Artscape 2010 Baltimore

What a weekend I admit that when my Project Coordinator came to me with the idea of performing at Artscape it did not mean much to me at the time other than saying, go ahead and see what happens.

Being from the Baltimore area, she knew more than I when it came to events and festivals that where housed out of Baltimore. Later I found out that Artscape was the largest arts festival in the world. Then my mind began to play tricks on me and a thought ran across my mind in the form of “there is no way, a gdavisplays productions is going to be apart of this.”

Well a few weeks later, Carolyn sent me a text that stated “we are in Artscape” I was excited and honored at the thought of appearing in the most prestigious arts festival in the world.

Its been a week now and I am still processing the weekend that showcased my new show “Jessie & Lucy” at the Brown Center on the campus of Maryland Institute College of Art. This venue made an impression on me that I will never forget not for its unique architectural design but because it the only building in Baltimore that was named after an African American Family.

The Brown Center

I arrived in Baltimore Thursday to load in my set and the city was a buzz as early as 10am that morning with the anticipation of Artscape staring the next day.

In my former days as Program Director of Beasley Broadcasting I had plenty of experiences of working and with festivals such as the Dogwood Festival in Fayetteville and the Stone Cold Picnic that I started. However, I was not prepared for what I was about to see over the next days.

Getting back to the press about Artscape, I had heard of attendance reaching over 300,000 people over a 3 day period. I could not imagine that many people in downtown Baltimore.

The next day I got a chance to see first hand what I had only heard about in reference to Artscape. There seemed to be a vendor every 3 fee, there was plenty of food and all kinds of artwork. I was really impressed with what I had seen so far and I had only just begun to see all that was offered.

At 6:00pm I met the rest of the cast and crew to walk them down to the Brown Center. Normally the walk would have taken all of 10 minutes but due the fact that it was Saturday night and the biggest nigh of Artscape thee was easily 50,000 people already walking among the vendors and listening to various artist performing live on the Wachovia Main Stage. Well that walk took us 30 minutes.

I’ve been performing for over 16 years and I have never had the opportunity to perform in front of a predominately white audience. I have always wanted that opportunity and Artscsape gave me that opportunity. The show was great and I was very pleased at the response that we received.

After the show our cast and crew looked forward to getting back to our hotel that was across the street from the Inner Harbor. Remembe that walk that took us 30 minutes due to 50,000 people walking and enjoying artscape, well by the time we had packed up and finished striking the stage it was about 10pm I would learn later that there was over 100,000 people downtown at that time.

It seemed like we were the only ones walking in the direction towards our vehicle. It was amazing to see, the closest thing I had ever witnessed was having seats on the 50 yard line for a Monday Night Football Game that featured my Redskins at Fedex Field but that was only 90,000.

Back at the hotel the cast and crew felt like walking so we walked down to the Inner Harbor and took him some live Jazz and had fun at Hard Rock Cafe.

The next day Sunday my Aunt and I went to church with my cousin Anglea Foster White. Angela and graduated from Warren County together and she was a cheerleader while I was a basketball player. I went on to further my education at Fayetteville State while she attended UNC Chapel Hill.

We had not seen each other since graduation, so it was great to spend some quality time with her and her husband. Church service was great and I was impressed with the young adult choir and a young lady who worked for Morgan State Radio Station who had interviewed me earlier was there also man could she play the tambourine (please see video)

After church, we all went back down to the Inner Harbor to take in some good food, fun and laughs before we would head back to North Carolina. Well at least he cast and crew, Monty and I ended up going back to my Uncle house in Lanham, Maryland.

Uncle Norman & Gdavis

It was great spending time with Uncle Norman, Aunt Celster and my cousins Kim, Norman , Jr, Tony and Vincent. This was probably the best part of my trip, getting to meet and spend time with family.

I got a chance to hit some golf balls with Uncle Norman while enjoying the ride to the driving ranger in his 1971 Mercedes Benz. This was a very special weekend for me and I have been thinking about it ever since.

Over the last few weeks I have found a greater appreciation for family. I have learned to live in the now. I can’t change the pass nor can I feel too badly for what i have done or what others have done to me because its over and done with on so many account.

Uncle Norman's 1971 Benz

Kim & Gdavis

I have heard a saying that “Life is short, so live it” and until you experience things that make you take second look or a more serious look at life you never know what that really means.

Well I’m thankful that I know what it means and it was not too late for me to slow down from my busy life to take a minute to enjoy family.

