Oprah Winfrey Presents #Belief: A Year After

“I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn and we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them and we help them in return. Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true, but I know I’m who I am today because I knew you. Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes the sun, like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood, who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But, because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” – Idina Menzel/Kristen Chenoweth

As I sit quietly in my room, listening to the silent air, I am led to inhale, exhale and simply say thank you. Have you heard of Full Circle Moments? Moments when a cycle completes itself or comes back to the beginning? I have had quite the journey over the last year and my experiences continue to get richer and richer with each passing day.

***This is a rather lengthy post but it’s worth the read. I promise.***

A year ago today, October 18, 2015,  was the worldwide premiere of Oprah Winfrey’s Belief. It premiered on the Oprah Winfrey Network to millions of people on the planet. I had just moved to Los Angeles from Atlanta and didn’t have OWN at the time. Being part of the network as an Ambassador/OWNer (Hey Georgia OWNers fam!), I knew of pretty much all the screenings, private and public, that were being held in Atlanta (even helped organize one at Georgia State University) but I didn’t know of any in Los Angeles.

I started to do some research and found out that there was a screening not too far from me in Culver City. I noticed that the screening was going to be at Agape International Spiritual Center and realized that this was Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith’s church. So, naturally, I got excited because I thought that he would be there and if he would be there then I would probably get an opportunity to shake his hand and say hello. It was so great. I had found a screening to attend to watch the premiere and I would get to meet Mr. Beckwith. Hilariously, I couldn’t be more wrong.

I got to the church and there was a check-in at the door. I spoke to an Indian guy and there were about two or three others there. At the table, I introduced myself and told them that we had been tweeting about the premiere. The Indian guy, on his phone and computer, said let me introduce you to Reshma.

When Reshma came over and we met, it was like two people reconnecting and reuniting after years of not seeing each other. It was so natural and energetic. This was the first time that I had seen her in my entire life but her light radiated so bright that I immediately recognized it as my own. We hugged (no formal handshakes) and laughed and I found out, literally in that moment, that Reshma was actually IN THE SERIES. Not only was she in the series, it was her episode that kicked off the seven-day television event. Not only was this her episode that kicked off the seven-day television event, but the hands that you see in the imaging and branding of Belief, are actually HER HANDS (oh, yeah, don’t forget to send them to me, Resh!). Oh, and not only that, the check-in Indian guy who kept switching from phone to computer and back to phone and who I thought was her manager, was actually just her MAN, Shehan :)

Have you ever held your breath underwater and you come up for air, gasping to catch your breath? I had that feeling back to back to back that night. It was truly incredible.

After we watched the episode there was a Q&A and once finished, Reshma, Shehan and I reconnected. We exchanged contacts and I left. Sidenote: I met two beautiful souls during and after the screening, Norie Marfil and an older gentleman who actually gave me a ride home.

When I got home, I found out that there was another screening the next night for the new episode and I had to get information about it. I spoke to other Ambassadors and found out that the next series of screenings for Belief would be at All Saints Church in Pasadena with Rev. Ed Bacon. Ed Bacon is the author of 8 Habits of Love and has been featured with Oprah many times. I had come to know his bold, loving persona through the network so I felt blessed that I would be able to watch Belief and possibly connect with him also even though Rev. Michael, author of Life Visioning, was nowhere in sight (smile).

Upon arriving at All Saints and attending the screenings, I knew being in that space would change my life for the good. I connected with OWN Ambassador All-Stars Alex Bryant, Marques Harper, Monica Danielsen, Paolo Presta, Patrick Thomassie, LaToya Anderson, Ashley Benton, new friend Stuart Rosen and yes, even the Reverend Ed Bacon, who affectionately calls me his Georgia Soul Brother :)

 

 

That was one of the most memorable moments of time in my life.

 

 

 

 

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Fast forward 363 days later…

I was on the phone with a friend of mine two weeks ago and he said he wanted to invite me to Agape. He told me later that he wasn’t sure if he could actually make it but I told him even if he couldn’t make it, I would still go because it had been a year and I still hadn’t made it out to a service. The next morning, Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith was on Super Soul Sunday with Oprah. On Sunday mornings Oprah tweets with the Ambassadors and anyone who wants to chime in on the conversation, Super Soulers, she calls us. One of the Super Soulers said he was headed to Agape that day. As I was scrolling through the timeline, I noticed a tweet from Alex saying that he was planning to attend next Sunday also (the same Sunday I had planned to go the night before). I told him that I was going and then about two hours later I got a Facebook message from Monica saying that she and Reshma were going to attend the following Sunday too! The thing was, it wasn’t even organized… It just… happened.

