Remakes vs Originality in Theatre, And The Power Of Gratitude

I'm probably the only nerdy person listening to "A Raisin In The Sun" on audio right now. The dialogue is brilliant. Since reading it in high school i'm realizing how diverse and controversial it actually is. To me Lorraine Hansberry is a Genius! I was just thinking with the "all-black" remake of Fried Green Tomatoes, oz, and others, how original, authentic black cinema should be celebrated more! 

Still much respect to whoever came up with these casting and interpretative ideas. They fortunately bring a nice sense of flavor to the stories. The musical aspect of "the wiz" may be the whole draw for me anyway because at the same time the christian-ism in the back of my mind is like: magic? wizardry?...is that borderline witchcraft?

Hmmm...Let's hope that the nature is truly good anyway and Dorothy's testimony can maybe minister to someone for a positive change, beyond the sing-a-long and fan fare I ultimately see a celebration of gratitude. We should be grateful for what we have and not take it for granted. There really is no place like..........the presence of God. Yeah that was supposed to be home...but in His presence is truly where my heart wants to be. Besides who needs a wiz to fix all your faults anyway when you have a heavenly father who is omnipresent?!

I'm excited about The Wiz Live tonight I loved the original film with Diana Ross!! Will you be watching? Live tweet to me @aprilinspired.


Peace and Blessings Family!!

5 Signs You're Settling For Less Than You Deserve

by: Iyanla Vanzant

Some years ago, I was shopping and came upon a beautiful red dress. The color, style and length were perfect. But the store didn't have it in my size. It did, however, have the same dress in navy, which I wasn't crazy about. Then I noticed a pair of blue shoes nearby that complemented that blue dress. (I didn't love those, either.) So what did I do? I bought both. I was afraid I wouldn't find anything else, so I settled. (It won't surprise you to learn that I've never worn the dress or the shoes.)

You've probably heard the saying "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't." Here's a question: Why put up with any devil? Why not give ourselves only good things? When we believe we cannot have what we desire—when we lack faith in ourselves and in the goodness of life—we settle for less. We decide that whatever is in front of us is better than nothing. But believe me when I tell you that better than nothing isn't good enough.

I often see people settle for less than they deserve in personal relationships: accepting bad behavior, excusing broken promises, accommodating people who take more than they give. Why? Because doing things we've grown accustomed to is familiar, comfortable.

Which is why sometimes it can be tough to gauge whether we're settling: When we tell ourselves that things are fine, we soon forget that they could be better. Here's how to know whether you're putting up with less than you deserve:

• When you have to work yourself into a state of excitement rather than naturally experiencing joy and passion, you're probably settling.

• When you bargain with yourself about what you can do without rather than feeling gratitude for what you already have, you're probably settling.

• When your focus is on the time and energy you've invested in an endeavor rather than the love, joy and gratification you've gained, you're probably settling.

• When you're making excuses about why you should stay put rather than going for what you truly want, you're probably settling.

• When you spend more time complaining about what you have than appreciating it, you're definitely settling.

But there is a lesson to be learned in everything. When we realize we've been settling, we discover what we actually believe. We learn that we perhaps think ourselves undeserving of happiness and find how susceptible we are to outside influences—because often we settle when others convince us it's the right thing to do. Most important, we learn that we are not standing fully in our truth. Armed with this information, we can make new choices that support our desires—by beginning to believe that we can have what we really want.


Iyanla Vanzant is the host of OWN's Iyanla: Fix My Life and the author of  Peace from Broken Pieces.

This post was originally published on Oprah.com

Getting Back To Gratitude

I have SO much to be Thankful for, sometimes in fits of recognizing what I don't have or going after what I don't need, I get off track and everything falls out of order. I'm so glad that God has me in exactly the place where He wants me to be. I'm thankful that I can never get too deep into a depression without the spirit of God lifting me up! Thank you father for being my covering! 

I know that anytime I feel limited, slighted, or overwhelmed by the very gifts I've been given, I'm really not operating in the spirit. Thank God for always leading me back. For helping me to realize today that Breath Of Life Daily came out of a pure spirit, not from me wanting to be liked or get money, but from me wanting to encourage people. 

BOLD came from me having an overflow of life to give. That life is in God. I'm always chasing better, even if it's not God and this year He put me in a position that I never could have imagined, but it's absolutely everything I need. I'm covered in a place of safety and I get to minister to women at the Christian Women's Center. God's got me, I'm covered, and I'm here. Breath Of Life Daily came from that, That no matter what happens, or what has been, the life in the spirit overpowers the life on the outside. I'm so thankful that I'm not in this by myself, that I've have people who support me and see my potential in God. Thank you to everyone who has been a blessing and who continues to be a blessing!! Happy Thanksgiving Day!

When we get back to the true source of why we do what we do, our passion will take control and produce of it's own accord. Thank God for gratitude, Blessings come from gratitude. 

-April D. Byrd


What are you thankful for today?