Healing Hearts and Providing Empowering Messages of Spiritual Insight and Love Through the Original Creative Works of Articles & Poetry
by Anna 'Ms.Poet' Hendricks
Although Friday's are my usual day to convey my Inspirational Love Note message through song. I wanted my Love Note message for today to align with my dream and life purpose to help heal the hearts and bridge the gaps in our relationships with God, Self and others, that have been moderately to severely damaged or broken, by awakening, encouraging, and evoking the power of love in all humanity.
Equally so, I also wanted my message for today to align with the dream and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to see peace and equality throughout humanity despite our differences of race, creed, religion or color which, like my dream, would also bridge the gaps in our relationships. So I thought about what both our dreams have in common the most. In doing so, I realized one aspect we share is that he was, as I am, a peaceful warrior. More importantly, he was, and I am, committed to using the power of love to make an impression upon the world that will continue to touch the lives of others for generations to come. So when I prayed for guidance on the best way to honor his dream while still staying true to my own the attached song and video, "A Dream", one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite Hip Hop Artist, Common, featuring Will I Am, from the movie, Freedom Writers soundtrack,immediately came to my mind. I am able to have and live my dream today because a brave soul by the name of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came before me and dared to have a dream so big for humanity first. So in honor of the man...his legacy...and his dream we celebrate on today, King holiday, please take a moment to listen to the words of this song, enjoy the video and remember...although the dreamer is gone...the dream still lives on.
Until next time...I surround you in LOVE & light! So always keep your heart open and let your love light shine bright.
A One Love Production By Anna "Ms.Poet" Hendricks Copyright 2014 Reference: "A Dream", Common, music video, http://www.youtube.com/
The wisdom of the message on the above attached image sounds like simple common sense at first glance. Yet the statistics showing the astounding number of broken homes and families torn apart due to the increasingly alarming number of break ups, sparations and divorces is evidence that says, far too many of us are missing the boat when it comes to really understanding that, "good relationships don't just happen". They obviously take more mental, spiritual, and emotional time, attentiveness and investment, than the impatient, "drive-thru", society we've become is clearly willing to make for the sake of saving love anymore.
It both seems to me and deeply saddens me that we now live in a age where maximum results are expected in love and life with minium effort invested. Likewise, it's become too easy to throw in the towel and walk way when life and especially love don't seem to be progressing at the warp speed our, "microwave mentality", society has now conditioned us to adopt the new accepted way of living and approaching life and unforuntately...Love. So I used my poetic license to creatively share some insights I've come to learn and appreciate from lessons taught by my life experiences with love and relationships. Some of those insightful lessons came very easy for me to quickly see, understand and apply. Yet, there were a few that felt like I was an oyster irritated by the sand trapped in its shell. Still, as frustrating as it was while going through those love lessons being learned, the blessings that have come as a result having those challenging experiences are priceless. You see, my experiences in love that felt like the aforementioned analogy of the oyster and the sand came to bless me not hurt me though they felt deeply painful at the time. What I now know on a level of profound understanding within my being is that the oysters reaction to the undesirable, unwelcomed irritation he endures from the trapped sand in his shell, is what ironically produces his valuble string of pearls. We metaphorically call those precious gems pearls of wisdom. Hence the title for my Inspirational Love Note for today, Love Lessons 101: You Can't Receive the Blessin's Until You First Learn the Lesson's. If you have a good relationship and you know it, be willing to invest the time, patience, and effort it takes to not just maintain it but sustain it. While you're at it, don't forget to sprinkle it with lots mutual affection, which means expressing your love in words, actions AND deed. Listen with your ears NOT your ego and an open heart of compassion and understand. Always be kind and considerate to one another. Disagree without being disagreeable (there is a BIG difference). Focus more on your commonalities not your polarities. Be willing to be wrong sometimes. Also, be more concerned about how you make your partner feel