How to Lose Well

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Nothing lasts forever. All (good) things come to an end. The only thing constant in this world is change. These are common phrases we’ve all heard that attempt to explain the transient nature of this earthly life. These statements are all true, but they don’t always provide comfort.

Whether it’s the loss of someone’s spirit and personality due to a debilitating illness, a shift in circumstances, a failed relationship, or death, loss hurts. And many times what makes it hurt more are the feelings that remain. 

As I took time to be still and process the homegoing of a loved one this week, I pondered…what do we do with the hope, love, and faith that previously filled us up when we experience loss? Where do we place the hope that our loved one who battled an illness would recover? How do we carry the love that remains after the object of that love passes on? What happens with the faith in one more tomorrow when tomorrow ceases to exist?

As Christians, if we are suffering from the loss of a loved one to death, we are supposed to find comfort in the fact that our loved one is in a better place. We are to find solace in that they are no longer suffering and are resting in the loving arms of our Father. It sounds good and we believe that to be true. But, the reality is our hearts still hurt from the absence of their physical presence.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 147 verse 3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” That means we can bring our pain to our loving Father, trusting Him to heal us when we experience loss. That doesn’t mean we won’t feel sorrow for a time – after all, Jesus wept too, even though He knew about the miracle He would perform that would shortly bring joy to the brokenhearted.

The Word also tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:3,4 “God is our merciful father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.” This verse answers, “What do we do with the hope, love, and faith that previously filled us up when we experience loss?” We pass it on to those who need it.

How do we lose well? We pay forward our hope, love, and faith to someone who needs it. And there is ALWAYS someone who needs it. 

I love the sovereignty of God. We may not understand His timing or every move He makes, but we can trust His ultimate plans for our good. 

If you’re uncertain about how to pay the hope, faith, and love forward, be sure to ask. Another promise found in Matthew 7:7-8 is “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

For more golden life ventures visit www.goldenlifeventures.com.

Caught Between the World and a Hard Place

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Have you ever thought to yourself, “How did we get here?” And by here I mean, today’s popular culture.

In a world where the pace of change is relentless and the pressures to conform are ever-present, living out the Christian faith can sometimes feel like navigating between a rock and a hard place. The journey of integrating deeply held spiritual values with the demands of contemporary society is both challenging and profound. 

Today’s society frequently promotes ideals that diverge from or sometimes downright clash with Christian teachings. In an era where success is often measured by wealth, status, and personal gratification, values such as humility, self-sacrifice, and service to others can seem out of place. Social media fosters a culture of comparison and self-promotion, contrasting sharply with Jesus’ call to love others and seek the welfare of the less fortunate.

I’ve found this clash to sometimes create tension in everyday decisions—from navigating workplace ethics to managing personal relationships. The pressure to conform to societal expectations can sometimes lead to moral compromise or a sense of isolation from the broader culture.

But there is good news…always.  There are effective ways to embody the teachings of Jesus while navigating our modern-day life. Here are some practical steps to live more like Jesus while engaging with a world that often celebrates the opposite:

1. Ground Your Life in Prayer and Scripture

Maintaining a strong spiritual foundation through regular prayer and Bible study is essential. Jesus often retreated to pray and sought guidance from God. By immersing ourselves in scripture and staying connected with God, we gain clarity, strength, and wisdom to navigate the complexities of modern life.

2. Embrace Simplicity and Contentment

In a world driven by materialism and instant gratification, choosing simplicity and contentment can be a radical witness. Jesus lived a life of simplicity, and His teachings encourage us to find joy and satisfaction in what we have, rather than constantly seeking more. Reflect on ways to declutter your life and focus on what truly matters—relationships, service, and spiritual growth.

3. Practice Mindful Engagement

Being aware of how digital media affects your spiritual life is crucial. Setting boundaries around screen time, engaging in digital detoxes, and focusing on meaningful, face-to-face interactions can help maintain a balanced life.

4. Serve Others with Compassion

Service to others was at the heart of Jesus’ ministry. Look for opportunities to serve those around you, whether through acts of kindness, volunteering, or supporting charitable causes. By actively seeking to meet the needs of others, you embody Jesus’ love and compassion in a world that often prioritizes self-interest.