Now, this all just seems like one big coincidence, right? Wrong. It was all intentionally set up by design and truly a full circle moment. Here’s why.

The week comes and goes and here we are at this past Sunday, October 16th, 2016.

The four of us (Reshma, Monica, Alex and I) were planning to go to the second service but something inside me told me to go to the first service. I did. And once it was over, I decided to go over and introduce myself to Rev. Michael as he and I had also been tweeting back and forth about it. When I introduced myself to him, he immediately called someone over and requested reserved seating for the four of us. You can imagine my face at this point.

Huh? Reserved seating? Is this happening? “Rashaad, just let it happen”, is what I told myself. And, I actually did.

There I was right there on the second row, in awe, amazement and gratitude.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not only that, but during the service, Rev. Michael introduced us to the congregation as OWN Ambassadors and not even two minutes later I received a text message from the friend I was talking to that Saturday night saying that he saw me on the live stream at Agape. Wow. Talk about your mind being blown.

After service we met with Rev. Michael and he welcomed us back to Agape to be our home away from home. And today, October 18th, 2016 marks exactly one year that I ventured off to Agape, met Reshma, Alex and Monica for the first time during Belief and went all the way around full circle to get to this moment.  There are people who believe in coincidences, I just don’t happen to be one of them anymore. I know that everything happens for a reason and that everything works together for you, if you allow it. Since the Belief series aired on television, my life and my soul has expanded literally beyond belief. I’ve connected with a number of people who have inspired me to no end and who have encouraged me to continue to be great. Part of Rev. Michael’s message on Sunday was leaving mediocrity, rising to excellence and being in agreement with your true self. Man, so deep.

After the service, we went to lunch and during lunch, Alex said something so simple yet so profound that it hasn’t left my mind. Alex helped us realize that the four of us sitting at that table were literally “from” and technically “represented” four different countries. Imagine that, me, a Black man representing the United States, Monica – Norway, Alex – United Kingdom and Reshma –  India. It was like our own little United Nations. This entire time, that never even crossed my mind. We were all just genuinely connected by our BELIEF. We were all connected as Souls, as human beings, as each other. It wasn’t until he mentioned this that I saw the bigger picture and confirmed Oprah’s tagline for Belief: We Are Connected.

Though it has only been a year, our association, our alliance, our connection has grown and I hope that it will only get stronger.

So, Happy Anniversary Belief Team, OWN Team and Oprah! Our hearts are bigger and our intentions are clearer because of you. Who can say that we’ve been changed for the better? But, because we knew each other, we have been changed for good.

XO

 

 

 

Your New Beginning Awaits [Flight Details Inside]

Yesterday marked my 11 month anniversary living in Los Angeles. That’s 11 months, 334 days, 8,030 hours of my life. From experiencing homelessness to celebrating my 27th birthday (July 6th #TeamCancer) to connecting with some really amazing souls, I have been in some extreme situations since August 31, 2015. You can revisit a couple of those here and here.

Before I moved to LA, I started to experience God in a different way. Truth be told, it all started after my mother died back in April 2015. I was starting to experience numbers in different sequences and once I knew God was speaking to me directly through numbers, it changed the game for me.

One number in particular led me to say I Do (or — I Will) when it came down to moving to LA. It was

1111.

I would see the sequence 11, 1:11 and 11:11 EVERYWHERE. I would see it on my phone. 11:11 AM. 11:11 PM. My bill at the grocery store would be $11.11. I would see a billboard with the number 11 and so on and so forth. It was so strong that a friend of mine moved to a “big ole house” and the address, to our surprise, was 1111! It started happening so much that my friends AND family would see it. EVERYDAY. As soon as we saw it, we would text each other or call and just laugh it up. We knew it meant something but didn’t know what. As always, the researcher in me came out and I found it.

11 = New Beginnings.

Not only does it mean new beginnings but when you see it back to back, it also means that everything that you think about is manifesting rapidly. It is suggested that when you see it, whatever thoughts you are having are aligned with your intentions and your higher self. That is why it’s important to keep your thoughts positive and focus on what you desire in life and not on what you don’t have.