Kim, Aunt Celester & Gdavis

Gdavis

Gdavisplays.com

There are days that I don’t get much rest. It seems like for the last year or so I’ve been getting about 4 hours a sleep a night. I don’t complain because that is a small price to pay when you are trying to do something that is going to have an impact on the world.

As always I’ve got may hands on several projects at once. I am one of those people that I am not happy if I don’t have a full load to pull.

In doing that recently, Walter Sturdivant has agreed to run the day to day operations of Gdavisplays.com so that I can have more time to spend with my wifey and family and from a company perspective, the creative side of Gdavisplays.com.

Currently I have partnered with North Carolina A&T State University to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s in the African American Community. It makes my heart feel good knowing that a group of African Americans who are considered experienced professionals in their respective areas can work together to make a difference not just in our community but in the world.

This is a very big project that we are working on called “Forget Me Not” that will consist of a celebrity Gala, the presentation of the stage play “Forget Me Not” various workshops, clinics and other events and programs designed to bring awareness to the disease that effects 1-5 adults over the age of 65.

Scene from Forget Me Not

It has been said and rumored and I have experienced that when it comes to a group of African American working together who all have major credentials behind their name that regardless of the project and how much potential it has it will never work due to the fact that someone no one in the group is willing to put themselves less to make the group more.

As I have stated I have seen and been apart of my share of groups like this that has made me alienate myself from certain groups but I can honestly say it feel very good being apart of the team that has been assembled for the Forget Me Not Project.

The players in this project include Dr. Goldie Byrd one of the leading Biologist in the country who has dedicated her life to finding a cure for this disease. Walter Sturdivant who has over 28 years of broadcast experience, Carolyn Ross-Holmes who brings 20 years of  experience in community outreach and activism, Hosea Productions 58 years of promoting some of the worlds largest entertainers. Milton Stewartwho has taken several of his artist who were struggling to make it in the cut throat industry of the music business all the way to the 2010 Grammy’s, and Carol “Monty” Davis, Assistant Superintendent of our school system.

With all of this so called power in one room one would think that it would be easy to spend a lot of time jocking for position.

Dr. Goldie Byrd

This is the furthest thing from the truth. There is one key denominator in all of this that I want those of you who are reading this to clearly digest The core of what this group is built on mutual respect and honesty for one another.

We have all made ourselves less in order that we might join forces together to make a difference in the lives of people all across America.  That is why it is so important to be honest and do what is right as oppose to doing things that will lead to self gratification.

Carolyn Ross-Holmes

It is also important to put a team around you that you can trust with your life. The core group of our team has become close over the last few months. It has taken time for us to get to this point but the bond and the relationships that have been built over these few months is proving to be priceless.

I don’t know what the future holds or where we are headed with this group but I truly believe that God has his hands on the direction and is ordering our steps.

So much has happened since we started working on this project that was in the background of another project that we were working on that has not become our lead project.

Through this journey I have learned and still learning to trust God and to be still until his WILL is clear for me.

Over the last couple of months I thought things were so clear on Project Bynum that I could see and taste it, however, things have come to a slow pace and waiting mode that the human nature side feels disappointment but its in Gods timing. I have learned to really believe that if something is not for me I DON”T WANT IT AT ALL, but if it is I believe in HIS timing it will all come to pass.

Bynum & Gdavis

Getting back to the point, we as a people can work together and we can make a difference and it does not have to be a big drag down fight getting there to the end. If we continue to TRUST and RESPECT one another and not try to micro-manage everyone else, its amazing how far a group can go and what they are capable of doing.

I can always depend on Walter to say something profound. Today he stated, “the feeling you get when you are excited about a project that has great potential is the same feeling you have when you make progress on a project, you have to make sure that you are excited about the progress and not the potential.”

How do you do that? You stay level headed and make sure you cross every (t) and dot every (i) there will be plenty of time to celebrate once WE all reach the finish line and have achieved all the goals that we set out from the  beginning.

So if you are involved or apart of a group that is working on a project make sure that it’s built on HONEST and RESPECT.If those 2 ingredients are not present, no matter how much potential the project has it will never reach its full potential or worse, it may never get off the ground and members will always refer to it as that projectthat could have made a difference in the community or even the world but because of somebody who was not a team player it never got off the ground.

Gdavis & Monty

Just think about how many lives could have been saved or changed but never will due the strong sense of self gratification that influenced the decision making versus what was best for the group.

Samantha & Garrett as Jessie & Lucy

Tomorrow I open up with a new play called “Jessie & Lucy” The idea started during our Christmas run of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” when Monty and Kevin (Bern Nadette Stanis Manager) were talking about the chemistry between Samantha and I on stage.

