Day 15,826 of the Journey
It's just been too long...
I got lost and now I am found
This song is a celebration to my ears EVERYTIME I hear it...everytime. It is a tour de force creation. George Benson, Rod Temperton and Quincy Jones truly made beautiful music together when they collaborated on this song.
The album of the same name released in 1980 won 3 Grammys including one for this song "Best R&B Vocal Performance" (a category that no longer exists).
I post this song because it along with so many other things like prayer, kind words, firm words, courageous conversations, certain books, my radio show and Love help me find myself daily, weekly, monthly, yearly or however often it takes to find...ME.
Thank you...God (Universe) for constantly and consistently returning to me the information and affirmation I need to keep it pushing...because it is moving.
I ceaselessly ponder my own central question: "Why do I do what I do?" I believe that deep in my heart answering this question will unlock the floodgates of screenplays, television episodics, novels and non-fiction that reside in my head. "And for my next trick"; I like Rumpelstiltskin who spun straw into gold will spin these thoughts, musings, notions, philosophies, world views and lofty ideas into text.
Alas ...I am not Rumpelstiltskin so in my human-woman form I continue to produce, create, write and develop. I place my faith in God not man that in due season... Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
What was the title of Sister Souljah's Book..."The Coldest Winter Ever".... It feels like I lose my way sometimes. There is so much to be created, written, said and developed.
Some of my products are executed through a tangible medium: paper, picture or video. Others through collaborative projects and some still are in the form of gatherings of people in the natural and virtual worlds. It feels simultaneously like a whole lot and nothing. When the responses and consequences are positive it soothes, inspires and empowers.
But I just remember to say Thank you...(God) Universe for constantly and consistently returning to me the information and affirmation I need to keep it pushing...because it is moving.
I am however challenged by the desire to stack consecutively and efficiently executed tangible and high quality products into the marketplace. It turns out that between my radio show, this blog and school work (and "projects" in the pipeline)...I am well...on my way (thought and silently said with that raised eyebrow).
So I just remember to say Thank you... (God) Universe for constantly and consistently returning to me the information and affirmation I need to keep it pushing...because it is moving.
I recently received Pearl Cleage's text, Deals With The Devil and Other Reasons to Riot in the mail. Almost 20 years ago I purchased it at a book signing and went about my way with my heart warmed and my WORLD forever changed by the words she spoke that day.
At the signing we talked about racism, chauvinism, sexism and men at Roots and Wings Bookstore in Montgomery, AL (now closed). She expressed her concern that if from season to season men could manage football teams, team colors, team-member rosters and stats, records and game schedules they had the capacity to understand what was chauvinistic or sexist...despite their
protestations. I asked her, "what do we do ? (to get them to understand)" ...she said, "keep trying". I have almost 20 years later not stopped trying.
Once I got the tome home and began reading, my clock was cleaned. She was for me at least all the power, potency and profundity of bell hooks without having to hold my dictionary hostage to understand the text.
Pearl's words were visual and often lyrical. She is and was at that moment poet, teacher, sister, friend, mother and auntie providing wisdom for that day and the days to come.
My volume of amazing essays would eventually be lost in a storage for which I could no longer maintain the bill years after relocating to sunny Los Angeles, CA. Her words however left footprints across my heart, my mind and my soul. They've guided me and my tongue for quite some time.
Today I was re-united with that text and somewhere at the intersection "Deals With The Devil" Ave and "Give Me The Night" Blvd waiting under a traffic light called Love ...I was re-united with me.
The question still lingers..."Why do I do what I do?" I write, produce and direct because...well Ms. Cleage says it best...
"I am writing to help myself understand the full effects of being black and female in a culture that is both racist and sexist... I am writing to try and communicate that information to my sisters (of any culture) first and then to any brothers (of any culture) of goodwill and honest intent who will take the time to listen (read or hear)...I am writing to find solutions and pass them on. I am writing to find language and pass it on.
I am writing, writing, writing, for my life"
Pear Cleage
Deals with the Devil...And Other Reasons to Riot
Write, Produce and Direct
Danna
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