5. Cultivate Genuine Community

Despite the digital age’s emphasis on virtual connections, strive to build authentic, face-to-face relationships. Small groups, faith-based communities, or local church gatherings can provide a sense of belonging and accountability.

6. Practice Forgiveness and Grace

The modern world can be harsh and unforgiving, but Jesus calls us to extend grace and forgiveness. Practice forgiving those who wrong you and approach conflicts with a spirit of reconciliation. This can be a powerful testament to Jesus’ teachings in a world often marked by division, animosity, and pettiness.

7. Live with Integrity and Authenticity

Living authentically and with integrity is a powerful witness. Align your actions with your beliefs, even when it’s difficult or unpopular. Your commitment to ethical behavior, honesty, and genuine love can stand out in a culture that sometimes values expediency over truth.

8. Seek Ongoing Growth: Embrace challenges as opportunities for spiritual growth. Reflect on how current trials might be refining your faith and character, and remain open to learning and evolving in your journey.

Living a Christian lifestyle in a modern world that often celebrates contrary values is undoubtedly challenging, but it also offers a profound opportunity for spiritual growth and witness. By remaining steadfast in faith, seeking supportive communities, and navigating the complexities of contemporary life with grace, Christians can find a path that honors their values and resonates with a world in need of hope and compassion.

For more golden life ventures, visit www.goldenlifeventures.com.

Focus on the Good

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Have you ever noticed that when you’re in a crappy mood, the more you focus on what put you in that mood, the crappier it becomes? Conversely, the more we revel in the good vibes around us, the better we feel.

Yep, that’s the classic law of attraction at play.

As humans, we sometimes forget the extremely dope gifts our Creator has given us. The chief among them is our ability to create. He’s given us magnificent brains that can reason, deduce, and produce, yet we often choose to settle on the lowest thoughts possible. Why is that?

It doesn’t feel good to settle there, but ironically it is a comfortable place for many of us. And that’s only because of programming, not because God designed us that way. 

Our programming, filled with constant negative news (what I like to call CNN), backbiting, gossip, trash-talking, pettiness, and cancel culture, is what’s keeping most of us from the highest level of thoughts our Creator has given us. But all is not lost. It may take a little more energy, but we don’t have to look very far for “the good” on which to focus our attention.

This scripture implies that we can always find something around us that is pure, lovely, commendable, and ultimately, good. When we focus on those things, we naturally feel better. And when we feel better, we often do better.

By the way, God didn’t promise that if we focus on the good our lives would be perfect. But He promised that if we focused our thoughts on the lovely, excellent, and praiseworthy, we would have peace. And the peace of God, my friends, is invaluable.

So if we found ourselves in a constant state of peace, joy, and contentment, what more could we do, be, and have with that positive energy? A better question…what couldn’t we create?

When life gets you down, look up.

For more golden life ventures, visit www.goldenlifeventures.com.

The Power of Perception and Purpose

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This past weekend I watched a documentary on Hulu that has captured my thoughts for the better part of the last few days. Of course, this is a tell-tale sign that another golden life musing is on the horizon. 

“Brats” documents the love/hate (mostly hate) relationship that the young movie stars of the 80’s “Brat Pack” had with the name assigned to them without their permission, but took on a life of its own, nonetheless.

What I found fascinating about this film was how it gave a front-row seat to how one shared experience could have very different impacts on each of those who lived through it. And in their own words, it is clear how their lives lived since that experience was largely based on how they perceived it.

Andrew McCarthy, the man behind the film, seems to paint a picture in the first thirty minutes that the coining of the name for this group the Brat Pack essentially ruined the careers (and social lives) of those who fell into this category. After all, the witty phrase, a play on the popular ’60s group called the “Rat Pack,” came from David Blum’s 1985 article in New York Magazine that featured these new stars in a not-so-complimentary way. As I watched, it became clear that the author who started it all was trying to be more clever and salacious than hateful and disruptive in coining this term, but the collateral damage it caused was evident.

