ON FIRE TO A COOOOL DRINK

Monday, January 2, 2012

2012: Droppin' D.R.A.G.!

Not drag as in queen. I’m talking about a different kind of drag…..

The 5 or 6 months before 2012 was DRAG and excruciatingly intense for me in the area of housing…yes, I had my own private intensive.

There were all kinds of inner “bells and whistles” about the arrangement and person(s) I was about to encounter…on two separate back-to-back occasions! In each instance I second-guessed my intuition - “gut feelings” “hunch” or inner voice - and gave the person “the benefit of the doubt”. I’d thought, ‘Nah, so and so is cool’ or ‘Nah, everything is fine…I’m just being negative!’

And I ended up feeling D.R.A.G.:

D espondent – pessimistic, miserable, hopeless

R esigned – for a moment, I accepted that I was a total fuck up; a loser
A ngry – absolutely livid at those I trusted would treat me fairly (Ha!)
G iven up – so, frankly, I feared what would become of me (the stress began to affect my sense of sanity and health – I had a chest cold…for several months!). ‘Why don’t I just drop everything, RUN out of town and not say a word to anyone…for a looooong while?!’ I’d thought.

However, I surrounded myself with a few people I knew and would allow me to share my experiences and to just ventilate…and they truly heard me. Sometimes all anyone needs is to be heard.

Anyway, once I removed myself from the toxic environments and moved into a friend’s apartment (no “bells and whistles” went off on this one!), I took some time to contemplate* my experiences. Three things came up for me: 1) I had to accept accountability for my decisions which led to the negative or unfavorable responses by the “players” in my “drama” all because I had not trusted and respected my intuition or inner voice that would stop me from the impending catastrophe I created for myself. 2) I discovered that I feared the clarity and accuracy of my own intuition 3) Choose joy….now!

I physically began to feel better and I experienced a sense of gratitude and joy about my life. My unwise decisions and repercussions no longer stifled who I am and creative possibilities:

i flew out of my own hell so fast

i didn’t have to think, analyze, conceptualize
nor theorize HOW
i was released.
i was released from myself back
to my Self.

It’s 2012. Drop D.R.A.G, Choose Joy! ~ Wishing you the very best, Quelyn

Author of memoir:

Validation Denied Grace Bestowed:somewhere between the ghetto and God was something called foster care….

FOR APPEARANCES, BOOK SIGNINGS & TALKS CONTACT:

The Butterfly Book Tour™Team / beyondlabelz@yahoo.com

Validation Denied Grace Bestowed is available at

iUniverse.com, (812)330-2909 or (800) 288-4677

*Contemplation - a deep reflection on a question or idea and the natural “answer” that arises from within oneself.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

The Task: A Short Film

Back in 2006 I executive produced, wrote and directed The Task, a short film excerpt of a feature project* entitled Glenda's Girlz. Briefly, The Task is a portrait of Samantha "Sam" Jones, 16, who is court mandated to be escorted to a group home by Ms. Brown, a new MSW. It's her first day on the job and she's got to get Sam in that house. Will Ms. Brown succeed?

I entered The Task to the 2007 Philadelphia Film Festival, travelled with friends to experience the Festival and came home. The intent was to just "get the word out" about our film. Just a few weeks later I received a small box in the mail. i thought maybe i had ordered something and forgot about. The pleasant surprise was a small trophy for best short film!

I had NO filmmaking experience so there were naysayers and yes, hatuhz, who thought I couldn't do it -- BUT I surrounded myself with a cast and crew who knew the process and believed so much in the project and trusted my ability (I did some research about filmmaking so I wouldn’t look like a complete moron). Honestly, there were a few hiccups but with perseverance (and a great editor - make sure you get a great editor if you choose to make your own first film!), we made it happen.

Believe in your work, stay true to your principles yet be graceful enough to learn from others and teach in a way in which everyone can assimilate your thoughts and ideas without hurt – a huge lesson for me not only as a director but as an educator, businesswoman and human being. Laurie Ann Gibson’s Born To Dance show on BET comes to mind. What an incredible teacher!

Anyway, without further adieu, i present The Task. The information is a little dated but the topic and story remain compelling...even today. Oh, feedback definitely welcome. http://youtu.be/5JRs8-7lNkU

For appearances, book signings and talks contact: The Butterfly Book Tour™Team at beyondlabelz@yahoo.com.

Get Validation Denied Grace Bestowed
at iUNIVERSE.COM.....

.....and wherever books are sold, TODAY!

~ Quelyn

*Fun Fact: MSW – Master of Social Work

Feature Project – in the film industry a film project expected to be more than 1 hour

Monday, October 24, 2011

A Butterfly Is Born

from a slinky, sometimes fuzzy, vulnerable yet not entirely defenseless

illusive

adapting to its environment…and food it’s about to devour,

a nuisance to some, a delicious nutrient for others

a caterpillar

the audacity to adhere to its true expression, its true nature

to transform itself into something ever more beautiful, graceful and Light

A butterfly is Born!

We kicked off our 2011 Butterfly Tour™ this month at the Connecting Spirit, Mind and Practice Speakers Platform Series sponsored by Banks Enterprise founded by the dynamic Velma D. Banks, MSW (banksenterpriseonline.com). Our event was held in the heart of Harlem, New York City.

Educators, teen counselors, a theologian, human service professionals and students, were among those who were engaged as I recalled how my brother and I ended up in foster care (our mother wasn’t home and a neighbor had had enough of seeing us being home alone – or in social work terms, “unsupervised” – at ages 4 and 6, p. 2, “Removed” Validation Denied, Grace Bestowed:somewhere between the ghetto and God was something called foster care….).

We enjoyed mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres and treats by Ruby Valdez and Cook Time – Betty Anne, President/Chef, but for me, the icing-on-the-cake – no pun intended - was meeting *octogenarian Frances Manning, MSW. She gave us a taste of her own wisdom as a legendary MSW* and she bought a copy of my book! I guess it’s safe to say my experience was the equivalent of a sophomore songstress meeting Chaka Khan or Dianna Ross, Tina Turner, Pattie Labelle or any of the true divas of our time. Visit banksenterpriseonline.com for information on how to meet Ms. Manning in December!

It’s always great to be with and bask in the wisdom of the legends of any profession.

I’d like to end by inviting you to get Validation Denied, Grace Bestowed. Here are 5 of my top favorite selling points:
5. you will appreciate (perhaps even be inspired) how meditation played a pivotal role in Quelyn’s ability to forgive her past, love self and no longer crave validation of who she is
4. Quelyn keeps her word to find a very close relative (p. 77 “Beginning of the End”)
3. Quelyn shares show she learned to contemplate her experiences and translate epiphanies- aha moments - into action
2. Validation Denied, Grace Bestowed lends an honest yet entertaining portrait of a (defiant teen) turned productive woman….without the ‘fat’
1. the intent of Validation Denied, Grace Bestowed is to inspire freedom from guilt and other negativities associated with one’s past or current situation.

For appearances, book signings and talks contact: The Butterfly Book Tour™Team at beyondlabelz@yahoo.com.

Thank you for reading and keep expressing your own truth!

~ Quelyn

*Fun Fact: Octogenarian – a person who is 80 years young!