than you are about being right. Remember you always have a choice to be right or be happy. So what good does proving that you're right if the end result is you being alone at night. Never take each other for granted. Always do little things together to help you remember what sparked your initial attraction that led to you falling in love in the beginning. Spontaneously leave each other hand written Love Notes on any given day of the week to keep the element of surprise alive and keep each other inspired by your mutual love. Be attentive to each others needs and desires. Show your level of commitment by showing genuine interest in the dreams, passions and personal interest of each other in order to get to know each other better. Never stop having a genuine thirst to learn more about each other. No matter how long you've been together you can never know everything about a person and assuming you do is just another form of taking your partner for granted. Anything you really want to understand you must study and this truth applies to your personal relationships as well. So study your partner like a good book you enjoy reading and can't put down. Remember, just like anything in life you desire to succeed at, love is a full-time that requires the full-time effort of both people involved. So you must be willing to make your relationship a top priority and bring your A game even after the honeymoon phase is over. Which means, don't bring half-hearted effort to a full-time job. Think about it this way, when you prayed for someone special to enter you life you expected God to send his best. Therefore, be willing to always give your best to your relationship and your partner because they are the answer to your prayer and God's gift to you. Which brings me to my next point. Never take any opportunity to love and be genuinely loved in return lightly. It is always a blessing from God that should be held closely and treated with an attitude of gratitude. This is wisdom it would especially behoove you to take heed to in the rare occasion you are doubly blessed to no only have an opportunity to love and be loved but to share this experience with someone who is a really good person that truly loves you, and accepts you as all your area's that still need work, wholly and completely. Lastly, remember this if nothing else you've read here today, a love that grows is a love that knows how to accept responsibility and take accountability for your part active participation in creative whatever the relationship has become. Therefore, pridehas no place in a relationship where the mutual goal is to win the race. Admit when you've made a mistake and remember that words have the power to heal or kill. So always choose your words carefully and speak to each other respectfully because the long-term damage caused by a temporary angry outburst is not worth the expensive price you later end up paying at the expense of the broken trust, emotional distance and break down in your bond your relationship will suffer. Keep in mind the wisdom ofProverbs 14:1, Homes are made by the wisdom of women, but are destroyed by foolishness. So instead of arguing and bickering all the time, a better alternative is to not take yourself, each other, or life so seriously. Spend lots of time having quiet pillow talk to increase you intimacy (which doesn't necessarily mean it has to lead to sex all every time). Laugh a lot with other and at each other. Never stop praying with each other and for each other daily. After all, a family that prays together really does have a better chance at staying together. And I save this one as my absolute final love lesson because I just can't emphasis it enough. A love and relationship that thrives, not just barely survives, is one that knows forgiveness is the key and actively practices forgiving one another constantly. So if you think you have a good thing standing before you and you still genuinely love each other despite all you've been through. Then never give up...never say die....never let go...never say goodbye. God is still well able because He's still the Most High. So keep you heart open...put your trust in God...and give love one more try. Until next time...I surround you in LOVE & light! So always keep your heart open and let your love light shine bright. A One Love Production By Anna M. Hendricks Copyright 2014 Reference: Holy Bible, Good News Translation, http://www.biblegateway.com/
Happy Birthday Capricorns! Here's the part two of my list of celebrity Capricorns between January 11th and the end of Capricorn on January 19th. Also included in today's Inspirational Love Note, with all you Capricorn's in mind, is my Love Light Spot Light Friday song artist for this week, honoring the memory of fellow Capricorn singer, Aaliyah. So check out the list of celebrity Caps below. Then enjoy the short featured article and video on Aaliyah with today's Inspirational Love Note message through song in honor of Aaliyah's memory and what would have been her 35 birthday's celebration.