Like most of the children of the 80s, my experience with these films was a positive one. I heard later that the stars in these films were, in my eyes, affectionately called the Brat Pack, but I never knew why. Movies like “Sixteen Candles”, “Weird Science”, and “Pretty in Pink” were some of my favorites. But being in the single digits at that time, I was completely lost on the term’s negative connotation.

In the article, David Blum questioned the seriousness of this new generation of actors who gained a huge amount of notoriety and success in a short period during the ‘80s. Candidly, in his interview for the film, he was in a way poking fun at them, but not in a devious way. However, the result was this group of actors stopped socializing with each other off-screen, and some of them believed because of the popularity of the article, they were perceived as “brats” and essentially in their eyes, blacklisted in Hollywood.

The interesting thing, however, is that several of the actors associated with this so-called Brat Pack – Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez – went on to have varying degrees of success in Hollywood. Even some actors considered “Brat Pack-adjacent” and sometimes included in the group – Robert Downey, Jr., Nicholas Cage, Matthew Broderick, and Kevin Bacon – have had long, successful careers, despite their share of controversy and drama. 

So what made the difference for why some of these actors’ careers soared, while the others’ tanked?

I believe it had very little to do with their talents and everything to do with their perception. Of those interviewed, including Andrew McCarthy himself, the actors who believed that the article held negative power over their careers were those whose names you probably don’t remember. Conversely, those who didn’t put much weight on the article and its impact had varying degrees of success in the industry.

From Demi Moore’s perspective in the film, the article wasn’t as much about these actors as the author trying to be witty and make a name for himself. She didn’t believe it was flattering, but she also did not assign any value to it as it related to her career. It was no surprise to me considering her mindset, she was arguably the most successful actor of the Brat Packers. In contrast, another set of the Brat Pack actors believed that the article meant the end of their short careers, and for them, it was. 

We each have our own perception of what transpires in our lives, and as a result, we add meaning or purpose to it. Sometimes that meaning we attach to what happens to us can have huge implications. In this case, life or death of a career. To me, this means that we have much more power than we give ourselves credit. Our perception shapes our reality. 

So what if we consciously decided to perceive whatever happens to us, seemingly good or bad, through the lens of our power and not our limitations? 

In a way, the film touched on how the fear of the backlash and impact of the article essentially paralyzed those Brat Pack actors whose careers stalled following its release. Six years ago I wrote a blog post entitled “Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid,” where I shared some insights on using fear as a motivator for our pursuits instead of allowing it to be a blocker. I believe if we applied these principles to every area of our lives where we experience fear, we’d have way more of the success we desire. I don’t want to oversimplify life here and imply that undesired things won’t happen to us all at some point. But I do think that how we perceive those undesired experiences matters, and our lives will prove it.  

For more golden life ventures visit www.goldenlifeventures.com.

Home Sweet Home Away From Home Pt 4

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On this third annual month-long respite in Anguilla, I pondered what has made this gorgeous island country so enchanting to me. Truth is there are beautiful beaches, abundant sun, delectable cuisine, and good vibes in many places all over the world. And many of them are a lot easier on your pockets.

I figured I would at least attempt to offer my Golden Life tribe a taste of what makes Anguilla so special. In fact, that’s what Parts 1, 2, and 3 have attempted to do. I’ve concluded that there is simply a je ne sais quoi about this place that can only be experienced. But while you’re here, I’d love to share with you some of my new finds and tidbits that I encountered on my most recent visit in January.

When in Anguilla…

I discovered Johnnos, a beloved beachfront restaurant among the locals accidentally. We had a reservation to visit one of Anguilla’s beautiful off-shore islands, Sandy Island (similar to Scilly Cay island we visited last time), and somehow they forgot to tell us they had a private party for the day. Fortunately, Johnnos, which is located right at the dock for the ferries to the island welcomed us with open arms. (Pro tip: When visiting a destination, go to the spots the locals enjoy. In my experience, you can’t go wrong with that. When in Rome…)

I was excited to learn that whole snapper is one of their specialties, and it comes right out of the sea, caught by a local fisherman. Can’t get any fresher than that! To top it off, they are a go-to place for live music on Sunday afternoons. My type of vibe!

