Why I need Africa more than Africa needs me

Living and growing up in America sometimes I don't pay attention to what is happening around the world. I can easily get caught up in what's in or "cool." And that may sound cliche, but that's the truth. Then there are moments when I get the privilege of being updated on world news and realizing that I am able to experience what some aren't. For example, clean water. Sometimes I am even picky about what kind of water I drink, when others don't have choices. That's why I believe I need Africa more than Africa needs me. Africa reminds me of a couple of things. I'm reminded that I am not broke. I heard this sermon, and a pastor had said that anyone who has two dollars in his or her wallet is richer than most people in the entire world. There are times when i have more than two dollars. Africa reminds me to be grateful, to be thankful for all I have. I'm reminded not to take things for granted. I need Africa to bring me to reality. Sometimes I approach my dad and I say, "Daddy I need this. Daddy I need that." But I don't technically 'need' new black high heels. I don't need a new dress, just because it's on sale. There is a number of material things that I say I need, when others in the world live day by day with only a pair of shoes, and some without any. Africa doesn't need my material belongings, my "needs." I need Africa's reality.

Final Blog for the Semester

This semester has gone by so fast. And I can’t help but be happy and sad. Happy that it is over and I got through it. Yet sad that time is going by so quick.
I recall the beginning of my Intro to Journalism class. Oh, my word the difference and difficulty of it just hit me. All the interviews, in both Yearbook and Intro to Journalism, the varying writing styles, it was almost foreign. I seriously wanted to drop. Just thinking about how I was feeling then, man memories.
And this might sound cliché, however, I stuck with it and I’m glad that I did.
Because of my journalism classes I made a conscious effort to try and read more. More reading caused me to think some, and then I would find myself writing more, even if I just wrote on my thoughts.
Specifically, I believe I’m a better writer/journalist as a result of discussing with others my ideas and hearing their input. Sometimes I’m shy or I just don’t want to share because I’m afraid I’m wrong, or my idea’s just bad. But, I think I’ve overcome that. Talking through ideas with others has broadened my mind, I guess. I feel as though I was able to share my thoughts, others shared theirs and my idea became better.
Being in a journalistic environment has caused me to actually think, and thinking has bettered my writing.

Breathing: A Foundation of Singing

www.vocalist.org.uk/breathing101.html
www.your-personal-singing-guide.com/breathing-for-singing.html
www.expertvillage.com/video/49273_voice-tips-breathing.htm


The voice is a beautiful instrument that most people use on a daily basis. People are able to scream, talk, whisper, laugh, and sing because they have a voice. Although not everyone was blessed with the gift of singing, I strongly believe that each person has the ability to learn how to sing. No "Joe" may not be the next Josh Groban, and "Jane" won't ever come close to Whitney Houston but, they can probably hold a note. And when one can hold a note, one can sing. I just think it's all about learning how to do so.

Breathing. Breathing has been a human's way of living, of surviving. It is much more than a fact, that when someone is no longer breathing he or she is no longer alive. So, just as breath is essential to each human being, it is definitely essential for singers. But, there is a correct way of breathing. And when there is a correct way of breathing there has to be an incorrect way as well. Now although babies are young and don't do much but smile and cry, they are great examples of how to breathe correctly. If you, or someone else, were to observe a baby's breathing their stomach region is going up and down, up and down. (I say "stomach region" because one's stomach is for food, not for air.) They breathe using their lungs and their abs. More importantly when one, breathes as a baby does, one is not taking shallow breaths. And that would be the correct way of breathing. It's just funny how adults, for the most part, raise their shoulders when the breathe, or take in a deep breath. That is incorrect. Anytime your shoulders lift when you breathe, you are taking in shallow breaths of air and then breathing incorrectly.

So, since breathing correctly is a foundation of singing, a good exercise to try out is simply standing shoulder width a part with one foot slightly in front of the other. Make sure you have proper posture. A good way to check proper posture is to stand against a wall, making sure your head, your two shoulder blades and your bottom are touching it. Now, with your proper stance breath in through your noise, only allowing the air to flow to your lungs and your abdomen area. You should feel your lungs expanding (almost sideways) and your abdomen area filling up with the air like a balloon. When you're all filled up release the air through your mouth as if your blowing out something. While blowing the air out, you want to suck your abs in. Both the breath and the sucking in of the stomach act as proper support for the voice.
Now, after you have done that exercise do the same thing, only breathe through your mouth, and then blow the air out through your mouth as well.

