Sunday, May 31, 2009

Character

Earlier today, I was at this temple in the Hollywood Hills that I love to go to and pray. There is a bookstore that has many different books of different religions, saints, yogis, etc. I found this book for $1.00. It is called, "How to build Character". It was probably the best dollar that I have ever spent in my life. I literally gained a million times over what was spent in the natural. Here are some excerpts that really inspired me and helped me to grow. Enjoy the richness. LOVETiana

The character of a man is but the aggregate of tendencies, the sum total of the bent of his mind. We are what our thoughts have made us. Thoughts live; they travel far. And so take care of what you think. Evey work that we do, every movement of the body, every thought that we think, bears an impression on the mind-stuff. What we are every moment is determined by the sum total of these impressions. If good impressions prevail, the character becomes good, if bad it becomes bad.

The man of character develops upward, the man without character slips downwards. The man of character makes history, the man without is marred by history. The man of character is the hope, solace, well being, peace and inspiration of mankind; the man without character causes trouble, strife, worry, and misery in society.

When we do not have enough character, our enemies will be more powerful than our friends, there will be more wars than peace, more killing than healing. When we do not have enough character, our trains will not run on time; factores will not produce goods to their full capacity, industries will founder, fields will not yield the expected crop. Our world will end up in complete chaos.

When we do not have enough character, ugliness will reign everywhere, our faces will lose lustre, there will be no light in our eyes, hope in our heart, power of conviction in our mind, and joy in our soul.

Granted enough character, young men and women will be full of grace, dignity and self control, staying youthful to advanced age, and old people will become things of beauty to see. Granted enough character, our culture will be sweetness and light, art revelation of God the beautiful, and literature on high endeavour for self expression and transcendence. Granted enough character, our faces will shine, eyes sparkle, our hearts will bubble with hope, our minds will be full of firm convictions, and our soul scintillating with joy supreme. - Swami Budhananda

Such great words of wisdom. Daily, I see so many amazing and talented men and women but lack character. In my opinion, a talented man without discipline or character is plain, uneffective, ordinary and boring. Strive to be different and stand out from what has already been shown to us for years.
Even when everything in life seems to have been stolen from you, your character can never be robbed.
Peace and God Bless Tiana

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Crushin

I'm so in love with love, as you can see;)But on the real, I pray for 80's love to make a come back. I'm a sucker for song dedications, love poems, holding hands at the mall, feeling young and in love. Here are SOME of my favorite love songs from the 80's early 90's. Blackford Highschool Prom with Terrance, lol, MAKE IT LAST FOREVER was our songLOL Prom at Blackford High, best.

Man! all the New Edition links are disabled, got to copy and past. MY FAVORITE!
Mr. Telephone Man - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umEbhFKV6mc
Cool it Now - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYgxifjHsb8
Mr. Telephone Man



LIfe and Works of Hildegard von Bingen

I love learning about men and women who did great things on this earth and made major contributions to humanity. Saints, inventors and scientists really fascinate me and I love learning about their history. I stumbled across the book that was a biography of a Saint named Hildegard von Bingen. I never heard of her before but when I read her story and how much she helped influence the world, I was so inspired and wanted to continue to learn more about her. If interested, here is a little about this incredible woman.

The Life and Works of Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
Introduction
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a remarkable woman, a "first" in many fields. At a time when few women wrote, Hildegard, known as "Sybil of the Rhine", produced major works of theology and visionary writings. When few women were accorded respect, she was consulted by and advised bishops, popes, and kings. She used the curative powers of natural objects for healing, and wrote treatises about natural history and medicinal uses of plants, animals, trees and stones. She is the first composer whose biography is known. She founded a vibrant convent, where her musical plays were performed. Although not yet canonized, Hildegard has been beatified, and is frequently referred to as St. Hildegard. Revival of interest in this extraordinary woman of the middle ages was initiated by musicologists and historians of science and religion. Less fortunately, Hildegard's visions and music had been hijacked by the New Age movement, whose music bears some resemblance to Hildegard's ethereal airs. Her story is important to all students of medieval history and culture and an inspirational account of an irresisible spirit and vibrant intellect overcoming social, physical, cultural, gender barriers to achieve timeless transcendence.

Hildegard was an abbess, prophetess, poet, healer, theologian, and musician. She was born in one of the most innovative and creative centuries of the Middle Ages, and is herself symbolic of the apex of medieval culture. One of the most educated, prolific women of all time, she preached against heresy and corruption, wrote massive works on medicine and visionary theology, was a prolific and highly original composer, and commanded the respect of an entire continent. Although she called herself but a "simple creature," and "a poor little womanly creature," she was known to others in her age as the Sibyl of the Rhine and Old Wrinklegard.