What’s interesting is that as I continued to see 1111, my thoughts about LA intensified. They grew stronger and stronger. Things started happening more and more leading me to that mark. When I finally made the decision to book my one-way plane ticket, which, for the record, was only $80, I knew it was God pushing me into my new beginning. My grandmother had just died a week after her 80th birthday, my mom died a week before her 43rd birthday, I had gotten fired from T-Mobile a week after my mom died (allegedly for time fraud — imagine that) and I felt that I had a serious case of Murphy’s Law — anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. There was a ton of pressure and I knew I had to do something in order to keep my sanity. I didn’t realize that God HIMSELF was planning a new beginning for me at the same time I was deciding that I, in fact, needed a new beginning.

I knew that taking this leap would call for uncertain situations. I knew that jumping into this new space, knowing literally five people (two of whom I hadn’t met before and a cousin who literally stopped all communication with me) would be quite a challenge. I also knew that I was treading new waters and that I was creating heart, mind and soul expansions for my family and friends. I believed that if they saw me do it, they would realize that they could too. I remember having a conversation with my dear friend Jasmine before I left and she said, “you’re the first one, King. You’re the first to do it.” Indeed I was the first one but I knew I wouldn’t be the only one.

She called me about a month or so ago and said she was on the way and that she’d be in LA by December. After we talked, she called me about a week or so later and said no, it would be August. I immediately thought it was because of her serious (and I do mean serious) infatuation with August Alsina (Lord, help). But I knew it was just her trusting the timing and actually saying yes. Like me, she started having experiences that led her to this point. Coincidentally, she’ll be here a few days before my one year anniversary. No, this wasn’t planned. Well, not by humans anyway. No, this isn’t a coincidence. Or is it?

I wrote all of this to let you know that YOUR NEXT IS NOW. There is something incredible going to happen in the month of August and you definitely need to be prepared for it. If it’s something that you have been wanting to do, do it. If there’s something you’ve been wanting to say, say it. If it’s something you have been wanting to get, get it. Don’t allow you to hold you back. Let your answer be yes. Let your gut lead you. Follow the stars. Flow in God. Take flight.

Your wings have been developed. Now it’s time to fly.

I haven’t published a post here in three months as I have been doing a lot of flying and a ton of work. I have been off the grid as I’ve been focused on advancing my life and career in Los Angeles and I have been doing a ton of soul searching and truth seeking. Reflecting on all that has happened over the course of the summer, it’s obvious why one would need to go underground to gather thoughts and slowly reemerge.

Since my break from social media, I’ve written A Black Man’s Blues, Volume 2: The Identity, the follow-up to 2013’s A Black Man’s Blues, Volume 1: The Introduction. Presales for A Black Man’s Blues, Volume 2: The Identity will begin this month. A Black Man’s Blues Volume 1: The Introduction is a collection of artistic and creative literary works penned by yours truly. The project explores the hidden truth about the pain that the majority of African American men deal with through artistic expressions via poetry, short stories, monologues, and other creative works in the hopes that Black men would become whole and embrace their essence. The official release date will be announced soon. During the entire month of August, Volume 1 will be available for only $0.99. To purchase, please click this link.

So, in review, as you embark upon this next month and next phase in your life, it is my hope that you open your heart and keep your mind focused on elevation. Keep your thoughts in high places and don’t allow anything to bring them down. Embrace the moment and rock steady.

I love you. Aim high. Stay fly. Your new beginning awaits.

Emancipation + Birthday = A Royal and Heavenly Event [guest post]

[guest post] It’s been a rough few days. I feel like I’ve been suspended in a purple daze or haze (take your pick). You see, the other morning, I was sent reeling into a state of shock and disbelief, seemingly, at this point, with no return ticket. Frantically, I channel-surfed, on a mission to find a reporter or news anchor who somehow hadn’t fallen prey to some cruel Internet hoax. They all were saying the same thing…

”Prince has died.”

Noooo, not my favorite entertainer of all time, His Royal Badness! Fire the Fact Checkers, for they all must be on some twisted, delayed April Fool’s Joke! Why didn’t I think of it first? Surely, someone would be on Periscope, live-streaming any breaking news. Notifications were popping up all over the place. I can’t remember if I screamed first or burst into tears, but I do recall a lot of wailing and a flood of tears. This was becoming all too familiar. This time, last year, my family and I were celebrating my younger sister and only female sibling, Kerri’s life in a memorial service of which we hoped she would have been proud. We also were individually and collectively trying to come to grips of continuing through our life journeys without a very important person part of it. The same shocking sentiments echoed then…How? And “Gone too soon!” as Kerri passed away on April 13, 2015 a week before what would have been her 43rd birthday.

