Music Therapy with Miss Moon

"Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy."
~ Norman Vincent Peale

This week is beginning with a lot of new opportunities for yours truly. After a month-long dry spell, I have two job interviews lined up for this week, starting today.

Proof positive that I am getting older and wiser is how I think about job interviews nowadays. Of course, I want to present myself in a positive light, and show each person I meet with that I am a hard-working, talented and competent candidate for the job. But a lot of the fear and the panic associated with job interviews don't effect me as strongly as they once had.

Lately, I've been approaching each opportunity to meet with someone regarding a position as a possibility to connect and find a match. If they don't hire me, I assume it wasn't a match, and keep it moving. Sure, it's frustrating when you don't find a match right away, but eventually, I will. And as I've discovered, it's usually very much worth the wait. For myself,and the the lucky company to add me to their ranks.

It's all about confidence. I am good at what I do, and I'm the type of employee that will positively contribute her time, energy and creativity into her job. So I walk into each job interview knowing this with certainty. Hopefully it's something that will resonate with the people interviewing me. Because, and I say thing quite humbly, I am a super woman! Which leads me to this week's song choice for Music Therapy with Miss Moon...

I had to choose Alicia Key's amazing anthem "Superwoman", a song that will be guiding my steps this week, as I venture forth to find my destiny. May it inspire and uplift all the superwomen and supermen reading these words!



Everywhere I'm turning
Nothing seems complete
I stand up and I'm searching
For the better part of me
I hang my head from sorrow
state of humanity
I wear it on my shoulders
Gotta find the strength in me

Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am
Yes she is
Even when I'm a mess
I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes
I'm a Superwoman

For all the mothers fighting
For better days to come
And all my women, all my women sitting here trying
To come home before the sun
And all my sisters
Coming together
Say yes I will
Yes I can

Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am
Yes she is
Even when I'm a mess
I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes
I'm a Superwoman

When I'm breaking down
And I can't be found
And I start to get weak
Cause no one knows
Me underneath these clothes
But I can fly
We can fly, Oh

Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am
Yes she is
Even when I'm a mess
I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes
I'm a Superwoman

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

Happy Monday, everybody!!! After a weekend that has been much about self-love and acceptance for me (More on that later during the week, promise!), and following yesterday's Be Blessed post, I wanted to pick a Music Therapy with Miss Moon song that would be the perfect anthem for the unapologetic love of oneself, couple with a bit of an "eff you" to those who dare to say you shouldn't... especially the mainstream media. But where would I find such a song?

Fortunately, my beloved Pirate Sistahs came to the rescue, and shared an amazing discovery, and I must say, the perfect song for today. I hope you all will enjoy "Beauty is Made" by Subject to Change, off their wonderful (and so slept on!) album, Womb Amnesia.



Beauty is Made

So how do I look?
Am I showing enough leg?
Is my dress tight enough,
Are my lips cherry red?
So how do I sound?
Is my voice soft enough?
Don't I purr when you're loving,
Don't I Weep When you're rough?

So how do I do?
Am I far enough behind?
Don't I do what you tell me,
Don't I worship your mind?
So how does it feel to see me so meek?
Does it make you feel strong to make me feel weak?

Beauty is made... She is not born
Beauty is raped, beaten and scorned
Beauty is her
Beauty is me
Beauty is all you want us to be

So how do I feel,
When you're rubbing me down?
Don't you like me soft?
Don't you like your sugar brown?
So how do I taste,
Are my kisses like wine?
Is my love like poison when it makes you feel fine?

Beauty is made... She is not born
Beauty is raped, beaten and scorned
Beauty is her
Beauty is me
Beauty is all you want us to be

Down on my knees,
Praying to the God of Beauty
Buying to please,
Glory to the God of Beauty
I've consulted a surgeon,
I'm binging and purging,
I'm just doing what I'm told
I'm just scared of growing old
Keep me in the mirror
Keep me masked in fear
Erase my face so I can't see clear
You make beauty skin deep
Beauty is a piece of meat
Rape me with commercials, magazines and MTV
I'm as pretty as your politics
Pretty as pornography.

Beauty is made... She is not born
Beauty is raped, beaten and scorned
Beauty is made

I feel pretty, oh so pretty
Pretty f*cking useless,
La la la la la la la

Be Blessed: And Love the Skin You're In...