Celebrity List of Capricorns:
January 11th
Singer - Mary J Blige, 43
Actress - Kim Cole, 52
Actor – Rockmond Dunbar, 41
Country Singer – Naomi Judd, 68
January 12th
Talk Show Host - Howard Stern, 60
Actress, Kirstie Alley, 63
Basketball Player, Dominique Wilkins, 54
January 13th
Actor - Patrick Dempsey, 48
Screenwriter – Shonda Rhimes, 44
(Creator of Grey’s Anatomy, The Practice, and Scandal)
January 14th
Rapper - LL Cool J, 46
Rapper - Slick Rick, 49
January 15th
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)
Actress - Regina King, 43
Actor/Director - Mario Van Peeples, 57
January 16th
Singer - Sade, 55
Actress/Choreographer – Debbie Allen, 64
Boxer - Roy Jones Jr. 45
Actor - Richard T. Jones, 42
Today: January 17,
2014
Actress - Betty White, 92
Actor - Jim Carey, 52
NBA Basketball Player - Dwayne Wade, 32
Comedian/Actor/Radio & TV Show Host -Steve Harvey, 57
First Lady, Michelle Obama, 50
Rapper Lil Wayne, 43
Legendary Boxing Champion: Muhammad Ali, 72
Singer: Ray J, 33
Reggae Artist/Singer: Shabba Ranks, 48
Actor: James Earl Jones, 83
Talk Show Host: Maury Povich, 75
Later this week: Jan 19th (Last day of Capricorn)
Actor/Comedian - Shawn Wayans, 42
Actress – Denise Boutte, 31
(Tyler Perry’s, Why Did I Get Married and TV Show Meet the
Browns as Tosha)
Country Singer/Actress – Dolly Parton, 67
And my Celebrity Capricorn pick in today's Love Light Spot Light, alsorepresenting the Friday song for this week,is R&B Singer, Aaliyah. Born Aaliyah Dana Houghton (January 16, 1979- August 25, 2001), in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Detroit, Michigan, she was known best to the world through her singing career by just her first name, Aaliyah, which means, High, Sublime. And boy did she live up to the meaning of her name as such a beautiful, extremely talented young lady, with an equally beautiful and extraordinary singing voice. But Aaliyah was more than just a pretty face with angelic vocal ability. As proven evident in her music video's, she was also a gifted dancer with fluid-like movement of each choreographed dance step. She was also a model and up and coming actress just before her tragic death at the tender age of 22 years old, on August 25, 2001, when the plane, she and 11 other's were on and also killed, crashed in the Bahamas while working on her last music video, Rock the Boat. Although she left this life at an unfortunate young age, she also began her singing career at an even younger age. Instead of playing jump rope or hopscotch outside all day, like most 10 year old little girls, Aaliyah made her first appearance singing on the television talent show Star Search. She also performed with legendary superstar Gladys Knight in concert as age 11 as well. She went on to sign her first recording contract at age 12 with Jive Records and Blackbird Records, owned by her uncle Barry Hankerson. Her uncle Barry Hankerson is also responsible for introducing her to R&B singing sensation, R. Kelly, who became her mentor and lead songwriter and producer on her debut album, Age Ain't Nothing But a Number, which was recorded in when she was 14 and sold three million copies in the U.S. and went double platinum. After the release of Age Ain't Nothing But a Number in 1994 there were rumors that she and R.Kelly were secretly married on August 31, 1994. This was a rumor that caused a great deal of controversy due to the age difference of the then 15 year old Aaliyah and 27 year old Kelly. It was later said that the marriage was annulled by Aaliyah's parents the following year in February 1995. However, since this featured article on Aaliyah is to honor her life and her talent that are both gone too soon, as well as this being a blog that promotes positive encouraging content about love not negative hearsay, I will end all commentary regarding that aspect of her personal life part with that being said. Now, let's shift the remaining focus of this article back to highlighting attributes about her life and career more worthy of discussion. Like the fact that she also recorded and released two more albums after her aforementioned debut album before her untimely death in 2001, which included, One in a Millionin 1996 and a self-titled album Aaliyah in 2001. And two additional albums released in the aftermath of her death entitled, I Care for Youin 2002 and Ultimate Aaliyah in 2005. She was also in the early stages of building her acting career with the leading lady role in the action drama film, Romeo Must Die opposite martial artist and actor Jet Li released in 2000. In closing, here are a few facts you may not have known about our fallen angel Aaliyah: 1) She was dating Damon Dash at the time of her death, who is a entrepreneur, co-founder and co-creator (with Hip Hop Artist Jay-Z) of Roc-A-Fella Records and Rocawear Clothing and former music executive.
