A few years ago I watched a TED Conference about 'grit' being a defining characteristic of one's success. Of course, there will always be the over-night success stories that grab our attention, but those aren’t necessarily the stories that keep our attention. The stories of blood, sweat and tears, enduring discipline and relentless perseverance - those are the stories that inspire us and give us hope that someday, we too might be able to realize our dreams.
Read MoreSo this morning I drifted away into one of my customary daydreams where I was attending the Cannes Film Festival. For what reason, I'm not sure. Maybe because Amal Clooney and I become besties and she couldn't imagine a week in the south of France without her A1 hitta. (Yes, I have a serious girl crush on Amal Clooney and yes, my daydreams are very grandiose). In any event, I looked absolutely faaabulous dahlin'.
Read MoreThis is more of a rant than a musing but is just me or has customer service gone to crap? I'm not asking to be waited on hand and feet (although, it would be nice) but I've noticed from several recent experiences (across different areas of business) that customer service has gone seriously downhill.
Take for example an experience I had the other day at my favourite store. I won't mention the name but lets just say it rhymes with *cough* Farrah *cough*. I approached one of the sales reps and politely inquired if they had a particular item in my size. She immediately told me, almost mechanically, barely looking up from the shirt she was busy folding, "We don't have anymore". Now, I know sometimes stores run out of merchandise so it's not completely far-fetched that that item was sold out but..let's just say the super sleuth in me knew better. So I proceeded to the cash where I told the cashier that I was told that they were sold out of my size but I just wanted to make sure. The cashier then tells me "If she said we don't have anymore, we don't have anymore.
(Right?!)
To which I responded, "Okaaaay, but can you actually check? Thaaanks!" (Make sure to read 'thanks' with an upward Valley Girl inflection).
So she calls over another sales rep who then scans the bar code and disappears into the back only to come back with, surprise, a whole pile of the item that was supposedly sold out. Sales Rep #1 then smiles at me foolishly, mumbling something like "Ohhh, we do have more". Well had you just taken a modicum of initiative and scanned the stupid bar code, you would have known! Heck, when I was a sales rep at 16 and a customer asked for a size that wasn't on the floor, I actually had to drag my behind to backroom and actually, physically check.
On a separate occasion at the same store, as I was making my transaction at the cash, the cashier says to one of her friend's, "She is such a bitch", presumably about a colleague. I was standing right there!! Is it me or was that a complete inappropriate exchange in front of a customer?
Sigh. Kids these days.
Love and Light,
Alicia
I consider myself to be a Beyonce fan. Not dedicated enough to brave the elements or the crowds to see her in concert. Nor loyal enough to purchase anything she endorses. And certainly not rabid enough to barrage Rachel Roy's (or Rachel Ray's) Instagram comments with lemon and bumblebee emojis amid rife speculation that Rachel (the former) is 'the Becky with the good hair' to which Beyonce alludes in one of her songs from her new visual album, Lemonade. An album laden with allusions and subscript references that is as direct as we can ever expect from a woman whose lips are sealed tighter than Fort Knox when it comes to addressing anything remotely related to her personal life.
Now I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't the tiniest bit interested in what really transpired to evoke the visceral emotion that bleeds through every song on Lemonade. But what I'd rather talk about is the significance, and quite frankly the need for such an album in today's popular music landscape. Because...how do I put this. Music today is crap. No, Fetty Wap, I will not come your waaaayy. No, Yo Gotti, I will not snapchat you that pu$$y. No Drake, I will not give you one dance. Ok...just one but there's no more to be had. Of course, the generations before us have always had the pop stars, but they also had the pioneers. They had the one hit wonders, but they also had the consummate artists. They had catchy bubblegum lyrics that really wasn't saying much, but they also had songs that were so powerful, they sparked revolutions. Today we have...Pit Bull. :'( :'(
I listened to Lemonade in its entirety and I would venture to say that this is not only her best work yet but the best work we've seen from any female popular artist in at least the last 10 years. Now, if you're expecting radio hits with catchy lyrics and cool choreography, those days might be over for Beyonce. And I don't mean in the sense of her incapacity to deliver. I mean in the sense of wanting to create music that does more than get you 'turnt' for a night on the town. The album is a strange mish-mash of sounds that weave in and out of genre and come together haphazardly, but somehow seamlessly, to deliver music that is powerfully potent. Sure, the subject of infidelity is very prominent on the album but there are also songs that directly address subjects that are more relevant and disconcerting than a cheating spouse. Like the under-appreciation of the black woman. And racial discord and injustice. While some have criticized the album as being a perpetuation of the Angry Black Woman stereotype, I think it is anything but. If anything, it is an unabashed exclamation of black pride. But of course, the media and masses would rather extrapolate who could have led Jay Z astray.