The thinking was I should come up with a 2 man show between the 2 of us. Samantha and I do have a chemistry on stage that I feel is very special. We have been working together for a few years now but we have only played opposite of each other once and that was in the 2009 Christmas Production.

When they shared the idea with me I could easily see it,  so of course I immediately started to think of a story line that would be interesting. Knowing that my niche is relationships what in the world could I come up with that would do justice to 2 man show.

As I began to think of a storyline I quickly found out that writing a 2 man show is a lot harder that I imagined. In my other productions I write in soap opera style meaning I have at least 3 story lines going on at the same time so that the audience want get bored knowing that I have to hold their attention for at least 2 hours.

With a 2 man show its just me an Samantha so what in the world are the 2 of us going to do for 2 hours? After seeing this as a challenge I began to meditate on a storyline that had started to come to me after being around a couple that consistently makes me laugh with their relationship from the surface that looks like a love/hate situation, when in actually they love each other very much.

So now I have a storyline and now the writing is started to become a little easier. I really wanted a 2 man show with just Samantha and I but I was forced to add one more character in order to pull the story together thus the addition of Darrin McGill who plays the neighbor next door.

Darrin McGill

Growing up watching Sanford & Son, the Jefferson’s, All in the Family and I love Lucy I was able to pull from those shows that special bond between the lead characters and create a feeling on stage between Samantha and I that I feel brings Jessie & Lucy to life in a way that I think will create magic on stage.

Tomorrow will be bitter sweet for me in the sense that I normally use names in my productions from people who have had a major impact in my life.  Daddy (Jessie) was my grandfather who reared me. I love that man with all my heart and I have been playing the character Jessie in earlier productions in honor or him.

I even created a one man comedy show in his honor. Three years ago I  put the character away so that I could concentrate on playing the lead in my current touring production.

The Real Jessie Davis

Daddy (Jessie)  never saw me on stage but I know he is looking down on me and smiling.  When naming the wife to Jessie in the play, I didn’t have to look far in my great aunt the actual sister to Jessie.  This would be special to me to have Daddy’s (Jessie) sister at the show to see this work that I would dedicate to them.

Aunt Lucy whom we call “Big Ma” is in her 80’s but full of life and energy. She is such a funny woman in her own right. Recently she told my sister that she was going to walk across the stage and do a dance at the play when I introduced her and believe me she was going to do it too.

The Real Lucy Davis

To my Aunts and Mom, my great Aunt Lucy means the world to them for she is their father’s sister. Sadly, her battle with cancer turned worse on yesterday and she was hospitalized so all we can do at this point is pray for the acceptance of God’s Will.

So for me tomorrow as I birth the production “Jessie & Lucy” I will have to do my best to use the emotions that will be going on inside of me to do a show that will be dedicated to my great aunt Lucy who want be there tomorrow to see it in person.

I plan on reserving (2) front row seats at the show tomorrow,  no one will be allowed to sit in them during the show. That’s my way of paying tribute to them and it will provide the strength I need on stage to get through the performance.

Tomorrow I give birth to the stage play Jessie & Lucyin Clarksville, Va at the Clarksville Fine Arts Center and Jessie and Lucy will be there in spirit.

Gdavis Mathew Knowles & Hosea Fox

This past Thursday Hosea, Beverly and myself took a flight to the big apple to meet with perhaps arguably one of today’s most successful producers in the entertainment industry Mathew Knowles.

Over the last few months Hosea Productions and myself have been preparing for what we think will be a great opportunity to present a production that has the capability to not only touch but heal the thousands that will be in attendance to witness this production. 

It’s not every day that a little ole country boy like me gets a chance to sit down and brainstorm with the like of  Mr. Mathew Knowles.  His past accomplishements will surely  go down in history for his development of Destiny’s Child,  not to mention the work he has done in establishing the career of his daughter Beyonce Knowles.

This was a great meeting capped off with the level of respect that was given to everyone that was in that room in respect for what they individually brought to the table. 

I guess by now you are wondering who was in attendance as promised from my last blog I guess it time to tell you what’s in the works but please note I am writing in the WORKS its not a done deal yet but we are positively moving in the right direction on something that we feel is going to be very special, so without saying what it is specifically I will just let your minds wonder until we are ready to reveal a little more information.

Gdavis, Beverly Fox & Dr. J. Bynum

Until now I have referred to this person as WOG, which stands for Woman of God.  Her name is Dr. Juanita Bynum, II.

I want to take this time to say that thusfar we are extremely honored to be in conversation with her about a future project.

From afar I have always respected her gift and been in awe of her prophetic word that I personally think is always right on time for the people of God who are hungry for a word.

