All that glitters ain’t always gold. I learned that lesson BIG TIME. I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy wasn’t in Kansas anymore – she had entered a new land and was searching for the Yellow Brick Road. yellow brick road Her adventure led to discover that there was no “Wizard of Oz” that could help her. What she realized was she already had everything she needed – it was already inside of her. Dang! What did I miss? Somebody should’ve told me. I had the answers with me all the time.

Pin It If someone had asked me 20 years ago what my life would be when I turned 50, the answer wouldn’t be the life I’m living now.   I was living in Los Angeles with husband #1 (yes, this is #3 for me), going to school to become a cosmetologist and enjoying the California life. That...

Pin It Sometimes when I come back from family reunions…I feel, well, sad. Oh, I love my family…. it’s just that I want so much more for them.   From year to year, not much changes for folks. They are still “broke, busted and disgusted” and talking...

Pin It I always tease my single and childless friends about working out. I often say, “Man, if I didn’t have any children, a husband and just a job you couldn’t tell me anything! I’d have the flyest body around because there would be no reason I couldn’t workout and treat my body...

Pin It I recently read an intriguing article written by Anne-Marie Slaughter on The Atlantic Magazine website entitled Why Women Still Can’t Have It All and it stopped me in my tracks. What do you mean I can’t have it all? Isn’t it the American way? Isn’t that my reward for working...

Trayvon wanted to know why he was being followed. His father warned him. Just walking while black in America can be dangerous. We have to change this. When was the last time you went out walking and someone asked you, "What are you doing around here?'" How would you respond?

February pops with so much activity. Because we have an African American President in office, is it not important to stop recognize and reflect on the achievements of the "Negro/Colored/Black/African American" ?

Do you have a dream? Hope for the future. Read and heed these books and your life will soar. Read at least one per month...and keep your hope refueled and fill your heart with inspiration. Motivation starts in the mind. Take time to feed your soul and nurture your spirit. All things are possible if you believe. 2012 is the year to EXCEL!

I have friends since grade school, media friends, sister-friends, partner friends, running-buddy friends, entrepreneurial friends, movie friends, career mentors, “big sis” friends, counseling friends, writing friends, silly friends, mommy friends, cheerleader friends, book friends and really cool facebook friends – but we all have one thing in common: We all value God, Family and our Work.

Jordan, a native of Detroit, is a graduate of Howard University’s School of Fine Arts. Her talent, she says, is a family trait. "I was playing in a church since I was 5, in my daddy's church. My mother was a music teacher and she inspired me, pushed me. The other part was God-given; I would hear something and I could play it immediately. Other people would have to study it."