Go Where You Are Celebrated!
I wrote this post just a few days ago, at the close of mental health awareness month. I’m currently traveling military Space A, and anyone familiar with the process knows that it’s an adventure requiring a ton of flexibility, thus, the late post.
The last few weeks have been an odd mix of nostalgia, mixed emotions, exhilaration, gratitude, deep disappointment, frustration, confusion, grief, and shock!
I won’t get into too many details,(because there are a LOT) but I’ll say that although the highs and lows do come with the territory of life, it has been a bit draining and nobody likes to feel like they’re being taken for granted.
Luckily, the lows are balanced out with some high points. In my travels, I’ve had the love of friends and surprisingly, strangers such as this elderly woman I met who gave the same presence as my beloved grandmother when she spoke to me in her native language and flashed me the symbol for “I love you” in a random encounter in the ladies room. It’s random moments like that which fill my soul and I cherish them.
Another matter on my mind is the death of the iconic Tina Turner. My mother loved her! She performed her songs all the time as she was a singer and performer herself. If you don’t know Ms. Tina’s story, google it.
She is the epitome of how to live out the second half of your life in love, peace, and happiness. The first half of her life was filled with pain. Her career here in the US was relegated to the soul genre. But internationally, where she performed before sold-out audiences in 100, 000 seat arenas, she was afforded the rockstar status she deserved; that she’d earned!
She permanently settled overseas in Zurich, Switzerland, with her longtime boyfriend and later, husband decades ago, converted to Buddhism, and embraced her inevitable death without fear years ago. She sold off her extensive music catalog and settled her estate before she passed away so that her family wouldn’t have to fight over it when she made her transition.
She often stated how HAPPY she was in interviews.
What an ATTITUDE TO HAVE! WHAT a way to LIVE!
Ms. Tina showed us the way.
Rest well, Ms. Turner.
You were simply, THE BEST!
Photo Credit: Aaron Rapoport
Special Note: Aaron was my Photo Studio II Instructor at NYFA Los Angeles