HILDEGARD'S MUSIC
At the heart of Hildegard von Bingen's extraordinary creativity was her accomplishment in music. In the poetry and melody of her songs, she reveals the full authority, intelligence and striking originality of her genius. She wrote profusely as no woman before her. Even though she received no formal training in music, her talent and motivation drove her to write 77 chants and the first musical drama in history which she entitled "The Ritual of the Virtues." She writes in her autobiographical passages: "I composed and chanted plainsong in praise of God and the saints even though I had never studied either musical notation or singing." Unlike the mild, mainstream music of her day, her lyrical speech breaks into rhapsodic emotion; her zesty melodies soar up to two and one half octaves, leaping and swirling into flourishing roulades which leave the singer breathless. The poetic vision and thematic themes of her hymns encompass the vast expanse of all her writings.
Choir of Angeles - Hildegard of Bingen
Choir of Angels
THE WIDE COMPASS OF HER MUSIC
Hildegard's music can only be fully understood in the light of all her work. The beauty and depth of theme found in her theology, philosophy, cosmology and medicine, can all be found condensed in her music as in a jewel. For Hildegard as for the medieval, music was an all-embracing concept. It was the symphony of angels praising God, the balanced proportions of the revolving celestial spheres, the exquisite weaving of body and soul, the hidden design of nature's creations. It was the manifest process of life moving, expanding, growing towards the joy of its own deepest realizations and a profound unity of voices singing the praises of God here on earth. It was beauty, sound, fragrance and the flower of human artistry. Over 300 times in her writings, Hildegard uses music to illuminate spiritual truths.

Beautiful and angelic. Musicians are gifted from God. Oracles. There is power in music. It brings healing to our spirits.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Day Dreaming



The man of my dreams

A love poem;)

When it is time.
I don’t know who he maybe but I know he will be man of
greatness.
His reputation is respectable and his presence is acknowledged.
He strives for excellence in all that he does that is why is an
honorable man.
He is held in high regards within the upper echelon.
His appearance may fool spectators or maybe viewed as ordinary.
But there is nothing ordinary about him.
Without a trace of a degree many are confound by the words of wisdom
that comes from his lips.
He carries a spirit of greatness that cannot be denied.
His eyes gleam with confidence because he knows that it is not him but
the Greater One that lives within him.
He is an urban prince that roams about the cities but still carries a
heart of a servant.
That is why he is favored among the poor and the rich.
He recognizes his influence is powerful that is why he chooses wisely.
He should be associated with only the elitist but still chooses to eat
among those who men look down upon.
He understands the importance of servant hood and does not look down
upon it as a weakness but as a prerequisite to authority.
His discipline makes him attractive and is openly rewarded by his
obedience that has been done in secret.
Never wasteful nor lazy.
He uses his time wisely because he knows it leads to poverty.
A skilled worker is he.
He always puts his hands to good use.
He has been misunderstood and not appreciated the way he deserves by the
women in his past.
For they cannot see the greatness within this man because they cannot
see the greatness within themselves.
These lovers in his past have been nothing but mere pawns.
Chess pieces that carry the least value and only obstacles to obtaining
his goals and full potential.
Undeniably, he has learned from these pawns but now reached a place in
life where he is open to love in it’s purest form.
Grown weary playing this predictable game of love and now ready to win
with his equal.
As one we will be a powerful force on this earth and do many great
exploits together for the sake of peace towards mankind.
We recognize that our communion is not intended for self-fulfillment but
for the serving of others so that they may in turn serve others.
We are merely forerunners.
We both see the future as if somebody has given us a map to our destiny
but in fact we have only been led by the dream that’s been within our
hearts.
It’s the light that has lead us out of our dark past towards one
another.
But for now, we are just strangers among the crowds doing what we know
to do.
We don’t know how or when this day will come but we just know that it
will. When it is time.
We will be at peace with one another because for the first time in our
lives we have found peace within ourselves.
We will enjoy the fruits of our labors and appreciate the blessings that
God has given us.
We both have come from little but know that the little is what caused us
to love great.

Monday, May 25, 2009

This is my family...R.I.P Uncle Bob...We miss you so much

As I write this, I am sitting with my mom and my brother. This memorial weekend I was so fortunate to spend time with the people that mean the most to me, and that is my family. I was able to fly out to Colorado and see my brother graduate from high school. I got to sleep in the bed with my mom and fall asleep watching movies. I enjoyed my mothers cooking and waking up to the smell of coffee and a great breakfast. Family is so important. My family is my life.
I understand this grind. We are all trying to make something of ourselves and follow our dreams. But always remember who you are. Where we came from and most importantly remember our families that have helped support our dreams and made it possible for us to do what we do.
At the end of the day, the red carpets, paparrazi, photo shoots, our faces and names up on the big screen won't mean a thing after we leave this earth. This fame will fade so quickly just as it came but the thing that will remain stable and real is the love from our loved ones. Actually, it's the only REAL thing in our lives.
Make a lasting impact in this world. Don't become this fly by night success and then no longer heard about. Represent the real and the things that matter most in life. Stay true, ALWAYS.
It's not the groupies, the fake relationships within this entertainment industry that say they have your back. It's your praying wife, your kids and the guidance from your mother and father that helps us get through this game.
I apologize for the curse word but this is how strongly I feel. I have always said, "F*** Hollywood, it's all about my family". And I will stay true and consistent to the end.

