SeeingBlack.com's
Best of 2003
An Opinionated Survey of the Year's Top Movies, Music Videos, Albums, Sports Happenings ...and Lessons

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Goapele—Even Closer
Sexy, passionate and committed—words that could describe any number of R&B divas, particularly if their passions and commitments are limited to the promotion of themselves. But Goapele is not one of those divas. Sexy, for damn sure the Bay Area resident is, but her passions and commitments, extend into the world of social activism, anti-war protest and less-than-fashionable womanisms, making her R&B's version of a 21st First Century Angela Davis or rather Elaine Brown, first sister of the Black Panther Party, who when not trying to give her male colleagues a little gender consciousness, managed to record three albums in the early 1970s. Independently released on Goapele's own SkyBlaze Recordings, Even Closer was more than a pleasant surprise, it was an exhaled breath, amongst an array of "Milkshakes", Beyonce "booty hops," and Murder Inc. Princesses.

Brotha from the Lost Planet of Soul
Anthony Hamilton—Comin' From Where I'm From
Something like Bill Withers singing "Harlem", Bobby "Blue" (who ain't never been bland) talking about "…No Love in the Heart of the City" and that cat from JA, Beres Hammond, singing "No Disturb Sign" and you get exactly where Anthony Hamilton comin' from. On the real, a Carolina cat, but he could have been from the Lost Planet of Soul. The lead single "Comin' from Where I From" is straight from the book of Crossroad Demons, where you know Eshu is workin' that thing, but you still got to take a bite. "Charlene" and "I'm A Mess" ("I'm shaking and I'm 'scured'") is just the thangs you sang about the loses on the come up. But it's that moment when Hamilton breaks out ol' Kenny Rogers ("Lucille"), that you realize that despite the praises, this cat ain't never gonna leave Tobacco Road.

Grown Folk Music
Kindred—Surrender to Love
Did he really say "tired of…not getting no ass/unless the baby's sleep/but even them seems like we tryin' to creep"? ("Far Away") Damn, cat must have been in my head and when you get pop or R&B that even remotely represents the daily, daily of the "not nearly rich, never gonna be famous, but still happy to put in the time" it needs to be recognized. Kindred, a husband and wife duo from South Jersey got the deal right, giving grown folks, in between day care pickups, out-of-town business trips, soccer camp, another McFood dinner and yes another night (or month) of not getting "some," music to "respirate" to (you know, "breathe in, breathe out"). Folks might be steppin' hard to that Chi-town Piper, but seems like South Jersey/Philly got there own little stepper-classic with "Far Away" and life don't get no sweeter than hearing Aja coo to Fatin, "we've come so far/stars look up to you/my heart belongs/right here next to you" as she does on the lovely "Stars."

It's That Feelin' Music, ya Know?
Freeway—Philadelphia Freedom
Folks been wonderin' when that second-tier at Rocafella was gonna step up, and while folks waited for Beans and Bleek to finally step to the next level, it's Beans's boy Freeway that drop the serious head-nodder. Possessing a high-pitch wheeze in which he always sounds like he's on the verge of some serious distress (like asthma attack, for real), there's no doubt that Just Blaze and Kanye "MFin'" West gave Freeway the joints to get him in your head. Jay actually sounds interested on the trio track with Freeway and Beans ("What We Do") and Faith is as lovely as ever on "Don't Cross the Line". But it's Anthony Allen's (y'all remember Roc's Christion?) collabo on the ghetto anthem "Alright" that's the deal here. From Freeway's spoken intro ("this that feeling music, you know/we make that music you can FEEL…EARLY!") 'till Allen starts to church it at the end, "Alright" is yet another reminder that even thug-niggas need to get their spirit on from time to time.

Adventures of the Bionic Rapper
50 Cent—Get Rich or Die Tryin'
I ain't gonna lie, from the first time I heard "Wanksta" and then heard all the hype about Mr. Fiddy, I thought he was the hip-hop anti-Christ. Cats couldn't be MCs no more, now they either had to be droppin' joints from the grave or rappin' about the nine bullets that shoulda put them in a grave. Seemed like a marketing scheme to me, since you can't be any more authentic in hip-hop than to be dead. The video for "In Da Club" essentially admitted that the cat was constructed like the Bionic Rapper (what y'all didn't watch the Six Million Dollar Man?). I laid low on the 50-phenomenon for awhile, even as my girl Lynne D. Johnson put some "ish" out there to turn a brotha's head. But it was "21 Questions"—the best hip-hop love song since LL's "I Need Love"—that got me in the mix and that video with Meagan Goode (bruhs could finally admit what they thought about her, since they couldn't when they first peeped her in Eve's Bayou). By the time I heard "Many Men (Wish Death)" I was convinced that Fiddy might become the Robert Johnson of his generation.