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."
~ Confucius

“The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.”
~ Carl Jung

“I am so beautiful, sometimes people weep when they see me. And it has nothing to do with what I look like really, it is just that I gave myself the power to say that I am beautiful, and if I could do that, maybe there is hope for them too. And the great divide between the beautiful and the ugly will cease to be. Because we are all what we choose.”
~ Margaret Cho

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

No one in this whole wild world is the same temperament every single moment of every single day. The sweetest person in the world can be a raging bee-yotch sometimes. The surliest S.O.B can also be quite generous in a single moment.

The people in our lives that we love are all capable of running the gamut of emotions. The same loving an attentive mate can be crabby and unresponsive at times, just as the sun rises and sets.

This week's song choice for Music Therapy comes with a reminder to love others (and ourselves) wholeheartedly and unconditionally... even when crabby! LOL



Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

Baby, you understand me now
if sometimes you see that I'm mad.
Don't you know that no one alive can always be an angel?
When everything goes wrong, you see some bad.

But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good;
oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.

You know sometimes, baby, I'm so carefree
with a joy that's hard to hide.
And then sometimes it seems again that all I have is worry,
and then you're bound to see my other side.

But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good;
oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.

If I seem edgy,
I want you to know,
I never meant to take it out on you.
Life has its problems,
and I get more than my share;
but that's one thing I never mean to do
'cause I love you.

Oh baby, I'm just human.
Don't you know I have faults like anyone?
Sometimes I find myself alone regretting
some little foolish thing;
some simple thing that I've done.

But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good;
oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.

Don't let me be misunderstood.
I try so hard,
so don't let me be misunderstood.

Be Blessed: And Take a Moment to Meditate - Part Three

“Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it.”
~ Anonymous

On most days, when I look at myself in the mirror, I am pleased and content with who is staring back at me. I see a woman who is growing older, and wiser and more sure of herself, and that's dope! There are those days, though, where Gollum is staring back at me (in my own head) - the most hideous thing imaginable. It's my goal to get rid of the Gollum days, between you and me.

Some of you may have your own version of Gollum days, and if by chance you're trying to dramatically lessen those days, this week's meditation is a good one. Entitled, "I Am", it serves as a affirmation of all of the beauty we have inside of us. So when Gollum is staring back at you, tell it to burn the road up with a reminder of all that you are!!!



This week, I will remember everything I am.

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

Happy Monday, all!!! This week's pick for Music Therapy with Miss Moon was a song suggested by my good friend Naemah in response to a recent Be Blessed post.



I am seriously kicking myself for not knowing this song (especially since I loved Kina in Brownstone!), because it serves as a powerful anthem of self acceptance and self love. This is, of course, is why I am sharing it with all of you. Here's "Me" by Kina!



My heart's jumpin'
God, I'm feelin' open
Spent a long time mopin'
Get a load of me, feelin' free
No pain no more
No blockin' up my own door
All anger out my back door
God, it's good to see

Life,
Got kinda hard, I faced it
Fought and cried and almost gave in
All negative forces faded
Love of me just walked right in

I'm just me, I'm enough
With myself I'm in love
I've been weak, I've been low
Made me strong, now I know
I'm just me, I'm enough
Nothin' less, nothing more
I wish everybody could just feel this kind of love

Feels good, feels fine, feels good, yeah
My mind's older
Chip's fallen off my shoulder
All need to prove is over
Good enough for me
Found willingness
Found will to be courageous
No need to feel defenseless, Peace

I'm just me, I'm in love
With myself I'm in love
I've been weak, I've been low
Made me strong, now I know
I'm just me, I'm enough
Nothin' less, nothing more
I wish everybody could just feel this kind of love

Be Blessed: And Fall in Love... With Yourself!!!

“ The greatest magnifying glasses in the world are a man's own eyes when they look upon his own person.”
~ Alexander Pope

" Self-love is the foundation of our loving practice. Without it our other efforts to love fail. Giving ourselves love we provide our inner being with the opportunity to have the unconditional love we may have always longed to receive from someone else."
~ bell hooks



Many of you who know me, and those that read my blog know that I have a deep love and admiration for Cree Summer. I've considered her a HUGE shero of mine since I was very young, and as an adult... I continue to look up to her tremendously.

One thing that Chris said to me when we first started dating, when discussing my affection for Cree was that there's a part of her inside of me. At the time, I thought that it was the most preposterous thing he could've said to me (I also most likely thought he was trying to get some! LOL). But in reading Shakti Gawain's Reflections in the Light: Daily Thoughts and Affirmations  and in doing this exercise, I could really see the Cree... in me! That really brought home the truth of this, which is why I share this with you today -

When we fall in love with someone, we are also falling in love with aspects of ourselves that we see reflected in that person. We may feel that our loved one has qualities that we don't have, but those qualities exist in us too and are as yet undiscovered or undeveloped.

