My Life – Memories of Michael Jackson

Today I decided that I was going to blog about my experiences trying to lose weight over the next 6 weeks before I go on a fun filled vacation to the tropics. But it has become such a memorable day other than my life in my weight loss journey. I actually did a full life reflection and I am overcome with a realm of emotion. I had a quick brief argument with my youngest sister last night, we are very close and never ever fight, but whatever she said to me last night just allowed me to let out some things that she had done that had really bothered my heart. It is also the day that we remembered the life of Michael Jackson. I am an entertainer in my whole spirit and was totally influenced by Michael Jackson and I can remember just pivotal moments in my life growing up and how my just straight love crush on Michael just moved through parts of my life.

I remember that he was doing the Thriller tour and I had gotten in trouble calling some boy making toll calls running up my parent’s phone bill ’cause he lived so far away AND he was way too old for me. I was on punishment BUT my Mom refused to not let me go see Michael Jackson in concert. I remember we stood the whole time in the stadium. We had floor seats kinda to the left side of the row. I remember dancing and smiling the whole time that I joked that my cheeks hurt after the concert.

This man, this phenmenon, moved people throughout the world for decades. and in his death I don’t why, but he has moved people to live, and be kind to others, and look at themselves first, and love one another.. He brought the whole world together. He’s made me rethink what I can achieve and my expectations of just me. To be fearless but with integrity, and kindness, and to reach for the stars because life is really too short. I don’t know why a lot of us though he would live forever. I understand he’ll live forever thorugh his music, but really live forever, because he was the real Peter Pan, never growing old. It was such a shock to this system to hear that he ahd died. No way, no way!
About 10 years ago, I had the opportunity to see him upclose just walking by with a group of kids at Universal Studios during one of their Halloween Haunt nights. I went crazy…”That’s Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson!!!” The rest of my crew looked at me like I was a fool to be going crazy over seeing Michael Jackson just walk right by me. He only had about 9-10 people, mostly children, around him. It was crazy and it really was him as we confirmed later with some or the workers at Universal. It was during a time when his popularity wasn’t at it’s height in the states and I guess he didn’t need much of an eunterage or security.. I wished I had had the courage back then to get his autograph or just say hello and shake his hand.

I had his posters on my wall in my room when I was elementary and junior high. I had that one with him in yellow and white, which was my favorite, and the one where he is doing Billie Jean and the sidewalk lit up. He was still chocolate brown back then with the whitest teeth and and awesome smile….awwww my Micheal Jackosn crush. I remember crushing on this boy at school who looked like him at this time and who could break dance, his nikname was “Captain.” LOL. So funny the things you remember with certain music. I conjuers up the time period in your life when you used to listen to that song over and over again.

Oh and the Thriller video. It seemed lik every kid in our neighbor hood was at my house during the premier of Thriller and even after seeing it 16 times you still wanted it to come back on so that you caould do the whole dance routine to it. Could you imagine that today you could go on a thing called YouTube and watch Korean prisoners doing the Thriller video dance for exercise in the prison yard? Crazy isn’t it!!! I can go on and on and this would just not stop about all the memories I have of Micheal Jackson’s music, being intertwined into my life.
So, in his memory he has inspired me to achieve anything to which I put my mind and focus…to keep on singing, my passion, and even losing weight to look and feel my best, and be healthy.

6 Steps to Stay Motivated with Your Music

I’ve got to admit, I did get discouraged at one time with my life in the music industry, and I just couldn’t keep going. Mentally and emotionally drained, I left for years, ignoring that music was my passion and I was my authentic self only when I was performing or doing anything that surrounded music. I’ve learned how to stay motivated to keep on going, which seems to me to be easier, with internet, because I have a sense of having my life in music in my own hands. Here are some tips on How To Stay Motivated and Focused in Your Music Career.

1. What Are Your Goals. Are you a singer and just want to get out there and sing. Do you want to be a solo artist or a background singer and travel the world with a big named act. Things to think about right? Figure out what is truly important to you, in your heart, and write it down. Then stop at noghting to achieve them. For me this takes some “time blocking” and life balance because I want to spend quality time with my family too. Write down your goals and focus on getting them done.
2. Dream Big – I am now always of the mentality that if something good or miracle like should happen to somebody, why not me. It’s like the saying, you have to be in it to win it. Well, you have to dream big, the dream that you really hold in your heart, and believe that could even happen to you. Your dreams kind of go hand in hand with goal setting and putting those goals into action and not just words.
3. Daily Action – Some days I am able to accomplish a ton of things that move me closer towards my goals and my dreams and other days I can barely get a thing done, but If I do even the smallest, thing, like making a phone call to a new producer I’ve met and want to cut a track with, I feel like I am still moving closer to my goals. I recommend even stead strides forward…yo’ll hit that mile mark faster than you think.
4. Don’t pile too many projects on your plate at once- Now I am a culprit for this…and you know what…it leads to procrastination and I don’t get anything done. Choose one to three things (three things IF you are a good multi-tasker which a lot of my music mama’s are) that you want to focus on completing.
5. Focus on Priority Items – OK…stop checking your email every two seconds, and responding and uploading your new status on facebook. Set those things aside for a specific time in the day to do them and knowck it out all in that on or 2 hours. That way you can concentrate on the things that really bring you the results you are looking for with your music.
6. Don’t let the Nay-sayers knock the wind out of you – You can do it.. You just have to keep making good music, great songs, getting them up on your site so that the world can experience the passion and the music within you.

Hey…it may not be easy, but playing music, marketing your music to the world, performing your music to an audience, can be the most rewarding life you can live as a musician. Remind yourself everyday that you are bringing emotional joy to your fans, by filling there sould with your music. You can do it…just remember the steps above and keep it going.