Hey everyone. Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers out there. I know that being on lockdown has brought everybody down but even if we can’t go anywhere, we need to just celebrate the time we can still have with our mothers and remember all of the wonderful things that they have done for us. All of the sacrifices that they’ve made to raise us and make sure that we had a good life. Now I am not talking about celebrating mothers who sucked at their job. We won’t even discuss them and I am sure there are many but for all of you who are good mothers or have good mothers, this day is for you and spend it thanking each other for everything you’ve done.  Even if it’s just having lunch together and talking, or watching your favorite movie together or alone treating yourself to the things that you enjoy most. Whatever makes you happy.

The Coronavirus has managed to turn everyone’s lives upside down and I can only imagine what it’s doing to other artists like myself. The nationwide pandemic has affected the way that I write and how often I write now. I would be lying if I said that it did not affect me and the way I tell stories. Since this thing started, I have ended a novel that I began a few months ago, I have started writing less than I usually do, I have even had to take a week-long break to get my mind right to be able to focus on another story. It hasn’t been easy. So, I began to wonder how the pandemic has affected all of you who are artists? And is it possible to use this terrible situation to create something artistic and beautiful?

I think it is possible…

It doesn’t matter if you are a writer, or a singer, a musician, or a painter, a sculptor, a rapper, or a poet, a dancer, or an actor. You have all been affected by this ordeal and the way it has taken lives and changed them all over the world. Many of us are stuck at home, unable to live the way we want and enjoy life and I am hoping and praying that this ends soon because people are having a difficult time trying to cope with being isolated for a long period. Trying to figure out what to do and feeling like you can’t create because your life is at a standstill. No, it is not! No matter where you are Sing…no matter where you are dance…no matter where you are write… no matter where you are paint. Do not and I repeat do not let this virus stop you from living your life and doing the one thing that you do best. I don’t care if you are stuck in a one-room apartment somewhere and your all alone. Do what you do best even if there’s no one to read it, hear it, see it, or watch it. Because one day this thing will be over and you will feel like time did not stand still as much if you continue to do these things.

They may be able to take away our freedom, our ability to breathe clean air, our right to speak out, where we can go, and our time to work, but they cannot take away our ability to dream or create. Only we can do that. Right now, we must continue creating our art for the sake of remaining happy, and the sake of remaining sane. We need to be ourselves and when this is over, we can either share what we’ve done with the world or keep it to ourselves and reflect on how we grew from the experience.

Can you truly imagine a world without art? Neither can I and the universe needs artists to keep on keeping on. We have these abilities for a reason, God knows I’ve hidden mine long enough because I couldn’t accept harsh criticism and I had no self-confidence. But life, as we all know, is way too short. And we have to do what makes us happiest, even when we are being quarantined. You don’t have to do it for the public. Do it for yourself because you love yourself and you love what you do. Even if you think you will not make it out of this thing alive, leave something wonderful behind so that we will remember you. I can’t wait to see what everyone has done should you decide to share it with the world. I do not doubt that it will be the most important and the most honest piece of work you have ever done in your entire life. So, stay home and do your thing the best way you know-how and don’t let anyone tell you that you cant. We are bigger than any type of sickness and we shall overcome.

Until next time…