Meshell, My Belle
Meshell—Comfort Woman
Comfort Woman was written while sis was comin' to terms with a New York City that was still metaphorically and spiritually aflame in the aftermath of real terror attacks and the flossin' of real terrorist from podiums in the Nation's Capitol. In so many ways reminiscent of Bob's Kaya ("excuse while I light my spliff…") Comfort Woman is alternately thoughtful, funny, sexy, regretful, passionate, sad, angry, accusatory and hopeful or the very emotions that Meshell Ndgeocello has always brought to our palates—if we bothered to taste. Fact of the matter is that Meshell's music has always been a response to terror and that is perhaps why she'll never be a pop star.

"Make You Get Like Beyonce and Do the Booty-Hop"
Beyonce—Dangerously in Love
The first minute and a half of the "Crazy in Love" video took my breathe away and I guess that was the point, but damn if "Crazy" wasn't as close to perfect as pop got this year. Never got tired of that Chi-lites hook ("Are You My Woman"), but proving that it wasn't all about old-school Soul, Ms. B's own little "oh, oh, oh, oh…" riff gave it generational transcending appeal (6 months later the five-year old still shaking her ass to it). It was a no brainer that "Baby Boy" with the rent-a-dance hall artist of the moment was gonna keep Ms. B on the charts throughout the year, but so much of Dangerously in Love's appeal had little to do with "Destiny's Child: the Solo Years" and everything to do with baby-girl singing about getting grown and in love, like on songs like the remake of Funkadelic's "I'd Rather Be with You" ("Be With You"), "Me, Myself and I," and the orgasmicly brilliant "Speechless". "Hip-Hop Star", with Big Boi and Sleepy Brown ("Got to Give it Up" era Marvin Gaye channeled) gave us a glimpse into the year that would be Outkast. Ms. B's remake of "The Closer I Get to You" with Luther rings a tad bit sentimental, but I'm a sentimentalist, so for me, Beyonce was no better than when singing to daddy Knowles on the hidden track "My Daddy".

"Whatever It Is, It's Got to Be Funke…"
Joss Stone—The Soul Sessions
You hear the names Betty Wright and Latimore in the mix, and you got to wonder if the folks at Malaco were planning a reunion disc. And true indeed the spirit of Muscle Shoals was up in the house, but instead it was a 16-year old white Brit named Joss Stone was bringing the funk. No doubt her age was more astounding than her whiteness (like the first time you heard a 16-year-old Johnny Gill bring the bass), but being real it was that whiteness that got her coverage in the New York Times and Entertainment Weekly. Ain't gonna be no Kenny G or Michael Bolton debates up in here, 'cause sis got a game (game recognize game) or Sister Betty wouldn't have been in the mix in the first place. Stone's version of Carla Thomas's "I've Fallen in Love with You" got a life waitin' for it at the Stepper Set and "The Chokin' Kind" will choke the tears out of you. But damn if JS's take on The Isley's "For the Love of You" isn't both one of the "most beautifullest" things you'll hear this year and one of the most inventive Soul remakes this side of classic (circa 1984) Luther Vandross.

Brooklyn's Finest
Jay Z—The Black Album
We know why Jay was in the game—he was always in it for the "cash, hoes, and cars", but that never meant that he wasn't also doin' it for the "Love of the Mic." And ain't nobody ever rocked the Runway and the Boulevard the way Jay has ('cept maybe Snoop) and for as long. He was never as serious as Nas (his only legitimate living East Coast contender) or as lovable as Biggie, but his wit, inventiveness, brashness and sense of humor (which Nas has never had) counts for something. Nas may get into burning Jay in effigy, but he need to own up to the fact that Jay got him back on the grind, finally realizing the promise we all though we heard on Illmatic. The Black Album may or not be Hova's Sly Stone move, but he's no doubt doin' it on his terms. Better than Reasonable Doubt and just a tad off of the brilliance of The Blueprint (his best, imho), The Black Album finds Jay perhaps assuaging his hurt feelings, making the case any way, as to why he's "Brooklyn's Finest". As hip-hop gets dirty in the South and searches the globe for the next distorted "third world" riff, being the "King of Brooklyn" might be everything.