As the day turned into evening, and eventually the night wore on, in the midst of crying jags, listening to and watching tributes, answering calls and responding to texts from “caring family and friends” with “I know this is rough, Are you OK?” etc., I’d break down again, then remember something funny, and in all the reminiscing, I began to realize that there were a few parallels between Kerri and Prince. You may think “What could they possibly have in common?” I’m glad you asked.

They both were 5’2”, yet they never let the adjective, “short” define anything about them except vertical alignment. They both adored those sky-high boots (and sometimes pumps for Kerri too) and walked like a “BOSS”, commanding any room they entered without trying.

They both were very creative, and forward-thinkers is an understatement. Prince could play a minimum of 27 instruments and left a body of work that people only speculate about. It is being reported that he had an underground vault of unreleased tracks that could take us well into another century. Kerri, took a societal label of being a “teenage mother”, turned it on it’s ear and created an empowerment platform for young women and the youth. She possessed both an entrepreneurial spirit and a servant’s heart. She had a catering company and also envisioned having a food truck business long before they came on the scene in metro Atlanta. She was a culinary wunderkind, creating down-home, Southern-style concession treats that weren’t fast food.

They both were incredibly private. It’s no secret that Prince was extremely private. In fact, for many years, he did not grant interviews. The repetitive statement to curious fans was that he was very private and shy. Eventually, like a beautiful, and precious seedling, years later, Prince seemed to open up some, began granting interviews, making surprise appearances, and eventually started to engage in social media under unassuming handles, i.e., not his stage or given name. He once even replied to an often-repeated question about relocating from MN to CA, something to the effect that he would remain there in MN because “the cold kept the bad people (paparazzi) out!” Kerri was far from shy and never met a stranger. She had an effervescent, welcoming and endearing personality. She was always “the life of the party” and it has been such a noticeable void at family gatherings because her physical presence is sorely missed. I have come to say she lived and loved out loud, but endured privately.

They both were strongly grounded in their faith. Prince became a devout Jehovah’s Witness around 2001. In an interview with Tavis Smiley, Prince stated that he would be participating in the field service (door knocking) and that people would be shocked when they opened their door and saw him there to witness to them. Kerri was anointed and definitely on the fast-track on her faith assignment. Born into a family of Baptists, Kerri announced at age two that she wanted to be baptized. Initially, mama and daddy were hesitant because they didn’t believe she could truly comprehend what baptism meant, nor the responsibilities that came with it. Our pastor reminded them of the scripture in Matthew 19:14 “But Jesus said, Suffer little children and forbid them not, to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” KJV. They relented and approved. Kerri would be an active church member and Christian servant, never missing an opportunity to share some part of her faith or minister to others daily.

So, here we are. My heart is still broken. Many hearts are broken. Families and fans are in mourning. Kerri was also a Prince fan. It was kind of inevitable. We all have questions as they both left us thinking and wondering that they left us way too soon. Since Prince is a little shy, I’m sure Kerri (AKA Ms. Congeniality) will make him feel right at home. I hope she remembers to ask him to do a little riff of “Kiss” for Mama.

Happy Birthday, Kerri and Rest Well, Prince!

Karen Y. Kirkland

Happy Anniversary, Mommie!

Brava HarpOpraH, Brava. #FarewellHarpo

After a phenomenal 25-plus year run in vibrant Chicago, Harpo Studios, home to The Oprah Winfrey Show, officially closed it’s famed N. Carpenter St. studio doors today. As the remaining Harpo and OWN staff transition to the West Coast, one thing is for sure, as one chapter ends, a new one begins.

Thus bringing me to the purpose of this post: what seems like the end, could very well be your beginning.

There are many of you who know that earlier this year, in January and April, I lost the two most important people in my life. My grandmother (my heart) passed in January a week after her 80th birthday and three months later, my mother (my soul) transitioned a week before her 43rd birthday. I talk about that often here and on social media and I am truly amazed at how I have been able to adjust to life without their physical presence.

I must admit, though, that there are days that are truly harder than others. Sometimes I can go days without a single tear then there are others when I feel like I’m drowning and would literally do anything to bring them back…then I realize that no matter what I do, as long as the physical world exists how it does, that’s not an option. That’s when I take a moment to pause and reflect and their teachings about life fill my mind.

Say please and thank you. Open doors. Smile. Speak softly. You have two ears and one mouth because you are supposed to listen twice as much as you speak. If someone cries, give them tissue. Love with no conditions. Don’t chew with your mouth open. Laugh often. Have to sneeze or cough? Cover your mouth and wash your hands. Pray always. Keep God first. So on and so forth. The list goes on and on. But one thing I’m having trouble with is knowing how to move forward in life without them. They didn’t teach me that, though the lessons I was taught early on are rules and guidelines for the blueprint of my life, etched in my heart forever.