Aurora has my heart

In my previous blog posts about Anguilla, I only briefly mentioned the Aurora property, but it’s been a go-to spot every visit. In my opinion, it is one of the top three most beautiful resorts on the island, and I would recommend a stay there if you have the coins to match. 

Even if you aren’t a guest, you are allowed to enjoy the property’s  abundant amenities such as the spa (which mom and I visited the first year) and the beachfront restaurant and bar, which has fantastic views. It is also cool to visit at night when they host live entertainment.

It’s also important to mention that the Aurora is home to the only golf course on the island, so if you’re a golfer, this is definitely your place to be!

Photo courtesy of Anguilla-Beaches.com

Zemi Take Me Away

I fell in love with Zemi at first sight. For starters, this beautiful boutique resort is located on my favorite beach on the island, Shoal Bay. It also has one of the most beautiful spas I’ve ever seen, and coming from a spa girl, that says a lot! Zemi’s vibe is all about the zen, and they nail that in every crook and cranny of the property.

This time, we enjoyed craft cocktails at their seaside bar and experienced live music and tasty bites at the The Bohio Bar & Sushi Lounge. I highly recommend this experience. And if you’re a spa bum or a boutique hotel lover like me, Zemi is your spot. It also happens to be a Hilton for you Hilton Honors members out there.

For All Seasons

I can’t remember ever visiting a Four Seasons that I didn’t like, and this one certainly did not disappoint. The Four Seasons Anguilla happens to be the only chain resort on the island. During last year’s visit, I indulged in the Spa, which was like its own resort. The views from the relaxing lounge and patio are breathtaking and of course, the massage was one of the best I’ve ever had. I recommend a full day here. You can’t go wrong at any of the restaurants.

This year, my family and friends visited on a Saturday night to check out one of Anguilla’s favorite homegrown bands Omalie 360. Absolutely amazing! Omalie, the band’s lead singer, even invited me up to sing along with him. It was a night to remember!

Omalie, the lead singer of Omalie 360. Be sure to check them out while in Anguilla, they were awesome!

You had me at aloe

I’ve been to many Caribbean islands and cities in Mexico where beach entrepreneurs occasionally sell their massage services. However, the Anguillan beach entrepreneurs made an offer that we just could not refuse – fresh aloe massages. Yes, they come prepared with fresh aloe leaves that they cut and pull fresh aloe juice from to serve as the ointment for your foot and leg massage. Yes please! I can not tell you how soft and refreshing my legs and feet felt after that treatment.

My mom and our friend on the Straw Hat terrace on NFL Sunday
This massage felt like what I would imagine heaven feels like.
We made fast friends with Straw Hat Manager Doris.

I’m not sure where else they offer their services, but we experienced this piece of heaven on the beach in front of Straw Hat at the Frangipani Resort. By the way, if you are a sports fan this is your spot! In addition to having a fabulous beach, the restaurant area has multiple screens sharing live sports from the US and all over the world for your viewing pleasure. As we visited during NFL playoff season, this became our Cheers every Sunday.

If you’re still not convinced that Anguilla is a place for you to visit, just know that I’m happy to continue to do the research for you (smile). Clearly, this little island has a lot to offer, and I’m looking forward to seeing what gems I will find during my next visit. You’ll certainly be the first to know!

For more golden life ventures visit www.goldenlifeventures.com.

The Present Matters

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In 2022 Mom and I started what has now become an annual tradition of spending the month of January on a beautiful little island country named Anguilla. To say that it is completely restorative and refreshing would be accurate, and also an understatement. This time away has become necessary for my overall well-being.

It is during these retreats I have been the most reflective and in turn, inspired. On this trip, I have thought a lot about what it means to be present. To me, it means being fully attuned and connected to the moment of now. 

Mom taking a moment to soak in all the beautiful scenery in Anguilla, even on a cloudy day.

The time away, which consists of longer periods spent disconnected from technology, always allows me to savor the “right now” moments in my life. In fact, we can call this blog post a Part 2 to Right Now, a post I wrote two years ago almost to the day. As I reflect on the contribution that our devices have had on our growing inability to appreciate the present, I can’t help but consider how we got here.

