When Tragedy Becomes Reality...

It's been a tough last few days for the Mo'nique cast & crew, as we mourn the tragic loss of our co-worker Maureen Allaben. i remember she told me once..."You really look like you're having good time behind that keyboard!!!" Tho I didn't know what may have been going on with her behind closed doors, it's good to know that my energy shined a light within her while she was here with us...

That got me thinking...we're always promoting self motivation, self esteem, and the belief that if you change your mind, you can change their reality...but what about people whose reality has already turned into tragedy?? What about the kids who've never left their neighborhood, or never even seen a highway, and no one's there to tell them there's a WHOLE WORLD OUT THERE beyond their block??? Or the wife beaten every time she steps foot in a church??? People have lost they're jobs, homes, children, etc...and I believe we have to have more to offer them than "hang in there" or "if u can see your life differently, it will become different!!" Don't get me wrong, hope is NECESSARY, but even tho hope in itself may keep u from sticking a needle in your arm or pulling the trigger, people STILL wanna feel like they're not in in by themselves!!!

So whats the solution??? At some point, our conversation has to move from self esteem & self motivation, to us becoming a COMMUNITY again!!! Dr. Martin Luther King once spoke of his dream of hope, but it takes a community to continue to carry out his vision. In this world WE ALL have a small piece of a HUGE pie, but it's gonna take us working together to make it happen!!! We must connect again despite our generational differences!!! We must be concerned about other peoples children and not just our own!!! Smile at people, say thank you the next time someone holds the door for you. Remember your waiter's name when you go to a restaurant, and give them a GOOD tip!!! Don't wait till the teacher has to call your house, go meet them, and offer your support while NOTHING is wrong. Offer to go to the next AA meeting with your close friend. Even if they say no out of shame, the fact that you offered shows that you care!!!

Bottom line, our time on earth is short, and you'd be surprise how a random act of kindness may shine a light in a VERY dark place in someone else's life....RIP Maureen