What seems like the end, could very well be your beginning.

I made the decision in August to leave Atlanta and travel clear across the country to Los Angeles to chase my dream as a screenwriter. I can honestly say that without their passing, I would not be in a position to be able to do so. For the past nine years my mom, sister and I served as full-time caregivers for my grandmother who was diagnosed with dementia. That was a choice. A choice made in love out of love. When our process began in 2006 after the diagnosis, we made a conscious effort to remain present. It wasn’t a hard choice for my sister and I as teenagers. It was fairly easy. How? When I thought about how much my mom and grandma sacrificed for our lives, the answer was pretty apparent. And not a day went by when we weren’t truly present in each others lives but as we know, all good things must come to an end. But that doesn’t mean it has to “end” there.

I’ve seen a number of people post things on social media today about Harpo. I’ve seen the tears and the smiles. All the photos taken in front of the building, inside the studio, the #GoodbyeHarpoStudios, #HarpoStudios hashtags and so on and I can only imagine the tug on the heartstrings of those who were blessed enough to experience that. I am, however, thinking especially of the emotions Ms. Winfrey herself could be facing. A decision was made and it’s clear that she’s made peace with it but there’s still something about that final curtain call that makes you reflect and remember.

So, I want to simply take this time to say Brava, Harpo, Brava. You ran your race. You fought the good fight. Now it’s time for you to take your rest. It was out of Harpo that OWN was born and now, that is the mission. That is the focus. That is the continuation of the Oprah Winfrey legacy. And just like I am striving to continue the legacy of my grandmother and mother, my heart and soul, as a proud OWN Ambassador/OWNer in support of Ms. Winfrey and OWN TV, the Oprah Winfrey Network, I will strive daily to do my part in continuing the legacy OWN (no pun intended…okay, maybe a little pun).

As I sit and reflect back on my thoughts and realize that as Harpo Studios closes it’s doors today, no matter how much I wanted to visit and be a part of that experience, ultimately I am a part of Oprah’s Next Chapter and for that I am forever grateful. What seems like the end, could very well be your beginning.

To the former Harpo Studios staff, Godspeed! Thank you for your contributions to the world. We will always treasure your hard work. Harpo wouldn’t have this type of impact in the world had it not been for you. To the present Harpo/OWN staff, thank you for being willing and available to continue the work on. We need, want and appreciate you. Honestly. To the OWN Ambassadors and OWNers, I LOVE ALL OF YOU. Many of you I have now been able to call friend, brother, sister and we ALL will be connected for life because of this. We Are Family. Let’s remember to treat each other as such. Intention is everything and I’m sure Oprah would appreciate it if we keep that as our focus when dealing with each other. One love. To Maya Watson, you are truly a treasure. I can’t wait until the day we meet face to face. Just wanna hug your neck for being so kind, generous and warm. We need more of YOU in the world. To Presidents Sheri Salata and Erik Logan, where would we be without you? Your vision, your leadership, your passion is what keeps this ship afloat. Thank you for running this thing. You make us all proud and I genuinely appreciate you.

And finally,  to the one, the mighty O, Ms. Oprah Gail Winfrey, I would need to create a separate blog post for what you mean to me. I remember watching your show with my aunt when I was little and when I spoke at my mom’s memorial service I closed with, “Kerri was my starlight in a dark world. She was my Maya Angelou, my Mother Theresa, my Oprah Winfrey” and I meant that with every fiber of my being. I recently found out that she subscribed to Oprah.com years before I was welcomed into the OWN family and I believe some of her teachings indeed came from you. Regardless, Ms. Winfrey, I thank God for you everyday. It is because of you that I now have the courage to stand in my space on earth. My mother and grandmother taught me that I indeed had a space to stand in. You helped show me how to do it with no fear, in truth and with God at my back, pushing me the distance. Your light has been a guiding force for me for the past couple of years  and I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. I am here to continue to do the good work. As I strive daily to become a television showrunner, I need you to know that there will always be a part of you in me and my work as a writer and creative. Your heart is golden and I hope to be like you when I grow up. I respect you. I appreciate you. I love you.

Now that I’ve wiped these tears away now that I’ve finished this post (literally took me two and a half hours to write this as I’m sitting in Starbucks in tears — people are like, are you okay? Lol.), we can party and celebrate a job well done! When it’s all said and done, the legacy lives on. Brava, HarpOpraH, Brava.

Onward.

XO