For a moment it seemed that the global shutdown helped us in that it forced us to interact more with our loved ones at home. However, one of the many ways that it did more harm than good is that it reinforced and exacerbated our deep dependence on technology.  

We have become so tethered to technology that many of us have forgotten how to be with each other. We use our devices as a crutch during silent moments. Our conversations are often interrupted by the sudden pings of not just our phones, but our smartwatches, which keep us constantly “connected.” Sadly, however, we’ve never been more disconnected. Our fixation with our gadgets has in many ways made introverted people more introverted and even caused extroverts to become introverted. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticizing introversion. But when it happens at the expense of our abilities as humans to communicate with each other and appreciate what is happening right in front of us “offline,” Houston, we have a problem.

How did we get here?

One click…

One like…

One text…

One post…

One binge…

One emoji…

One reel…

At a time.

So how do we coexist with and benefit from technology while also remaining present to and focused on the beautiful moments in front of us? It probably looks different for each person, but I’ll start with a few of my own new habits.

  1. Setting boundaries around my technology. This includes keeping my phone on silent, only answering or responding during designated times throughout the day, and not letting every little ping interrupt me from what I’m focused on in the moment. It might even include at some point purposely leaving my phone behind at times. *Insert Gasp here.*
  2. Asking myself, “What is the present moment inviting me to notice or be aware of?” Searching for the beauty in each moment we get here on Earth helps me to value each minute I have. I’ve found most times, I don’t have to look very far for the beauty around me. It’s often in the people I’ve been overlooking when my face is buried in one of my devices.
  3. Changing scenery every so often. Going away to places like Anguilla is awesome, but not practical for everyday living. I’ve found that even just working from a new place in my house from time to time gives me a newfound perspective. And with a newfound perspective comes another opportunity to see hidden gems around me.

I always thought wasting time was about doing something pointless or unnecessary. Now I see the worst type of time wasted is experiencing each precious day on Earth that we’ll never get back again and not being fully present to the beauty of the things and the people around us.

We’ve seen movies and TV shows that point to the threat of technology completely taking over our lives. And yet, we seem to be completely unbothered by the fact that fiction is slowly but surely becoming our truth. 

So how do we fix it? I’m not here to judge or attempt to provide an answer because truth is, I’ve certainly been complicit in technology’s takeover. It’s a rhetorical question, but one I hope encourages all of us to ponder the individual roles we have in reclaiming our gift of the present. Because it is, in fact, a gift; and it matters to our humanity.

My Real Trinidadian Vacation

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There’s nothing quite as powerful for a mindset shift as a change in scenery. 

This week I’m returning from vacation to a place that I visited for the first time earlier this year. I don’t normally visit the same place twice in one year, especially one that is out of the country. However, the first time I visited the beautiful island country of Trinidad, I spent the majority of my time working.

The purpose of my trip this time was a true vacation. Normally my vacations consist of ample time to explore and experience everything a destination has to offer. However, the hustle and bustle of my everyday life had me essentially limping onto the plane, desperate for some relief from all the demands of my life.

The words person that I am, I decided to look up the definition of the word vacation. 

It comes from the Latin word vacātiō, which means “exemption from service, respite from work,” and traces back to vacāre, “to be empty, be free, have leisure.”

I felt all of that on this trip.

While I intended to see a lot more of the county on this visit, it turns out, that’s not really what I needed. I needed to rest. I needed to reset. I needed to restore. I needed to be still. 

And still, I was.

I loved leisurely starting my day each morning with yoga and ginger tea.

I think many of us have come to believe that we always have to be doing something, even on our vacations. Some of us can’t even begin to understand the concept of having leisure. But recently, my pastor Keith Battle inspired me with his series entitled “Margin” to take a deeper look into why I was so drained and exhausted going into my vacation in the first place. 

I lacked margin – what he calls the space between our resources (skills, wisdom, finances, time, etc), which are limited, and our responsibilities (commitments and obligations for work, family, ministry, etc.), which sometimes seem to be never ending. For most of us, that space is non-existent, and even worse, for some of us, our responsibilities exceed our resources. This lack of space between our resources and our responsibilities is exactly what has the majority of us in a constant state of exhaustion.

