Flowers for the Soul 🌺
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#WednesdayWisdom
"It's the rough side of the mountain that's the easiest to climb; the smooth side doesn't have anything for you to hang on to." — Aretha Franklin
Morning Musings
When news broke last Monday that the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, was "gravely ill," I sincerely hoped she would pull through. But now she's in peace.
I remember my dad taking me and my younger sister to see Aretha at Artscape in Baltimore back in 1994. Aretha, Patti, Chaka, Anita, Gladys, Tina ... they were the soundtrack to my childhood.
But there will never be another Aretha. Thankfully, she received the recognition she so rightfully earned while she was alive to appreciate them.
This reminded me of a poem I wrote in eighth grade after my grandmother . It was called "Flowers for the Soul," and in it I wrote about why it's important to tell our loved ones how much we cherish them while they're here.
I was inspired by all of the beautiful (and costly) floral arrangements that adorned my grandmother's casket. Where was this outpouring of love when she was alive?
It was then that I committed to sharing words of affirmation with my loved ones, as well as simply telling them how much I love them while they're alive and can appreciate it.
Rest in peace and power, Queen. You deserve it.
Love,
L'Oreal
IRL
Fall will be here before you know it! Here's where you can find me:
Sept. 13: FWD Collective Summit
Oct. 6: Young Feminist Conference (it's FREE!)
Oct. 20-21: #SpeakTruthSummit (use the code 'speaker25' to save 25% on your ticket!)
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Links I Love (Aretha Franklin Edition)
My Latest Obsession
If you've been riding with me for a minute, then you know how much I LOVE Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians series. While reading the first book back in 2016, I hoped it would become a movie. And when I heard my wish had come true, I begged Hollywood not to whitewash it, as they're wont to do.
This past weekend, I saw Crazy Rich Asians in all of its big screen glory and I was NOT disappointed. For the most part, it lived up to the book. But beyond that, and more importantly, it was an all-Asian cast AND a love story. Yup, both at the same damn time.
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