in a year and I just pray that everything I desire and more comes to fruition.

Name two of your favorite bloggers you follow:

GG Rene of All the Many Layers has to be one of my all-time favorite bloggers. Her whole style and approach makes everything about her relatable. GG’s writing style is honest and captivating. Always full of love and light and sending constant reminders to be a better version of myself. I love her! Demetria Lucas of A Belle from Brooklyn is another one of my favorites. She just embodies the skill set of how to take your brand to new levels. She’s built a brand, set the bar, and created a platform that has essentially paved the way for all of us upcoming bloggers and authors.

What legacy do you want to leave behind for others to know about you?

 A legacy is something profound, something that really has no limits or boundaries. I pray to leave behind words of encouragement and love. I think there are so many misconceptions about who you truly are when choosing to put yourself out there into the public as a blogger, author etc. It’s hard for others to see who you truly are outside of what you choose to share. I’d like for my legacy to be something serious. For people to be able to speak of me and remember that I was a fighter, not just for myself, but for others. That my huge, loving heart and genuine spirits has taken many beatings, but I’ve always found a way to give back to others. I’d like for the world to remember me as a true lover of my life and all the woman I am. It’s hard to say more of what my legacy to be because there is so much that has yet to unfold. I know in my spirit my legacy will be a great one.

 

Flyy Girl Friday Feature: Lisa W. Tetting

HeyGirlHey!!! Honey child, do we have a special feature for you!

Starting off the re-launch of Flyy Girl Friday,

is fellow blogger and a up & coming author.

Her personality is colorful and her focus is undeniable,

get to know the woman behind the screen.

Ladies and Gents,

Lisa W. Tetting

Blogger & Author

Hi, tell the readers your name and location.

Lisa W. Tetting in Tampa, FL

What is your blog about?

As an up and coming author, RebirthofLisa is my brainchild. There you will find my inner thoughts and lessons I have learned about life, love and the world. I express myself through my writing, poetry and photography. I am open and honest and though I may offend some, my intent is only to tell my truth. Topics will vary depending on what is on my brain at the moment and I try to infuse a little humor along the way. Rebirthoflisa.wordpress.com

Why did you begin blogging?

After searching for the Who, What, When, and Where most of my life, I finally found the courage to start writing for others to read. As you can imagine, this was a scary undertaking in my forties….but, I have learned to have no fear! Or at least to appear as if I don’t.

rebirthoflisa.wordpress.com

What motivates you to dedicate time to blogging?

I don’t believe I need any motivation to dedicate my time to blogging. Writing is a passion of mine that I finally decided to pursue. Once the door was opened, I had no choice but to step out into the world! It was one of my dreams to become a writer, and I am making it come true every day. I finally gave myself permission to be happy!

In one year, what do you hope manifests from your blogging?

In a year’s time, I hope to reach over 1000 people with my musings. I hope to secure a freelance career in writing and be able to make a living doing what I love. One thing I do not want is to be place in a box. I lived over forty years in one, and will never go back!

Name two of your favorite bloggers you follow.

Two of my favorite bloggers that I follow are 1) Colleen (silverthreading.wordpress.com). She has the gift of making each of her followers feel special. Colleen takes time to befriend her readers and I love that! She also has a wonderful Fairy Series that I enjoy reading. 2) Nadine (nadinetomilinson.com) because her blog is great! When she stumbled across my blog, she made comments right away, which sparked my curiosity. After reading her blog, I found we share some things in common; favorite authors and a love for the Caribbean. Though I have never met her, she seems very familiar to me; maybe we met in another life….

What legacy do you want to leave behind for others to know about you?

The legacy I want to leave behind is that of a constant desire to learn, having an open mind and spreading love through my writings. If I can touch the hearts of my readers, and cause them to seek commonality in people who do not share the same ideals, then I have done my job.

Self Inflicted Stress

This topic is very much-needed for myself as well as for each of you.

As a matter of fact, I find in writing, I am able to better self reflect as well as lend an encouraging hand to others.

The cycle of going forth each day and daring to make it better than the previous, can consume me. I begin to think about all that I have yet to accomplish and the weight of my personal standards can be a bit overwhelming. Sometimes I wonder if God looks down upon me and shake his head at my adamant attempts of breaking my own will.

I have been attempting to write a book or two, begin to assemble a production team for my company, save money so that I can invest in my dreams and make more money in the process. And while it seems easy enough in theory, it has proven to pull out some insecurities I thought were long gone.