The Death of Mr. Biggs—the Rebirth of Ronald Isley
Ronald Isley and Burt Bacharach—Here I Am
Without a doubt, Ronald Isley possesses one of the most exquisite voices to ever grace American pop music. But much of Isley's recent work as R. Kelly's sidekick "Mr. Biggs" has had little to do with garnering the critical acclaim that has largely been beyond his reach thus far, and more to do with his need to pay the bills. Now in his early-sixties after nearly 50 years in the business of making pop music, Isley has finally embarked upon a project that should finally earn him status as one of the great song stylists of the last three decades. As witnessed by the commercial success of Rod Steward's recent As Time Goes By: The Great American Song Book, the pop standard remains one of the ways that aging stars remain relevant to their older audiences and offer the chance to reinvent themselves. Courtesy of "Mr. Biggs", Ronald Isley has already re-invented himself, Here I Am is just a reminder as to why such a re-invention should have been unnecessary in the first place. somewhere, Whitney Houston should be taking note.

R. Kelly—"Step in the Name of Love"
"Step, step, side to side…"—can't mess with that child porn "ish', especially with some brown-skinned baby girls of my own, but Robert know how to bring folks to the floor and "Step in the Name of Love" is just that kind of joint. Even got C-Dub (Cornel West" doin the black intellectual jig to it on the Pass the Mic! Tour.

Luther Vandross—"Dance with My Father"
I cried when I first heard the song and sat in stunned silence when I first saw the video. Released nearly three months after the albums release, there was somethin' about the video (especially coming from the world of Clive Davis) that spoke of crass exploitation of Vandross's life-threatening stroke, but if crass exploitation can move the spirit, I ain't really that mad. Check the "BET" version which replaces some of the white folk with images of Johnny Gill and Ashford and Simpson and family. The image of Damon Wayans lifting his "grown ass" boys is both hilarious and touching and the moment with Lalah Hathaway, her sister and just a simple picture of Donny was worth the price of admission, but when Nona Gaye (the most beautifullest one) shows up looking just like daddy Marvin, you realize that black fathers had been given the kind of love that American society has rarely believed we deserved.

Lil John and the Eastside Boys w/Elephant Man and Busta Rhyme—"Get Low (remix)"
The first time I heard "Get Low" I thought my recent move to the "dirty, dirty" was a big ass mistake and if you could actually understand the lyrics of the song, you'd never talk about how bad R. Kelly is again. This stuff is straight-up nastee! But then to add to the insanity, Lil John and the crew decide to add Elephant Man (next year's "rent-a-dancehall-artist" of the moment) and Busta to the mix and I thought hell had come. The video borrows heavily from the landmark "Walk this Way" collabo with Run-DMC and Aerosmith and to make matters worse 3/4ths thru they bring out a Salsa band to do the South Beach remix of "Get Low". Truly this is the death of hip-hop, but as a video concept, it was sheer commercial genius.

(In No Particular Order)

McCoy Tyner, Land of Giants (Telarc)—McCoy & Bobby Hutcherson are always sublime, and this recording symbolizes a real renewal for McCoy with his fine new rhythm section: Charnet Moffett and Eric Harland, which yielded one of the best live performances I caught this year— at the University of Maryland's Clarice Smith Center.

Larry Willis, Sanctuary (Mapleshade)—A touchstone recording from an underrated pianist and, based on this release, an underplayed composer.

Wayne Shorter, Alegria (Verve)—His winning streak continues unabated.

Jason Moran Presents the Bandwagon (Blue Note)—This is what we really mean by a band.

Dave Holland Quintet, Extended Play (ECM)—Likely the finest working small band in jazz.

Oliver Lake Big Band, Cloth (Passin' Thru)—Expanding the big band tradition.

Jeanne Lee, Natural Affinities (Sunnyside)—A melancholy addition to this list; this disc let's us know how much she'll be missed, 'cause there was no one else quite like her.

Branford Marsalis, Romare Bearden Revisited (Marsalis Music)—A wonderful idea in celebration of an essential exhibition of Bearden's work at the National Gallery through January 8, 2004; you owe it to yourself to come to DC for this exhibition.