Going into this vacation with a newfound mindset that gave me the grace and freedom to do nothing, I came back refreshed, renewed, and restored in ways that I haven’t felt from a vacation in a long time. If you’re anything like me, you’re likely in need of a do-nothing vacation too. I know, you may be saying to yourself, I can rest at home. The reality is that most of us don’t. We need that change of scenery (and climate for me) to put us on the road to recovery.

A return visit to Maracas Bay beach was very necessary.
The view from the Maracas Bay Lookout never gets old.

While I did rest a lot, I want you to know that I didn’t come back to my golden life tribe empty-handed. In addition to the Trinidadian treats I shared in the musing from my first visit, “A Trip Fit for a Queen,” I have a few more recommendations for any of you planning to visit.

I couldn’t resist capturing a photo opp under this beautiful tree in the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Take a stroll or have a picnic in the Royal Botanic Gardens. If you are a nature lover, or you just enjoy peaceful, serene environments, this is a must for you. With a mini zoo on the property, filled with lively, colorful birds, it offers an abundance of flora and fauna that is sure to delight your senses. This Garden, which happens to be one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, also offers areas where you can sit and enjoy a bite to eat with a friend or enjoy some “me” time. There are also fascinating views of the President’s House, as well as beautiful rolling hills that can serve as a mini hiking experience.

Grab local fare from Queen’s Park Savannah. In addition to boasting the world’s largest roundabout, and offering views of some of Trinidad’s magnificent seven buildings, including castles, this beautiful park hosts food trucks that sell some of Trinidad’s best cuisine in the evenings. They serve everything from shark and bake, a local favorite, to some North American favorites like fried chicken wings and tacos. The Queen’s Park area also hosts numerous festivals, including the Pan African Festival, which I visited back in July and August.

Take in the breathtaking view of the city at the famous lookout points. One of the most charming attributes of Trinidad is the natural beauty that you can take in from several lookouts around the capital city of Port of Spain. The Maracas Bay lookout was definitely deserving of another visit, and this time I was also able to take in the daytime and nighttime views of the Lady Young Road Lookout. While you’re there, shop some of the local vendors and sit down and enjoy a drink and a bite to eat from Tastee Tobago. This cute little restaurant has great food representing Tobago, Trinidad’s sister country, and offers stunning views of the Caribbean Sea and Queen’s Park Savannah.

For more golden life ventures visit www.goldenlifeventures.com.

Lessons in Gratitude

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Talking about gratitude never gets old for me. Here’s why. It’s essential for joyful living. And who doesn’t want to live with joy?

We just entered the true fall season here on the East Coast of the United States. It happens to be my second favorite season of the year. The reason that it’s not the first is primarily because of the loss of daylight hours. It’s the sun for me, or rather lack thereof. While it’s really one thing that keeps this season from being in first place, it has been significant enough for me to secretly dread the season. And where there is dread, there is no joy.

Having been on this intentional gratitude journey for some years now and seeing the wonders it has done for my mood and overall disposition, I decided to apply this same intention to how I felt about the change in seasons. Here’s what I learned.

  1. By focusing my attention on what I loved about the season –  the beauty of fall foliage, the soothing satisfaction of warm beverages, the comfort and style of fall gear – I shifted my perspective. The perspective shift brought a new level of joy to this season that I hadn’t felt before.

2. As I made a conscious decision to express gratitude for the people and things around me in this season, the more there was to take delight in and savor. It’s as if I began to see with new eyes. 

  1. When I choose to be fully present in each moment and experience and find something to be grateful for in all of them, there is an abundance of joy that I can find in the darkness as well as the light.

As you experience this fall season, whether it is your favorite or not, I encourage you to consider adding intentional gratitude into your daily routine. You might just learn some lessons of your own that you can carry into the next seasons and beyond.

For more golden life ventures and musings visit www.goldenlifeventures.com.

The Beyonce Effect

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To say I appreciate great entertainment is an understatement. As a young child into my early 20’s I lived on the stage. The performing arts were always my safe space. Whether I was dancing, singing, or modeling in my childhood living room or performing to sold-out audiences at Constitution Hall, a large music venue in my hometown of D.C., I gave you everything I had. And I loved every minute of it. While at some point I decided to cultivate other talents and pursue different dreams, the love of performing arts never left me.