2) She attended and graduated from Detroit School of Arts High School, one of Detroit's finest magnet schools, with a 4.0 grade point average. Which means she was beautiful, talented and exceptionally smart as well. 3) She could also sing in other languages including Latin. 4) She was the niece of R&B legendary singer Gladys Knight through a former marriage to Aaliyah's uncle, Barry Hankerson, who helped start her singing career. 5) She performed her song from the movie Anastasia when she was just 19 years old at the 1998 Oscar Awards, receiving a Oscar nomination as well the same year, making history as the youngest artist ever to perform at the Oscar Awards. And now...without further ado, please enjoy this video in celebration of her life, honor of her memory and what would have been her 35th birthday celebration. Also, representing all the Capricorns celebrating birthday's this week as well, for your listening pleasure, here's Aaliyah delivering my special tribute Inspirational Love Note message as this weeks Friday song, with I Miss You.
It's time to brush my knee's off, and use my spiritual truth to quell,
all frustration and regret over times I stumbled
or fell.
It's time to let go of the doubt and see my life excel...
It's time to conquer all the fears,
that's held me back for years, and finally see my faith prevail.
It's time to use my gifts
and talents in ways unparalleled...
I have a purpose to fulfill,
dreams to make real...
and a phenomenal story to tell.
Please also check out the video attached below to hear the beautifully written song, Break the Shell, by India Arie, from her latest cd, Songversation . This song was my inspiration for writing this poem about overcoming my own self-imposed limitations.
Until next time...I surround you in LOVE & light! So always keep your heart open
and your love light shining bright.
A One Love Production Spiritual Breakthrough: Breaking the Shell is, Poem,
By Anna M. Hendricks
Original Copyright October 12, 2013, Revised Copyright January 14, 2014
References: India Arie, Song, Break the Shell, from her cd, Songversation, http://www.youtube.com/
Happy Birthday Capricorns! Here's a list I compiled of famous people who have celebrated birthdays in the first half of Capricorn, between Dec. 22 and today, Jan. 10th.
Actor- Jim Carey, Born Jan. 17, 1962
Actor – Mekhi Phifer, Born Dec. 29, 1974
Actor – Morris Chestnut, Born Jan. 1, 1969
Rapper – Grandmaster Flash, Born Jan. 1, 1958
Actress – Sophie Okonedo, Born Jan. 1, 1968
(She played the role of May Boatwright oppositeQueen Latifahin the 2008 film, The Secret Life of Bees.)
Singer –Tank, Born Jan. 1, 1978
Tameka Foster, Born Jan. 1, 1971 - (Former wife of singer, Usher Raymond)
Actor – Cuba Gooding Jr. , Born Jan. 2, 1968
Actor – Taye Diggs, Born Jan. 2, 1971
Actor – Mel Gibson, Born Jan. 3, 1956
Actor – Bradley Cooper, Born Jan. 5, 1975
Dancing with the Stars Judge – Carrie Ann Inaba, Born Jan. 5, 1968
American dancer and choreographer who served as a judge on ABC's Dancing with the Stars.