Today, think of each person you love and imagine him or her as a mirror reflecting your own beauty and lovability. The more you can love yourself through these reflections, the more you can truly love and appreciate others.

I am falling in love with myself

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

Last year, I posted an edition of Be Blessed, highlighting a poem, Time-Tested Beauty Tips, written by Sam Levenson, but commonly attributed to actress, icon, and my namesake... Audrey Hepburn.



Inspired by these "beauty tips", Chrisette Michele's (Featuring Lem Payne) "Dear Miss Audrey" encapsulates the message that true beauty comes, not from what you wear, but how you love yourself and the world around you. What better choice for "Music Therapy with Miss Moon"?

Despite my eagerness to share this message, I couldn't find a good video online of the song. Undaunted, I decided to take matters into my own hands, and created a slideshow that showcases the unmistakable beauty that was Audrey Hepburn: iconic images of her at her most lovely - wearing beautiful clothing, and most importantly, images of her humanitarian work for UNICEF in the latter years of her life.

I hope that the song and the video will inspire all of you to find your beauty within, and in finding that beauty... do all you can to make the world around you a better (and more beautiful) place.

Dear Mrs. Hepburn
Good afternoon
I hope that heaven is kind to you
But a question -
How can I be lovely as you?
I got a poster in my bedroom
And I got a little black dress or two
(Dress or two)
Tell me what real ladies do?

Chorus
Excuse me Audrey how'd you do it?
She told me there was nothing to it
She said: Just let your soul shine (repeats)
Let it shine
Excuse me Audrey how'd you do it?
She told me there was nothing to it
She said: Just let your soul shine (repeats)
Let it shine

I wake up early every morning
To find my picture painted beautifully
So beautifully
Right on the mirror on my wall
I take a brush up to my hair again
To find a brand new style for me... yeah
What makes me different from them all?

Chorus
Excuse me Audrey how'd you do it?
She told me there was nothing to it
She said: Just let your soul shine (repeats)
Let it shine
Excuse me Audrey how'd you do it?
She told me there was nothing to it
She said: Just let your soul shine (repeats)
Let it shine

So sad, so bad, so sickening
And all they wanna know is where the rich n***as is
Short skirt with thighs out they killin’ it
But that ass the only reason we feelin’ it?
What a shame she thinks he gon give into it
But he only wants to get all up into it and get rid of it
Sex ain't love, friends don't need benefits
He’s full of lust baby, I know the sentiment

Chorus
Excuse me Audrey how'd you do it?
She told me there was nothing to it
She said: Just let your soul shine (repeats)
Let it shine
Excuse me Audrey how'd you do it?
She told me there was nothing to it
She said: Just let your soul shine (repeats)
Let it shine

Be Blessed: And Be a GOOD Friend (To Yourself!)

" If you must love your neighbor as yourself, it is at least as fair to love yourself as your neighbor." ~ Nicholas de Chamfort

" If you had a friend who talked to you like you sometimes talk to yourself, would you continue to hang around with that person? " ~ Rob Bremer

" It is not selfish or narcissistic to love yourself. It is your first and foremost responsibility." ~ Alan Cohen



If you are anything like me, you are a lot more forgiving to others than you are to yourself. I know that it is a process I continually work on, and I've grown a lot over the years.

A part of my progress came from seeing myself as a friend and treating myself as such. When sad or discouraged, I would internally say the comforting words I would say to any friend in the same position. And I felt comforted!

For most of my life, it was the exact opposite. I had an inner "Mean Girl" that couldn't wait to tell me how much I sucked. If there were any imperfections about my day, the spotlight would prominently display them in my mind.

That Mean Girl is still here, I'm sure. But like any toxic frenemy, I'm not checking for her anymore. I don't need that kind of drama in my life!!



Today, I will begin to treat myself with the same fierce sister-love I'd give to my best friends in the world!!

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

"As you are feeling positive emotion - such as love, peace, happiness, joy, excitement, exhilaration ... it is your Inner Being communicating to you in that moment that you are feeling the emotion - that your thoughts are in harmony with that which you are wanting, As you are experiencing negative emotion - such as fear or doubt, anger, hatred, jealousy, stress, guilt, anxiety .. it is a communication from your Inner Being telling you that in that moment - that which you are focused upon is not in harmony with what you are wanting." - Abraham

I've unfortunately gotten good at hiding my unhappiness. I have been very unhappy lately, and haven't expressed it, instead keeping a smile on my face. Internally, sadness consumed me. All I thought about was everything I wanted to change, and felt horrifically powerless in my inability to change it. As I focused on everything that made me unhappy, I noticed that my life became more and more miserable. The catalyst came and went, as they are known to do... I faced and expressed everything I was feeling and I came to the decision that I need to (To paraphrase Terry McMillan) get back to happy.