My girl group Visions circa 1998, around the time Destiny’s Child released their first album.

That’s why from the first time I was introduced to Beyonce as a teenager, a member of a girl group myself, I held a lot of respect for her. Whether or not someone likes her music or her as a person is and always will be subjective. What can not be debated is the fact that she is one of the greatest entertainers of our time. And her most recent Renaissance tour proved that fact.

The final numbers are still coming in from her tour, which just ended last week, but it has already surpassed previous tours in revenue. Ultimately, it is projected to be the highest-selling tour in history…perhaps by anyone. But beyond revenue generated from actual ticket sales and Beyonce branded merchandise, the economic impact of her mere presence in each city she visits is nothing short of phenomenal.

From the moment Mom and I touched down in Houston, Beyonce’s hometown, the Beyonce effect had already taken hold. As the flight attendant welcomed all of us from D.C. to Houston, nearly half the plane erupted in cheers. On our journey to baggage claim, we were met with lifesize cardboard versions of Beyonce. Of course, her fans could not resist snapping photos and videos in front of them. This was only minutes into our trip. I’m certain non-Beyonce fans were already sick of us.

I’m familiar with how entertainment can impact the economic development of a city having served as communications director of the Film Office in D.C. for several years. It was the very point of the agency’s existence – to attract film and TV projects to the nation’s capital in order to bring valued dollars into the city by way of productions spending time there patronizing restaurants, hotels, and basically anywhere you spend money.

Renaissance was on a whole other level. 

Couldn’t resist snapping a photo in front of this cool mural in the Galleria mall.

On our first day in Houston, we ventured out to Houston’s Galleria Mall, which happens to be the largest mall in Texas. On any given weekend the mall is no doubt bustling with shoppers. However, the way the checkout line at Sephora was wrapped around the entire store you would have thought it was Black Friday. In each store we went to, shoppers were either eyeing, trying on, or buying out all the silver items in the store. (If you hadn’t heard, in late August, Queen Bey requested that all her fans wear silver to all her remaining shows in honor of Virgo season.) The restaurants had wait times of at least an hour. 

Speaking of restaurants, be sure to visit Lucille’s while in Houston. The food was delish!

What impressed me most, however, was Houston’s BeyHive homecoming party “HOU Run the World” on Avenida Plaza on Saturday night. Mom and I were thankful we had tickets to Bey’s Sunday night concert so we could attend. Let me tell you, Houston knows how to throw a party for their girl! 

The night included a local DJ, an amazing hour of old-school and new-school tunes from The Drywater Band, and a dope 15-minute fireworks and drone show that featured more than 400 Beyonce-themed drone displays. Even the mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner gave opening remarks. The show, mostly geared towards Beyonce fans who couldn’t attend her concert, brought out thousands who were dressed in their Bey-inspired gear and purchased signature cocktails and other refreshments. Restaurants along the plaza, like Pappadeaux where we dined that evening, extended their hours to accommodate all of the diners who were hungry after the free show. You know what that meant for the city of Houston. Cha-ching!  

The drone show featured everything from the signature silver Renaissance horse to the single ladies’ ring.

I know it goes without saying that the show was amazing in every way. No doubt you’ve seen the millions of videos on social media since the start of her tour confirming as much. For me, what was almost as fascinating as the show itself, was how her fans showed up. The effort and energy that the Bey Hive put into their costumes and making an experience out of attending her concerts was mesmerizing. The people-watching was entertainment in itself. People of all ages, sizes, colors, genders, sexual orientations, and any background you could think of came out to slay.

My mom was ready…isn’t she the cutest?!
Mom and I waiting for the show to start!
I did NOT buy a silver outfit…Beyonce is not the boss of me lol! But I did wear silver earrings in solidarity. 🙂

In the opening line of the trailer for a movie documenting the Renaissance Tour experience Beyonce proclaims in her signature breathy tone, “When I am performing, I am nothing but free. The goal for this tour was to create a space where everyone is free.” As I watched each fan express themselves uniquely and confidently in their Bey-inspired gear throughout the weekend, whether they went to the concert or not, it was clear that Beyonce crushed that goal. 