Nguyen Le, Purple, Celebrating Jimi Hendrix (Act)—One of the best re-imaginings of Hendrix's music yet.

Andrew Hill, Passing Ships (Blue Note)—Someone should be indicted for losing this gem in the can all these years; kudos to Michael Cuscuna for discovering this session.

Reissues:

• Randy Weston, Mosaic Select (Mosaic). (Finally unearths RW's marvelous Five Spot gig with the great Coleman Hawkins, and shines the deserved light once again on Weston's masterpiece Uhuru Africa.)
• Miles Davis, In Person at the Blackhawk (Legacy).
• Phil Cohran & The Artistic Heritage Ensemble (Comet Onelele).

In the non-stop war of images and words, documentaries were pivotal in 2003 for revealing important history and current events that shape Black lives. Other films and videos were rich food for our imaginations. Here are our picks of top movies by or about the Black community, accompanied by excerpts of our reviews. Please let us know on the message board your top ten…

1) "Race: The Power of an Illusion," California Newsreel, Three-part series, PBS.
"Slowly, in movies and books, it has become the norm to talk about race without talking about racism. De-fanged of its institutional nature in works such as the 2001 New York Times "race series," race becomes a benign topic about individual prejudices and personal discomfort…It is in this atmosphere of race doublespeak that "Race: The Power of an Illusion" is one of the most important, sweeping and groundbreaking documentaries in recent memory. Taking full advantage of scholarship documenting how the United States invented modern ideas of "race" and "whiteness," the producer—California Newsreel—illustrates how racism has been used institutionally, socially and politically to create an affirmative action for Whites."

2) "The Matrix: Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions," Directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski, Wide Theatrical Release.
"…The directors have tackled these sequels with the biggest sense of a multi-cultural future ever seen in science fiction flicks…In this vision of the future, Black folks have survived and they are fierce and in the leadership. Morpheus retains his position as the sage visionary and believer. Niobi (Jada Pinkett Smith) is the captain of her own ship. Harold Perrineau, Jr. (the brother in the wheelchair from "Oz") drives the mother ship and Nona Gaye appears as his lover and friend. In "Reloaded," a council of leaders meets and who but scholar Cornel West sits among them, and who but boxer Roy Jones, Jr. sits and listens. Of course actress Gloria Foster (who died during this filming), returns as the all-knowing Oracle and it is a momentary hoot when Neo searches for her in a place that looks like a Brooklyn housing project. There is a stunning sequence, on the eve of the fight against the machines, when all of Zion seems to dance, writhe, shake or have sex, as if to raise warrior and life energy with the stomp of human feet and the merger of spiritual and carnal powers. This scene is filled with lots of beautiful, post-apocalyptic Black folks who are rendered with spirit and humanity, not as stereotypes. Think of the cover of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" transported light years to funky science fiction. It is stunning…"

3) "The Murder of Emmett Till," Directed by Stanley Nelson, PBS.
"There is nothing fancy in this documentary—no tricks or expensive re-creations—and there is no need for any because what Nelson has here is a story. In a lean and gripping one-hour of telling that story, of the grisly murder of a Black 14-year-old boy in Mississippi in 1955, Nelson convinces us that Till's murder was an important catalyst for Civil Rights Movement that changed the course of the United States. This is in-your-face history for those of us who run from it, who weren't born in 1955 and wonder why we have to go there, for everybody who doesn't understand that less than 50 years ago in Mississippi, a Black boy could be tortured, shot and drowned because he whistled at a White woman. And for those who remember the case well, Nelson offers, probably for the first time, interviews with witnesses who have never spoken publicly about the case…"

4) "Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony," directed by Lee Hirsch, Limited Theatrical Release.
"The history of music and struggle in South Africa is at the heart of "Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony"…First-time director Lee Hirsch, along with producer Sherry Simpson, both Americans, have artfully combined storytelling and music. The emphasis of "Amandla!" (which means power in Xhosa) is not on the horrors and genocide of apartheid, a brutal system under which the country's 20 million Blacks were ruled by a tiny White minority. But it does offer an overview about major changes in the country, starting roughly with the all White national Party coming to power in 1948 and bringing with it a new level of repression of the Black population…"