May 26th, 2007 marks the date when one of my favorite family members passed unexepectedly. My Uncle Bob's death was probably the most PAINFUL news I have ever received. Worse then when I found out that my father passed away. I hurt then too,but it was different because I didn't know my dad.
My uncle Bob was the epitomy of LOVE. People loved him because he embraced all walks of life. He made them feel like he knew them. Like they were family. He greeted everyone with a hug and kiss even if it was the first time he met them. I aspire to be like him. So if I meet you and greet you with a hug and kiss on your cheek, don't feel weird. This is just my culture and all that I know.
He taught me how to be a professional instead of this little hood rat drinking 40's. At least I drank Old E but then could flip it corporate in the right setting, lol. Gave me my first real job. Taught me to take pride in myself. Taught me how to smile and shake people's hand and look them in the eye. My uncle Bob taught me how to sing Reasons by Earth Wind and Fire before I knew my ABC's. We would sing "Always and Forever" together by Heatwave every holiday. Our family would do the electric slide and sing together in the living room, drink and eat EVERY TIME we got together.
My uncle Bob was the coolest. He was the funniest and I miss him so much you have no idea.
I told him right before he passed that I was going to make my family famous and tell the world about our families story. He smiled and said, "Alright T, do your thing". Well I am beginning that promise to him now.
RIP Uncle Bob, I know your with me. Every time I hear Reasons and Always and Forever, I know you whispered this request into a DJ's ear just for me. I love you. See you Uncle.
Your niece, Tianska
Mu Uncle Bob. RIP May 26th. I miss you so much.




Rob's Birthday 2008 Dance


rob being goofy


Christmas 2004 at Robs

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Live life for the children...Save the babies

I had the opportunity to attend and take pictures at the 10th Annual celebration of Day of the Child. Every single child that was at this event were in foster care. Parents gave them up for whatever reason. This was a day for them to be free. A safe place to dance and celebrate. I was so sleepy when I got there but by the time I seen these little ones dancing, their spirits and energy filled my heart and gave me energy. I still get emotional looking at these pics.
I know we are all busy, but if you feel challenged to give more of yourself, check your community outreaches and see how you can get involved. Even if it's volunteering for one day. Become a mentor.

One person can make a difference to change and inspire a life for the better.
At the end of the day, this is what it's about. It's about the children.

This is true LOVE.
This picture makes my heart overwhelmed









Save The Children - Marvin Gaye

All is Vanity

In my opinion...
I feel like we live in selfish times
It’s so scary how we can carry
An “All about me” mentality
Today we see the industry
Influencing society with their prideful philosophies
Misusing talents and God given gifts
Producing men and women with unattractive ego trips
What does it profit a man with an inheritance
Who uses his skill to belittle to gain his confidence?
Really, it’s a sign of impotence
Such a waste
It’s like a prostitute with potential
Or man who lost it all to drugs and alcohol
I look at all the labor that’s being done under the sun
So many pearls are being cast into the sea
It’s so sad to see that All is Vanity
Material minded are entering fields of no interest
Just for the purpose to gain interests of investments
Four years are being wasted towards a degree
To achieve unfulfilling careers
Pursuing a title or status from peers
It’s the simple minded who stress their importance
With things that have no significance
That’s why today’s relationships don’t last
Cause they had to use material or exterior to attract
I laugh at man who pull out their cell phone
and make conversation with dial tone
when they see a pretty face
These kinds are usually chased by testosterone
But the say, “like attracts like”
Just like women who get with men for the dividends or their regimen
Determined to find their soul mate at the bank or the gym
But if they only knew that it takes a lot more than good looks to keep him
Wisdom is virtue
That’s why there’s so very few Proverbs 31 women
Because today most females seek advice from the Cosmopolitan
It is written in Ecclesiastes 7:1 that a good name is better
And the day of one’s death than the day of one’s birth
Because the world recognizes your works after you left this earth
Naked you came and naked you will leave
Only a fool believes there is power in his possessions
Cause you’ll have no power in the day of your death
You’ll just be left with things you can’t take
When you take your last breath
So you can dress your flesh in the very best
or surround yourself with the top notch
But where does it stop?
You might be attracted to all the glamour and the glitz
But I’ve seen the rich hit the bottom once they reached the top
I look at all the labor that's being done under the sun
And there isn't any NEW thing that hasn't already been done
So what does it profit a man with an inheritance
when he’s the only one who benefits?
So many pearls are being cast into the sea
It’s so sad to see that all is Vanity

Peace
LOVETiana

So you think you can dance? NOT

Man, everytime I watch these clips makes me laugh so hard. Enjoy T



Back up! So they can see me dance! LOL

Monday, May 18, 2009

Through the eyes of Gustavo Sanabria

WOW, I just stumbled across this amazing photographer, Gustavo Sanabria. I absolutely love his photography. He is an excellent artist. The reason why I immediately fell in love with his work is because he can make what the world may call ugly and ordinary into something very beautiful through his photography. It is all perspective and how we look at things. I definitely appreciate his work, if you get a second take a look:). LOVETiana

Photographer Gustavo Sanabria

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanabria-/page2/