Throughout history, there have been many artists to sell out stadiums and attract visitors to cities sparking economic development on their tours. But from my vantage point, there is no one who has done that quite like Beyonce.

For more golden life ventures visit www.goldenlifeventures.com.

She Shines

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Last week I had an opportunity to be a part of and witness something really special. It’s hard to quite capture the dopeness of it all, but let me at least try. 

My mentor, Juanita ‘Busy Bee’ Britton, who you’ve seen featured in my last two blog posts, is not only a phenomenal travel curator of cultural experiences, and Queen Mother in Ghana. She is first and foremost, the consummate businesswoman. Not that she had anything to prove, but she further demonstrated her business prowess by adding yet another retail operation to her portfolio of more than a dozen restaurants and shops in Ronald Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport through her partnership with award-winning airport retailer and restaurateur Paradies Lagardère. And I was blessed to provide communications support for the grand opening of this amazing new store.

The new Goods@DCA, is the first of its kind, boasting 24-7 automation services by way of Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology; Clockwork Automated Manicures, a revolutionary technology that delivers flawless, automated manicures in just 15 minutes for $15; state of the art vending machines that offer fresh selections even when the store is closed; and the new “Lift and Learn” Technology, powered by Perch, allowing shoppers to engage with books in an innovative way. 

Speaking of books, let me share what amazed me most about this new business concept. Not only did Juanita partner with big corporate entities like Amazon, Starbucks (which opens later this year), and istore Express, which features high-end electronics; she invited DC-based independent bookstore and beloved local treasure MahoganyBooks to be a part of the deal as well. She took this as an opportunity to help elevate the brand and offer national exposure and expansion for another local black-owned business. Now that’s dope!

But let me share with you what brought me the most joy and inspired me to write this month’s musing. At every turn and corner of this grand opening event, I saw a black woman shining. As a black female entrepreneur it was truly inspiring and heartwarming to witness the wildest dreams of my ancestors unfolding in real life. 

Nikki Harland offering praise to Juanita during her remarks.
Can’t wait to dig into April Ryan’s new book!
Juanita having a sweet moment with her mother.

As I watched the Chief Operating Officer of billion-dollar retailer Paradies Lagardère Nikki Harland come to the podium and offer her warm remarks, I smiled proudly. As I chatted with April D. Ryan, the only Black female reporter covering urban issues from the White House who hosted a book signing for her third book, “Black Women Will Save the World, An Anthem,” my heart fluttered. As I observed award-winning MahoganyBooks co-founder Ramunda Young work the room and warmly smile for photos, I grinned with joy. As I witnessed Denise Rolark Barnes, the publisher and second-generation owner of The Washington Informer, one of the oldest and premiere multimedia organizations serving the African American community in the DMV, capture the moments of the occasion, I nodded in amazement. Naturally, as I watched Juanita Britton, my mentor, stand at the center, orchestrating and coordinating it all, my whole being jumped for joy. And as she continued to humbly uplift and recognize her General Manager of 20+ years Nivlem Dickens, my heart beamed with pride.  

Juanita commanding the room, as usual
Juanita, my beautiful mother, and Nivlem
It’s official…the ribbon has been cut!

Last month, I hosted the second installment of a business concept I started during Women’s History Month this year entitled, SheShines. The purpose of this event series is to honor, feature, and support the businesses of black female entrepreneurs in the DMV (District, Maryland, Virginia region). Essentially, it’s a smaller scale version of what I was able to witness at the Goods@DCA, and it has no doubt further broadened and brightened my vision and dreams for the future. Oh the things we could accomplish by bringing all of our unique, God-given talents and skills into one place! I pray that some day the women of SheShines will inspire the next generation of black females in business because what’s evident is that we shine brighter when we all shine together.

Note: The next time you’re traveling and you happen to be in Terminal 2, Concourse D, be sure to stop by The Goods@DCA to help a sister shine brighter.

For more golden life ventures visit www.goldenlifeventures.com.