Appreciation is a strange concept when it comes to baring your inner most thoughts and relaying them to others. It was one thing when I was younger, singing in the choir or playing a character on stage; then everyone is willing to come and watch you or support your efforts. Getting older, appreciation seems to take a whole new action.

Maybe because in my mind, I see it as a matched excitement, while it comes as a “oh that’s nice” or a “half interested question quickly followed by a lack of interest.”

My stress comes from me believing I have to gain the approval of those around me, wanting them to desperately be fully engaged in what I have going on. Wanting them to support me by spreading the word of my blog or my ideas, my attributes, my gains….at 29, I am still forgetting that my will is my own and that it is rare to have those believe in what I am called to do, simply because they cannot see, dream or feel the things I am privy to.

And is that not the true blessing? That this was given to me, to grow and nurture. These dreams I have do not go to anyone else but me. Sure there are others who aspire to accomplish the same things I do, but what has been given to me to create, is completely my own.

In this moment, I am realizing I have a complex. And as much as I would like to shake it off, it is not working. I am going to dig a little deeper to pull through the muck of mental frustration and restless energy.

What can I do with restless energy, besides sabotage my creative energy. Therefore I have looked into the option of yoga. Being able to center my focus and push through the volcanic pressure to channel my purpose solely to those things, I asked God to grant me.

Those things I would sit inside my dark closet and pour my heart and soul out to him. The stillness I felt after I would lift my face from the floor, tear-stained, face hot….I would sit and await the vibration that would sweep slowly and steadily through my body, setting me into a zone of total peace. I would listen for his voice. I would listen for my heart to connect to the energy and show me the way or reassure me that I was on the way.

I don’t know what others want. I only know what I need. And being that God says he will supply my every need, I know I will inadvertently give what needs to be given to others.

Self inflicted stress is a real issue. It haunts those who spend too much time thinking and not enough time doing. I realize that now. I see that by not attempting to write everyday, I force myself to worry about am I really a writer and should I just stick to the day-to-day grind of doing what needs to be done to survive, instead of doing what I love and being a survivor of the day-to-day to become a conqueror.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be in the same situation next year, wondering what would have been if I had started this year.

The book will be completed.

The production will begin.

I am tired of my self-inflicted stress.

I am ready to win.

Drop me comment about some things you have self reflected upon and what are the steps you are taking to rectify your present mind set. I would love to hear from each of you. And if you have any good books or articles, share those as well. Peace and Blessings

 

image courtesy of tasteoflifebysabi.wordpress.com

2015:Journey to Transparency

I do not write to tell you what to do.
I write to help you reflect, evaluate, appreciate, discern.
To humble thyself, to love, to achieve, to debate, to criticize….constructively.
To dream, to believe, to smile, to cry.
To reminisce, to plan ahead.
To hope, to pray, to be thankful always.
To share, to cling.
To remember what it is to believe in your dreams.

This year is a great year to be a Hey Girl Hey!!! Reader, and I do not take lightly  the likes and comments. We are all creative beings, dancing with the emotions of art acceptance from others. So, I feel at peace stating my joy for each opinion.

Be in light mind of me, as i am of you. I will for the success of this year for us all who are willing to go get what is for us! When you speak it into the atmosphere, it is forever there, awaiting your actions to pull it into your territory. 
Continue everyday to speak what your heart desires and follow through with moves of action.

And i will do the same.
Peace and Blessings
AP

Music Review: J. Cole 2014 Forest Hills Drive

Yeah I know, it’s a male feature on HeyGirlHey!!! ….but once you finish reading this review, you will understand why.

I must admit, I previously listened to J. Cole in passing,  therefore I’m gonna spare you the search engine biography and lyrical acension thesis.
However, being a lover of music and having longed missed the days of lyrical storytelling and unapologetic views of life; I am thanking God for 2014 Forest Hills Drive.

This has to be the motivational record of the century! When was the last time you heard a mainstream, commercially successful rap artist tell you to love? To unite? To be an example? And to challenge others who are as successful to pay it forward, with love? Yeah, ponder that.

Now this ain’t a Ghandi album, because Cole goes hard with all his viewpoints. For instance G. O. M. D. (get off my d) where he definitely was feeling his space. It is definitely a “haters beware” groove, without the tiring, redundant reference. Definitely a banger.

