In My Solitude Boutique Blog

The Power of Perseverance
March 6, 2008

My life has been a whirlwind over the past few weeks. I'm working on a TV project that I love, but as always, when I start something new it brings up an old issue. For me, a new job brings up my "stuff" about competition. How much is too much? Will people hate me if I act too driven? Am I better or smarter than the people around me? Are they better, or smarter than me? Am I trying too hard to win? How can I perform well without others seeing me as a threat?

Sometimes, when I feel like it's all too much, I look at a quote above my desk at home that says, "Persevere Without Attachment Until You Reach Your Goal." It's based on the Buddhist philosophy of non-attachment to the machinations of the outside world. This idea was working for me until I watched the results of my favorite reality show called, "The Democratic Primary" on Tuesday, March 5th.

Something clicked for me as I watched Hillary and Obama speak throughout the night. They are great competitors and through them I am learning how to become a great competitor, too!

Their pursuit of the nomination is truly the most exciting battle of will, wit and perseverance I have ever seen outside of a TV production studio. Each of them is willing to put their heart and soul in the game to win. Obama cooly stays the course while Hillary struggles to bounce back and overcome her rival.

By watching them compete, I see how important it is to have a strong strategy and a team that supports your efforts. When you stray off course, it's critical to listen to your advisors and make changes immediately based on their feedback. If your popularity is falling or your plan isn't working, don't blame or attack the other person because it makes you look mean spirited. And God help you if you don't know what everyday people are thinking about you because it can make or break you. Oh and if you take a hit in the solar plexus, shake it off and keep it movin'. Everybody gets knocked down, but a winner gets right back in the game with their sense of humor in tact. Finally, be thankful for a worthy opponent that forces you to step up your game because in the end you're that much closer to reaching your goal.

No matter how this race turns out, I think it's been good for our country and it's taught me at least to appreciate the intense level of struggle sometimes required to realize a dream. We all get tired of fighting, but challenges are truly necessary to grow. When we don't have a goal or a strategy, it seems like it's all for nothing and we lose hope.

Since the March 5th primaries, my quote is still over my desk, but it's been tweaked a little bit. Now it says, "Persevere with attachment until you reach your goal... or your opponent gives up!"

Abundantly yours,

Evolyn

It's Time For A Love Revolution

I was watching Mary J. Blige perform on MTV's Storyteller's last week and I was moved by how powerfully she performed the song, No More Drama. I mean, I really believed that she's finally had enough and is experiencing joy in her life at last.

I met Mary J. Blige for the first time about eight years ago when I produced a full hour with her at The Queen Latifah Show. At that time, she was still the "Old Mary" and as I briefed her in the green room, she was looking at me like she wanted to throw down after school in the playground. Clearly, I'm no "Jenny From The Block" so I told her what was happening in the show and got the hell out of there.

I've always loved Mary's music, but now she's become a friend in my head. I respect her for having the courage to change her life and also share the journey. Her latest song, Just Fine is the most fun, upbeat song Mary J. Blige has ever recorded. I love the lyrics, "No time for moping around, are you kidding? And no time for negative vibes, cause I'm winning." They lift me up and remind me to never take my life for granted.

Lenny Kravitz's new CD, It's Time For A Love Revolution, is encouraging us to believe in lasting love! Working in television has afforded me so many opportunities, and meeting Lenny Kravitz was one of them. The look on my face in this picture is just peace and purple haze, isn't it? I still can't get over the fact that we were kinda dressed alike that day.... Anyway, I'm so glad he's back and I love his new song,I'll Be Waiting. Really Lenny? Really?

Crack In A Bottle
By Ev

I've been "crackish" about a lot of things in my life, but a bottle of liquid vitamins has never been one of them. But here I am, "feening" for Nature's Plus liquid vitamins on a daily basis. While there's nothing on the label that would lead me to suspect that I'm ingesting a new form of crystal meth or an unwitting participant in a government sanctioned pharmaceutical experiment, I'm just not sure.

I feel too good to have not taken something that's illegal. I know there's some Ephedrine in there somewhere! I got turned on to this so-called liquid vitamin by my friend, Nichole. I blame her for bringing the stuff into my house. "Trust me. You have to try it," she said. "It's incredible. You can take it on an empty stomach and it doesn't even taste that bad."

Uh Huh! I should have snatched it out of her hand and poured it right down the drain like a bottle of cheap vodka, but nooooo! I swallow a capful and in an hour I'm feeling all Neo from the Matrix. My mind feels a little sharper and all that B12 has me bouncing off the walls... not bad for roughly $30 for a 30oz. bottle, right? Still, when the stuff is banned from the market and you've got six crates of it stashed in your basement ... don't blame me when the cops are knocking at your door... I told you it was "crack" from the get go!

The In My Solitude Boutique Blog is updated on the 1st and 15th of every month. We love to read your thoughts so feel free to share them below in the comment section.