Actor – Robert Duvall, Born Jan. 5, 1931
Director – John Singleton, Born Jan. 6, 1968
Actor – Nicholas Cage, Born Jan. 7, 1964
News Anchor/TV Show Host – Katie Couric, Born Jan. 7, 1957
Singer/Actor – Elvis Presley, Born Jan. 8, 1935
Singer – R. Kelly, Born Jan. 8, 1967
Duchess of Cambridge – Kate Middleton, born Jan. 9, 1982
Famous Caps born today Jan. 10th :
Singer – Rod Stewart, 1945
Boxer – George Foreman, 1949
Boxer – Felix Trinidad, 1973
And my Celebrity Capricorn pick this week, in the Love Light Spot Light also representing the Friday song for this week,is Singer/Actor-Tyrese. Born Tyrese Darnell Gibson, Dec. 30, 1978 in the Watts district of Los Angeles, where he also grew up with his two brothers raised by his mom as a single parent after his father left, he is better known in the entertainment industry today as simply, Tyrese.
Holding several titles under his belt as, Singer, Song Writer, Actor, Model, Film and Television Producer, MTV VJ, and Father to his daughter, Shayla Somer Gibson. He has also added Author to his long list of titles with his bestselling books, How To Get Out of Your Own Way, and Manology: The Secrets To Your Man's Mind Revealed, co-authored with his friend and mentor Rev. Run of, the higly acclaimed 80's rap group, Run DMC.
He began his career after being discovered on a bus which led to his appearance in the 1994 Coca-Cola television commercial advertisement, when the world was first blessed to hear his gifted voice, which I distinctly remember and still get chills down my back and butterfly's in my stomach as I reminisce about it while writing this. I can still see him singing that famous one liner yet popular catch phrase, "Always Coca-Cola." From there his professional singing career skyrocketed into the long list of successes he holds to date, which is not surprising since Capricorns are known as the zodiac sign of hard workers and high achievers.
Since then he has repeatedly made the Billboard charts with sizzling hot songs that appeal to his heavy following of female fans. With sexy, sultry, singles from his 1998 self-titled debut album, Tyrese, like,Lately and Sweet Lady, which earned him a Grammy award, he quickly became famous in the world of romance. His creative bodies of work as a singer/songwriter went on to include a string of lustful songs oozing with passion and seduction from his five albums released between 2001 to present, including his most recent hit single, Stay, from his 2011 cd, Open Invitation, that's still in heavy rotation on urban radio today. More recently, he joined creative forces with singers Ginuwine and Tank to form TGT , a collaborative cd released in 2013. His next solo project he's working on entitled, Black Rose, is expected to be released sometime this year 2014. But his success and fame doesn't stop there. This celebrity Capricorn is far more than just a soulful singing, 5ft 11in tall piece of chocolate eye candy. He's also a credible actor who's proven talent has justly earned him the respect he deserves in Hollywood. His most notable work as an actor include his movie debut role as Jody in, fellow Capricorn, John Singleton's 2001 movie, Baby Boy and his role as Roman Pierce in the street car racing action series, 2 Fast 2 Furious, as well as Fast and Furious 5, 6 and 7 among a long list of other hot Hollywood action films. Lastly, here's a couple of little factoids you may not have known about Mr. Tyrese Gibson. Did you know he started singing at the age of 14? He alsoattended Florida A&M University and is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. There's no doubt this abundantly talented Capricorn really lives up to the positive traits of being a high achieving, goal oriented, ambitious, family man born under the zodiac earth sign represented by the goat. For all these aforementioned reasons it's easy to see why he's the perfect celebrity to be my pick for this weeks Love Light Spot Light, not only to represent his zodiac sign but my Inspirational Love Note Friday song as well. With that said, here's the video to his single, also perfectly befitting for my Love Note topic today, Signs of Love Makin', from his 2002 cd, I Wanna Go There. Warning: This video is of mature content. Rated Grown & Sexy. So you might want to get your favorite glass of wine and a fan, like he has in the video, to cool you off afterward cause it is H....O...T...HOT! (LOL)
Until next time...I surround you in Love & Light! So always keep your heart open and your Love light shining bright.
A One Love Production By Anna M. Hendricks Copyright 2014 Reference: wikipedia.org, 2014, famousbirthdays.com, 2014, Ganeshaspeaks.com/capricorn/capricorn-traits.action, 2013
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