5) "Dirty Pretty Things," directed by Stephen Frears, Limited Theatrical Release.
"Part immigrant saga, part love story and part thriller, "Dirty Pretty Things" is a seamless portrait of the civilized West as soul-less and spiritually barren. In London's world of illegal immigrants, where a Nigerian named Okwe lives, human beings, especially the dark others, have been reduced to fleshy cogs in society's money-making machine. They give their labor, their bodies and their minds but are officially non-existent. Here, much of the action happens in the dark and the daylight is cold…"

6) "Unprecedented," Directed by Joan Sekler and Richard Perez, Limited Theatrical Release and The Sundance Channel.
"While the 2004 presidential election looms on the horizon, it must still share the spotlight with the contentious race of 2000. Few have forgotten the controversial balloting in the state of Florida, which disenfranchised tens of thousands of voters, prompted an overhaul of the nation’s voting system and ended, in effect, with a divided U.S. Supreme Court selecting the winner of the presidential race. Just how so many Floridians, particularly African Americans, were disenfranchised, is recounted dramatically in the award-winning documentary, "Unprecedented." Including scores of interviews and original footage from news organizations, the hour-long documentary details the concerted effort by Republicans to deliver Florida—governed by George Bush’s brother, Jeb Bush—to the GOP…" www.Unprecedented.org

7) "Tears of the Sun," directed by Antoine Fuqua, Wide Theatrical Release.
"Tears of the Sun" fills us with the extreme horror and hope born of war. Despite its set-up of the great White savior, and troubled depictions of women, Muslims and dissenters, it is a remarkable, riveting film that gives images and voice to African pain and suffering. It is the first film that I can think of that has made its focus the brutal civil wars that have torn asunder countries throughout the continent…"

8) "Bad Boys II," directed by Michael Bay, Wide Theatrical Release.
"Despite the fact that in "Bad Boys II" there are more cars crashed than I've ever seen crashed in any movie ever, it was by far the best of the big action, fun flicks this summer. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence put the whoa factor back into going to the movies. Too bad the filmmakers, toward the end, ruin a perfectly good movie with a nonsensical reference linking Cuba to the U.S. drug trade… But a far as enjoying the movie, the shoddy Cuba link occurs so late in the process that, by then, we've laughed at so many jokes and been so wowed by the loud music and zippy editing that it's easy to not let such ignorance totally spoil a good time.

9) Three-Way Tie: "Head of State," Directed by Chris Rock, Wide Theatrical Release. "Good Fences," Directed by Ernest Dickerson, Showtime. "Deacons For Defense,"Directed by Bill Duke, Showtime.
"As silly as Chris Rock’s "Head of State" can be, it is not as stupid as it is irreverent and sardonic toward all things White, wealthy or government-related…he reserves his sharpest darts for the powers that be who declare "God Bless America, and no place else."

"Thank god for "Good Fences," both the kind between good neighbors and the new film by the same name on Showtime (check listings). Sure, it has its made-for-TV moments—some choppy editing and an uneven tone—but these deficiences are outweighed by the compelling and artfully told tale of one upwardly mobile Black family during the 1970's."

"It is so refreshing and impressive to see [Deacons For Defense], which has something new and real to say about Black history, that it is easy to forgive the film's deficiencies. Forest Whitaker does a decent job starring as Marcus, a factory worker who evolves from a compliant Negro into a gun-toting race man, intent on protecting Civil Rights protesters, desegregating his workplace and public accommodations, and ending lynchings, beatings and other intimidation.

10) "The Blues," Seven-Part Film Series, Martin Scorsese et al, PBS.
"Interpreted freely through seven independent films by seven different filmmakers—Martin Scorsese, Wim Wenders, Richard Pearce, Charles Burnett, Marc Levin, Mike Figgis and Clint Eastwood— the subject of the blues is handled with energy, creativity and as the unique vision of each director or auteur, all of whom are men and only one of whom is African American. …But as with any approach so freewheeling to a subject so important, the viewer might especially be conscious of what is included and what is excluded. Take, for example, the fact that the first image for the entire series, repeated each night in the introductory montage, is that of a Black woman bent over with her back to the camera, with her generous and jiggly derriere humping up and down in a booty dance performance…Considering the fact that Black women are given scant attention in this series, dedicated to an art form launched by the likes of Ma Rainey, Ida Cox and Bessie Smith, this image of a dancer for bluesman Bobby Rush is the strongest impression of Black womanhood presented."