Music Therapy is not just a catchy name for my music posts, it's something I strongly believe in and something that has helped me immensely in the past. This week's song selection is one that I have recently adopted as a theme song, because it makes me feel beautiful, magical, blossoming and full of possibilities. That's a feeling I need to feel right now. I need to wrap it around me and carry it with me at all times.

Written for Cree Summer by Esthero, this week's Music Therapy with Miss Moon song is "Black Mermaid". Enjoy!!





Black Mermaid

i’m a black mermaid
from the bottom of the sea
i will teach you how to love me
into greatness i will lead you
’cause i’m a black mermaid
nothing rarer you will find
i am here for you to love me
i’ve been here for all o’ time
and i will wait for you to see me and to understand
that a woman can restore the soul of any broken man
if you can look beyond the waves and just believe in me…..
i am the lighthouse standing strong atop the rocks and sand
’cause i’m a black mermaid
from the bottom of the sea
i will teach you how to love me
into greatness i will lead you
and i’ve spent most of my life deep down inside myself
i’ve dreamt about the possibility of someone else
who could see the things i’ve seen and steal away with me
into the darkness we could fade because we know ourselves
and i’m his black mermaid
from the bottom of the sea
i will teach you how to love me
into greatness i will lead you
yeah i’m a black mermaid
from the bottom of the sea
i will teach you how to love me
into greatness i will lead you
and i’ve spent most of my life deep down inside myself
i’ve dreamt about the possibility of someone else
who could see the things i’ve seen and steal away with me
into the darkness we could fade because we LOVE ourselves
and i’m his black mermaid
he thinks i’m beautiful
yeah i’m his black mermaid
he thinks i’m beautiful
i am beautiful
(All the dark horses and all the good men,
won’t you come put me back together again?)
i am beautiful.

Be Blessed: Time Tested Beauty Tips

I've been blogging a lot about beauty and fashion lately, so I wanted to share the most valuable pieces of beauty advice I've ever received. This poem is often attributed to Audrey Hepburn (my namesake), incorrectly. Although she cited it as one of her favorites, it was actually written by Sam Levenson.

Audrey is someone universally remembered for her extraordinary beauty, but what was truly beautiful about her was the work she did for U.N.I.C.E.F and the fact that she was the type of woman who, when asked about her beauty tips, she would share this poem:



For attractive lips,
Speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes,
Seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure,
Share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair,
Let a child run his or her
fingers through it once a day.

For poise,
Walk with the knowledge
you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things,
have to be restored, renewed,
revived, reclaimed, and redeemed;
Never throw out anybody.

Remember,
If you ever need a helping hand,
you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older,
you will discover
that you have two hands,
one for helping yourself,
the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman
is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure that she carries,
or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman
must be seen from in her eyes,
because that is the doorway to her heart,
the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman
is not in a facial mole,
but true beauty in a woman
is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives,
the passion that she shows,
And the beauty of a woman
with passing years-only grows!



This week, I will remember that true beauty comes from within and around you... and I will pause and reflect on all the beauty in my life.

Be Blessed: Be Your Own Valentine

"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." -- Buddha

This quote really struck at me in a very profound way when I first read it several years ago. I was nursing the wounds of a rather bad break up and felt like I was doomed to spend my days alone and unloved and that was a fate far worse than death to me (I was in my early 20s...).

And I decided to take a hiatus from dating and work on myself. And I explored my spirituality, and devoured the works of Shakti Gawain, Iyanla Vanzant, and Marianne Williamson. I definitely considered that period in myself a spiritual hibernation, as I spent a lot of time working on myself and pretty much kept myself cloistered away.

I think the pinnacle for me was when I took myself out on a date for the first time. I went to the movies ("Hedwig & The Angry Inch") and went out to dinner. Alone. And it wasn't as crazy and awkward as I thought it would be. In that period of my life I learned that being alone does not mean lonely.

Now that I am in a relationship, I have learned that the work on yourself doesn't end because you have someone. I still make a point to do things for myself.. it's become a ritual for me. And I will continue to evolve and grow until I'm dead... because it's nourishing for me, and if it's good for me, it's bound to be good for my relationship.

This week, I will keep in mind this powerful affirmation by Louise Hay, and I hope that you will too. Happy Valentine's Day, Everybody!!!

