Fashion.Alita.Life

[iamfashionalita]

TODAY is opening of #ChiRaqtheMovie in theaters nationwide. I was so honored to work on this film with all these iconic and incredible actors. The cast and crew was amazing and we all worked really hard. One of my most favorite things about being apart of this was going to St. Sabina church every Sunday. Father Phleger's services are like no other. Can't wait to see the film. Go see Chiraq! #peace #NoPeaceNoPiece #samuelljackson #letssavelives #love #chooselove

[iamfashionalita]

#Repost @teyonahparris ・・・ #ChiRaqtheMovie hits a theatre near you TOMORROW!! Y'all ready?! Dec. 4th- LET'S DO THIS!! #NoPeaceNoPiece #SaveTheBabies #SurvivorsRemorse #WhereChildrenPlay

[iamfashionalita]

Live thoughtfully. Have a blessed Thursday everyone🙏🏾 #thoughtful #passionate

[iamfashionalita]

It's me trying to figure it all out #whoamI #givethanksalways #godfirst

[iamfashionalita]

An #usie #selfiesunday #godfirst #family

[iamfashionalita]

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Yes my heart is overflowing with new ideas ❤️ #strongbraveyaya #blessedlove we were raised on #hiphop great show this weekend #moonvibez @crownroots #crownroots #goodmusic @strongbraveyaya

[iamfashionalita]

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#mood #justchill ☀️🌟

[iamfashionalita]

Blessings on blessings and fily and friends and laughter and love and food and love #gratitiude #grateful

[iamfashionalita]

Had a full filled #thanksgiving first with Poppy @philipbaileyewf and family. #godfirst #family #love

[iamfashionalita]

Happy Day everyone #godfirst #gratitiude #mycrew #mountains #sunshine

[iamfashionalita]

Happy blessed birthday Chloe!! Beautiful day for a beautiful girl with a beautiful family!❤️❤️❤️❤️

[iamfashionalita]

Such a creative day #art #fiberlicious #consciousness #work #family #love #style #wendyosher

[iamfashionalita]

Blessed day today baby birthday party. An awesome #art exhibit #fiberlicious at #barnsdallpark Thank you Sir @thelivingwelltour for a really cool day and finished the day with Shariis birthday. #Repost @thelivingwelltour ・・・ #thelivingwelltour #family #ArtLifeLive #ALMS

[thissongoflife-blog]

“This Song of Life” Intro

And so it begins with the crackling sound of the record from the needle before the music plays (I wonder if that’s how it was before God sang this world into creation). Suddenly when I hear the music– “Eeverybooody is a staaaaar”. It is a song by the Roots called Star/Pointro that was played constantly when I was younger. I believe the music played in the introduction stage of a person’s life is very important. Not only then, all through out our lives. However, it’s especially essential when one is younger because music is like our second voice, well at least for me. I know I’m not the only one that has heard a song that they haven’t listened to since a child but once that song comes on the words just magically come back to you. There are major parts of my childhood that I have no remembrance of, but there are also songs that were played when I was kid that I can recite word for word. 

-My friends say do you remember that time? Nah but I remember that rhyme, and how I felt when I heard the words I repeat them in my mind. Bobbing my head I say it again and again. Now it’s apart of me, the art of repeat now it’s stuck like gum in the street-

        The first point I want to make with this book is this: Music Matters. I am writing this book to give people an insight on the way I think about life and the music that helped mold my mind. The way we walk, talk, the things we imagine and even the way we envision ourselves are all affected by the music we listen too. When you have melodies and words stuck in your consciousness, especially when you’re young and retaining so much, I believe it affects your character and attitude as you grow. Music has affected me so much that I sometimes respond in conversation with a relevant song lyric.

        One of my first favorite rappers growing us was Nas. His body of work varies in topic, however I remember a song called “I Can”.  The following is a portion of the song:

“Be, B-Boys and girls, listen again

This is for grown looking girls who’s only ten

The ones who watch videos and do what they see

As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID

Careful, ‘fore you meet a man with HIV

You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey

Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be

Rapists, so act your age, don’t pretend to be

Older than you are, give yourself time to grow

You thinking he can give you wealth, but so

Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know

You thinkin life’s all about smokin weed and ice

You don’t wanna be my age and can’t read and write

Begging different women for a place to sleep at night

Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish

If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this”

“I know I can (I know I can), be what I want to be (Be what I want to be)

If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)

I’ll be where I want to be (I’ll be where I want to be)”

        Imagine hearing that over and over. You begin to feel confident. I certainly felt empowered singing those lyrics as a youth and years later when my character gets tested I’m sure that song playing in the back of my mind motivated me to be what I wanted to be. Moreover, the song talks about struggles with drugs and conditions of society but in the end we have the power to achieve our dreams. Ironically Nas also has music about his times hustling and selling drugs to survive, but in the end he made it with his music.

What does it even mean to “make it”?  Most people think of the so-called American dream as making it. You know the big house, lots of money and material things.

In the song of life we hear both the purpose of humanity and the love of money. Famous author and apologist Ravi Zacharias believes purpose in life is like a skeleton to a body, meaning without a purpose one is pretty much walking dead or better yet laying dead because where could you possibly be going. Webster dictionary defines “purpose” as the reason for which something exists. For many people across the globe, beginning when they were young, their purpose in life has been dictated; go to school, go to college, get a good job that pays a lot of money, then be happy and fulfilled.

I believe that to be fulfilled means to receive the love of God, which in reality is given to everyone but only some acknowledge it. And to not only be fulfilled in ones own life but to fulfill one purpose, and being in alignment with where God wants is even more important.

[mtvstyle]

Kristen Stewart as Coco Chanel

[followfashionbeforefood-blog]

Morning mantra! #fashionbeforefood #believe #blessed

[followfashionbeforefood-blog]

Coming Soon! #atlfilmtv #zoeeverafter #teamcostumes @4everbrandy @torydevonsmith @haneefahwood