By now, or after doing the exercise for a while, you should be breathing the correct way. Also, even if you're not singing breathing the correct way all the time is good practice because it creates a habit of proper breathing. But, I let's try one more exercise. Now, I want you to, in your proper stance, take in your breath through both your mouth and nose. I know, I know, that sounds silly and impossible. But, as you learn how to sing you'll find that the silly things is what helps the most. The point, however, with breathing through both nose and mouth is to allow more air to enter the body, therefore releasing more air as you sing. And the more air, the better the support, the better overall. Try it, you will feel as though you took in more air (which you will).

Breathing is a foundation of singing, but there is much more too. Maybe in another blog I'll just go over all the basics of singing. But, never be afraid to learn new things. And just because you aren't a soloist, that doesn't mean you can't learn how to sing and enjoy just as much as a soloist does. If you can hold a not, you can sing. =)

Presidential Debate

I'm really not big on politics. But, it is interesting to hear what the presidential candidates have to say about their future plans for America. I thought it was funny how both candidates would go around the questions most of the time. Then, with each chance the candidates got, they would make sure they added some kind of negative information about each other. I was trying to pay attention, but I mostly heard them talking about each other. They talked about what man voted for what in previous years. But no one could just answer the questions. All the answers led to other arguments, and then maybe if the mediator would reiterate the question then someone answered.
When both were asked, "Are you willing to say face-to-face what your campaigns have said about your opponent?"
They just went at it. McCain hurt Obama and Obama hurt McCain thorugh their campaigns. It was interesting.

Today

Thirty minutes early. That's right I was thirty minutes early to (church) service on accident. There I was getting ready, constantly looking at the clock. And then it read 8:02 a.m. But the clock in my room is slightly advanced because of previous tardiness. So I walk on over to Sandals, and there were only so many cars in the parking lot. Looked at my cellphone, 8:02 a.m. It was weird being so early, seeing since I've been late half of my life. But, I seriously stood there for a second (before calling Phylicia) and wondered why I was early this morning. I thought it would've been cool to randomly meet someone like prince charming (lol). I thought God must have something/someone special planned out for me today. Cause I mean thirty minutes, a lot can happen in thirty minutes. But nothing really did. It was actually quite cool this morning and a little breezy. I liked it. Then I watched as parents dropped their children off to Sunday school. Little kids are so adorable. So, I don't know why I happened to be that early, but I what we sometimes think is early or late is just on time with God.

Thoughts

I'm sitting in my sister's apartment looking at a tree on her living room wall. Her idea, behind the tree, was to make it into a gratitude tree. Her and her roommates are planning on putting paper cherry blossoms with thoughts of thankfulness and gratitude on them. I think it's a cool idea, somewhat of a sweet reminder of God's grace and mercy through good and bad. But looking at the tree, or just thinking about trees in general, I recall an analogy my friend Leonard Ray (woot woot) told me. He used a tree in relation to friends. Just like leaves of a tree fall during different seasons, some friends are only in our lives for certain seasons. And as some branches break off of trees, friends break up too. But friend relationships that represent branches hurt more because they snap. Then there are the trees' roots. Roots are strong and they help a tree grow; they're strong. And once in while people become those kind of friends. They become those roots to a tree. Just something I thought of sitting here, looking at that tree on the wall.

"Just to be close to You is my desire."
"You're all I need, You're all I need. Jesus, You're all I need."
"You're all I want, You're all I've ever needed. You're all I want, Help me know You are near."

Desire, Passion, Satisfaction, Crazy Love, Word of God (speak), Prayer

I wish I could say it has been my complete and utter desire to run after God; to pursue Him with such a passion, to have such a crazy love for Him. Random thoughts, words, scrambling around my mind. And they are all pointing in the same direction. A direction towards God.

I want to find all satisfaction in my God, and I want to be in love with Him.
Funny. Funny how it's easy to do other things, to make more time for hanging out, chilling, homework, or just reading.
But when it comes to God, it's as though time ran out. There's just no more time, but hey God will understand.
This is such a random blog, but these are my random thoughts. I think about this constantly.
I want to make time for God, and find joy in spending more time with Him. I want to keep reading His Word until I'm satisfied. I want to talk to Him for hours and not become restless.
I want my God. I just want my God.