I Love Myself Affirmation
Louise Hay


Deep at the centre of my being,
there is an infinite well of love.

I now allow this love to flow to the surface.
It fills my heart, my body, my mind, my consciousness,
my very being, and radiates out from me in all directions
and returns to me mutliplied.
The more love I use and give, the more I have to give.
The supply is endless.
The use of love makes me feel good,
it is an expression of my inner joy.

I love myself;
therefore, I take loving care of my body.
I lovingly feed it nourishing foods and beverages,
I lovingly groom it and dress it, and my body lovingly
responds to me with vibrant health and energy.

I love myself; therefore provide for myself
a comfortable home, one that fills
all my needs and is a pleasure to be in.
I fill the rooms with the vibration of love
so that all who enter, myself included,
will feel this love and be nourished by it.

I love myself; therefore I work at a job I truly enjoy
doing, one that uses my creative talents and abilities,
working with and for people I love and who love me,
and earning a good income.

I love myself; therefore, I behave and think in a loving
way to all people for I know that that which I give out
returns to me multiplied.
I only attract loving people in my world,
for they are a mirror of what I am.

I love myself; therefore I forgive and totally release
the past and all past experiences and I am free.

I love myself; therefore I live totally in the now,
experiencing each moment as good and knowing that
my future is bright and joyous and secure,
for I am a beloved child of the Universe
and the Universe lovingly takes care of me
now and forever more.

And so it is.

by Louise Hay, from "You Can Heal Your Life"

Miss Moon's Musing About: Strutting

"Sherman, no matter what, you've got to strut.
You got to suck in your gut and strut."

Buddy Love, The Nutty Professor

I am a firm believer in strutting. Especially when you have nothing to strut about. My favorite time to strut is the five block walk from the bus stop to my job. Believe me, it's not something I always do. Most of the time, I'm making a mad dash or doing the zombie-walk like most folk you see walking around the Broadway/Nassau junction in Manhattan.

But I find it's a great way to motivate myself to keep moving, stop lallygagging, and get myself to the office. Some people shadow box a la "Rocky" ... I strut.

Music is the most important aspect of a well-executed strut. My iPod is a beloved part of my daily commute to work, and I've made it a little game to shuffle my tunes. I know that when a Strutting Song comes on, it's a sign that I need give myself a boost, and you better believe, I do!

So I thought I would share with you My Top Five Strutting Songs. Add these tunes as a Playlist on your MP3 and tune in for an instant pick me up:

# 5:  "Pretty Young Thing" - Michael Jackson This song will definitely make you feel like a Tender Ronie.
# 4: "Vibrate On" - Erykah Badu  "They knew I was gangsta, when I hit the door"... Word.
# 3: "Sleep to Dream" - Fiona Apple  For a swagger kind of strut. Trust me, it works!
# 2: "Soul Makossa" - Manu Dibango Great song for when you have to make an entrance!
# 1: "We Trying to Stay Alive" - Wyclef Jean Of course you can also rock the original "Staying Alive" by the BeeGees for bit of nostalgia. John Travolta's strut is the best endorsement for the song!!

DOPE: Full Figure Potential by Georgia Me

This particular poem was something I had to post as a result of a Twitter exchange I had with a stranger tonight. I twittered that I missed my hair and was contemplating taking the kinky twists out a month early, and posted a picture of myself to emphasis the point. I received a comment that simply stated "You would look much better if you dieted"

Excuse me? I am talking about my hair and posted a picture of myself to illustrate the love I have of my kinky curly hair in its natural state, not to receive advice on what some random person thinks I should do with my life. As a big girl, I am used to comments and statements like this. So I asked him or her if their comments was meant to voice concern for my health or were they simply being snarky to make themselves feel better, to which my new friend replied "Concern for your health, of course".

Right. which is why you said that I would LOOK much better if I dieted. And this is why your twitter page says that you feel "fat people should be double taxed". Not that I would feel healthier or lessen my chance for serious health issues if I dieted. I decided not to engage this person in debate further, I simply blocked them. But I wanted to post this poem because my size is only a small part of who I am.

I have in the last few years went down several sizes and I am looking forward to getting even smaller. What I realized was that weight loss will not come as a result of simple dieting. It will come when you love your form as is. I started losing weight when I was able to look at myself in the mirror and say, "You are beautiful". No "BUTS", no "HOWEVERS". The moment I "found God in myself" and "loved her fiercely", like Ntozake Shange writes, I was able to take better care of myself and I know I am progressing and ever-evolving in this matter.

So I dedicate this to all women, with the message to love yourselves (and not post snarky comments on stranger's twitter pages! lol)