Which brings me to the egregious double standard for women and men. Had this album been released by a male artist, words like 'genius' and socially conscious' and 'innovator' would have certainly been in the mix. But in Beyonce's case, she's a jilted wife airing her dirty laundry for public spectacle and album sales. How dare a heartbroken woman sing about heartbreak! Or a black woman sing about being a black woman! Or God forbid, an artist exhibit growth and evolution in her craft. Piers Morgan was none too happy to announce that he preferred the old Beyonce whom he had interviewed 5 years ago and in said interview, asked about her booty in comparison to J.Lo's. Well, news flash Piers, 5 years ago was FIVE YEARS AGO. A barely 30 year old is not almost 35. A wife is now a mother. That is usually the case with the passage of time. Perspectives change. People grow. And if we're lucky enough, we get to experience a metamorphosis that gives way to a better...stronger...wiser version ourselves.
I doubt there's an old Beyonce or new Beyonce. I can only deduce from her medium of expression that this is the 'now' Beyonce. Because like Beyonce, we are always becoming who we are. Every heartbreak Every triumph. Every disappointment. Every single experience shapes and molds us continuously into who we are and who will be. If we can learn anything from Beyonce, it is that when life hands you lemons, make a smash hit visual album. Or just good ol' Lemonade.
Love and Light,
Alicia
Hi guys! I’m so SO so excited to be writing this inaugural post. Wait...why do I feel like I’ve written that before? Oh...because I had written that before on my previous, now defunct, blog. So what gives?
Let’s just say that life has a way of putting exactly where you ought to be. The last few months have been a bit crazy but for the sake of brevity I will be succinct. I had been trying to give 100% to too many things and as you know, that math just doesn’t add up. Between a demanding freelance writing gig, trying to get an event planning company off the ground, blogging, a full-time job AND, most importantly, being a mom and partner, I was literally running myself ragged. It was very exciting to be working on all these cool projects but my excitement quickly turned into anxiety as I realized I had bitten off way more than I could chew. In the midst of everything, I knew in my heart that writing and creating content was what I really wanted to do. I had an 'a-ha!' moment and realized...if people are paying me to write interesting content, I should just focus my energy on writing and creating content for my own blog. YAY!!
Of course, a seamless transition would have been too easy. As I started to put everything in motion for the launch of this new blog, I began to have some health-related issues which then brought on a serious case of health anxiety that put everything on the back burner. Now that I've been given a clean bill of health I can get back to focusing my energies in the right places. I had been waiting for months for the perfect time to move forward but I have come to learn that there is no such thing as the perfect time. You just have to grit your teeth and go for what you want. (deep breath) Sooo...here I am...again. Sometimes we need that false start to refocus and come back better than the first time around.
In light of my fresh start, I thought it was fitting to do a complete overhaul. I had decided some time ago that I wanted to re-brand my blog to include more visual content but still staying true to the aim of the blog which is to share with you in a way that is relatable, enjoyable and, hopefully, inspiring. I've got some really cool content coming your way so stay tuned!
To everyone who has been supporting and encouraging me...I can’t express how much I appreciate you. It was hard to start in the first place but to start over is equally, if not more intimidating but I’m so excited! Here we go! Again! ;)
Love and Light,
Alicia