While listening to A Tale of 2 Cities, I imagined myself taking all current albums and stomping them beneath my feet while waving my arms and hands in the air….when you listen to the album, you will understand.
  No Role Modelz, could be the anthem for a lot of us. The 80s baby. The “I’m only getting older, what do I want outta life” anthem. Funny how a song can sum it up perfectly. Who and what are we looking to for inspiration? Who and what are we gravitated torwards?
  -that”s a whole new topic

What I hope to convey through this review is, J. Cole gave us our musical sanity back. We can let the entire album play and never skip a song. We can bare the burdens and those ever growing boughts of traffic. The unfairness of society. The beauty of God given things, family, friends, love and happiness.
We can be inspired to be creative and produce something epically dope as well.

This album reaffirms the sentiment of being a big changer on a small everyday level.

Do You Wanna be Happy?, Cole asks. I say, listen to this album, it is a start.

2014 Forest Hills Drive

HeyGirlHey!!! Writes: Writing Services for All

Hey Girl Hey!!! wants to be your go to writer for all your promotional needs.

Do you have a new single or album launching and desire a write-up or feature which will generate traffic to your site?

Are you having a hard time composing your speech or an important document?

Are you looking for ways to generate a more creative approach to your writing?

Well, direct all your concerns here! Hey Girl Hey!!! is moving forward with assisting musicians, writers, orators, corporate players and even church leaders with presenting material which directly drives the results each are looking to obtain.

From interviews to outlines to newsletters to speeches, we have the motivation and skill set to help you design the literature you need, for any field.

Contact Audrey Prim for rates

Creator & Owner
Melanated Productions, LLC
Hey Girl Hey!!! Blog

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Procrastination: My Petition For Success

I think the hardest thing in the entire world to do, is to try. The moment you attempt something of passion or something you have never done before, in the manner in which you are attempting it, with the vision you see for it, you will become lazier than a group a dandelions swaying in the shady breeze of a scorching hot summer day. To say that I am slightly a procrastinator, would be a total misconception and major understatement.

What in the world have I been thinking I could complete my mission while continuing my present behavior. Chill mode is not the mode of a consistent and successful entrepeneur.  Chill mode is the danger zone for an artist, too much of one thing can never be good for the mind.

Which brings me to what I have seriously though about. Really looking to meet with others who are currently trying to write or be more creative with what they have begun and push towards the next level of their creativity.

A space where writers understand the nuances of being great, not in a cocky jerk head type of way, but in a what I wanted to say, I said and people got it.

If you would interested in exchanging emails for encouragement, I am totally open to that.

Please be sure to comment and let me know of somethings you do to stay motivated and writing.

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Also, please take the poll and let me know your thoughts on writing groups or writers’ workshops both online and off.

Langston Hughes: Cultural Exchange

In the Quarter of the Negroes
Where the doors are doors of paper
Dust of dingy atoms
Blows a scratchy sound.
Amorphous jack-o’-Lanterns caper
And the wind won’t wait for midnight
For fun to blow doors down.
By the river and the railroad
With fluid far-off goind
Boundaries bind unbinding
A whirl of whisteles blowing.
No trains or steamboats going–
Yet Leontyne’s unpacking.

In the Quarter of the Negroes
Where the doorknob lets in Lieder
More than German ever bore,
Her yesterday past grandpa–
Not of her own doing–
In a pot of collard greens
Is gently stewing.

Pushcarts fold and unfold
In a supermarket sea.
And we better find out, mama,
Where is the colored laundromat
Since we move dup to Mount Vernon.

In the pot begind the paper doors
on the old iron stove what’s cooking?
What’s smelling, Leontyne?
Lieder, lovely Lieder
And a leaf of collard green.
Lovely Lieder, Leontyne.

You know, right at Christmas
They asked me if my blackness,
Would it rub off?
I said, Ask your mama.

Dreams and nightmares!
Nightmares, dreams, oh!
Dreaming that the Negroes
Of the South have taken over–
Voted all the Dixiecrats
Right out of power–

Comes the COLORED HOUR:
Martin Luther King is Governor of Georgia,
Dr. Rufus Clement his Chief Adviser,
A. Philip Randolph the High Grand Worthy.
In white pillared mansions
Sitting on their wide verandas,
Wealthy Negroes have white servants,
White sharecroppers work the black plantations,
And colored children have white mammies:
Mammy Faubus
Mammy Eastland
Mammy Wallace
Dear, dear darling old white mammies–
Sometimes even buried with our family.
Dear old
Mammy Faubus!

Culture, they say, is a two-way street:
Hand me my mint julep, mammny.
Hurry up!
Make haste!

Langston Hughes