It is written in the book of Isaiah that "…a little child shall lead them." And certainly youth was served in the world of sports this year, as evidenced by our Black Sports Top Ten List for 2003:

Honorable Mention:

Maurice Cheeks—The Portland Trail Blazers' coach spent his entire career dishing the rock to the likes of Dr. J, Moses Malone, Bobby Jones, and Charles Barkley—but no single assist was nicer than when he aided a nervous 13-year-old, Natalie Gilbert, in the singing of the National Anthem.

Anson Carter—The NHL forward was traded by Edmonton to the New York Rangers in March. Time will tell if the team and the league can utilize him, playing in the biggest media market and the largest African-American market, to make marketing inroads with Black sports fans.

10) Freddy Adu—Soccer is tremendously popular at the youth sports level, but has yet to make a real impact on the American professional sports scene. Nike, the MLS, and their DC United team are betting millions that 13-year-old phenom Freddy Adu is the man—or, rather, the young man – that will change that.

9) Dusty Baker— Unceremoniously dumped by the Giants, Baker guided his new Cubs team to the playoffs, and came within 5 outs of taking Chicago to the World Series for the first time since 1945.

8) Alonzo Mourning—The ultimate basketball warrior, Mourning fought tirelessly—almost as if he were facing his great friend/rival Patrick Ewing—to return to NBA action despite his failing kidneys, only to be failed by them yet again. 'Zo and his tenacity are so highly respected that numerous people—who didn't even know him—have contacted his physicians to offer kidneys for transplant.

7) Carmelo Anthony—His endorsement deals are dwarfed by those of his buddy LeBron but King James won't be able to say the same on the court. Melo has played a major role in the Denver Nuggets' resurgence this season, coming on the heels of guiding his college team, the Syracuse Orangemen, to their first NCAA championship this past spring.

6) Serena Williams—Make no mistake, Serena is the number one women's tennis player in the world, which could very easily place her on this list anyway. But any question of her position became moot now that she is on the verge of signing the number one female endorsement contract in history with Nike, supposedly valued at some $60 million dollars.

5) Donovan McNabb—Rush "Prescription Drugs" Limbaugh may not think the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback has the goods, but the NFL standings state otherwise. The Eagles, winners of eight straight games, have the best record in the NFC. And perhaps McNabb's three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances might state otherwise as well. With a little luck, the post-Super Bowl commercial could be revised this year, as in "I'm going to Disney World… right after I go knock on Rush's door with this trophy."

4) David Robinson and Tim Duncan—Sports Illustrated would have been hard-pressed to find two finer individuals for their Sportsmen of the Year award than Duncan and the now-retired Admiral, who led the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA championship.

3) Barry Bonds—The San Francisco Giants superstar won the National League MVP for the third straight year at age 39, in spite of the personal tragedy he experienced in the loss of his father, Bobby Bonds. With his third homerun of the 2004 season, Barry will pass his godfather Willie Mays to move into third place on the all-time homerun list, with his sights then set on the two remaining above him, the Babe and Hammerin' Hank Aaron.

2) Kobe, Mailman, and the Glove—From the bargain-basement free agent signings of future Hall of Famers Gary Payton and Karl Malone, to the sexual assault charges against Kobe Bryant, the summer of 2003 was not only most eventful for the Lakers but one whose effects may be felt for years to come.

1) LeBron James—Pocketing $90M+ in endorsements before scoring his first basket gets LeBron on lists like this. Putting up the numbers he's done so far—16.5 points per game, close to 7 rebounds and over 6 assists while still shy of his 19th birthday—will keep him there… along with being a very polished and humble young man for his age. Cleveland Cavs coach Paul Silas was correct in showing confidence in this most unusual rookie, who has made believers of the skeptics that questioned whether he was ready for competition at the highest level.

1. War is definitely not the answer.
2. No matter what the situation is, we can choose our response to it. Attitude makes all the difference.
3. Problems are opportunities for growth.
4. It is not enough to have dreams and goals; we must truly believe we can accomplish them, and then take action to do so. Our lives are limitless.
5. We alone are responsible for our problems and their solutions.
6. It is crucial to learn how to live in the present moment. ("The past is history, the future is a mystery, so the present is all we have.")
7. When we sincerely help another person with his/her problems, our life benefits as well.
8. We have to teach other people (even those closest to us) how to love us; they don’t automatically know.
9. What goes around, really does come around.
10. It is supremely important to become the master of your mind.
    

-- December 23, 2002

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