Hosea, Beverly and I have a special bond and we have been through so much together over the years and anytime we enter into a potential working relationship with anyone there is always that feeling of how will we all get along?

Well, I want to go on record first by saying that Dr. Juanita Bynum and her staff have been a dream to work with thus far and the one word that describes them is “Integrity”. They have done everything that the said they would do and are truly walking the walk based on their talk.

Secondly, Mr. Mathew Knowlesis truly a remarkable businessman who believes in the artist that he represents as well as making sure #1 there is a plan and #2 that we all stick to it.

Our meeting of the minds in the Big Apple was truly appointed and anointed for such a time as this and I will continue to give GOD the praise and the glory for what is to come because, it’s already done.

gdavisplays.com

I have come to a place in my life and this business that I just expect a TEST and that is ok, because that ’s the only way we can prove ourselves to GOD. The word says without FAITH it is impossible to please HIM.

We ended our Spring Run this past weekend in Greenville, SC and Atlanta and before I move any further let me just thank all of you that came out in support of our production at the Peace Center and at the Fox Theater this past weekend.

I really enjoy being on stage more than anything in the world. The compliments, hugs, the laughter after the show and of course the tears is worth anything that I go through before taking that stage.

My partners in business and in life are of course Hosea Productions which consist of Hosea and Beverly Fox. It seemed as thought we were operating on Murphy’s Law the entire weekend. The list is too long to mention but just know it was mentally draining on all of us and we still had one more show to do perhaps the biggest show of my life to date.

However, The Lord Made a Way and everything worked out. It was perhaps the best performance in the history of “The Lord Will Make a Way”and we still could have been even better in my opinion.

The crowd at the Fox was off the chain boy did they get into the show!!! Tony Terry did his thing as did Keith Floyd from AFTER 7 who were making their debut in a gdavisplays.com production.

Hosea Productions and Gdavisplays have come to a point on this journey where God has truly blessed us beyond our imagination. We are about to embark on a great project that will bless millions around the WORLD.

I am so humbled and grateful for the opportunity that God has given Hosea Productions and my camp. For those of you who was at the Atlanta show you  know what is coming next if you were not there then you will have to wait until the ink is dry later this week for the official word.

My grandmother use to say all the time that we are all sinners saved by grace. Boy do I know what she means now. Even though I have come up short sometimes God still allowed me this opportunity and for that it brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it.

My Cross as a Reminder

Sunday I went out and purchased a cross to wear around my neck. The reason I did this is to keep the cross close to my heart as a reminder of how I am saved by grace and its only because of HIM that I am in this position. It also a reminder that no matter how HIGH I go up on this theatrical journey its all because of HIM and nothing that I did at all.

Hosea Fox, Beverly Fox and my wife Monty have indeed sacrificed SOOOOO MUCH because of believing in my dream. Not that anyone else as not and I am indeed grateful for the entire gdavisplays family and what they all bring to the table. Its just that Hosea, Beverly and Monty have seen things that no one else have seen and have sacrificed more than anyone will ever know until the book somes out (lol)

The rain feels good after loosing money, the rain feels good after being told I would never make it, the rain feels good when those I thought were my friends talked about me behind my back, the rain feels good knowing that even when flesh and blood turn their back on me and TRIED to scandalized my name it was not enough to keep GOD from still blessing me.

The rain feels good knowing the quarter of a millions dollars invested was just a seed and even though there were times when I along with Hosea Productions thought the ground was hard and was not going to yield fruit its about to yield a HARVEST that is going to SHOCK THE WORLD and bless millions.

This project is so personal for me coming up that we are about to embark on I promise to let you know about soon. I am going to put everything I have into this project like never before for the following reasons.

1. To show God how greatful I am 2. For Hosea, who is a like a father to me and believes in me sometimes more than I believe in myself. I can’t put into words what this man has done on my behalf just to keep “The Lord Will Make a Way” on the road. 3. For Beverly, who is my sister we talk 20 times a day and work constantly around the clock together I don’t know how we do it.

Monty & Beverly

4. My wife (Monty) I am never where I am suppose to be because I am always working, writing, producing and traveling, yet you never complain. 5. My family and especially my sisters, wow you have really held me up even when you didn’t have to and you too Punkin. Last but not least the Gdavis Family, our work as just begun at this point its on you to be the BEST you can!!!

Cast & Crew in Greenville, SC at the Hyatt

Those that are reading this blog, don’t stop, find the strength to keep going, find the courage to walk in the shadows but most of all have the FAITH and know that the Lord Will Make a Way.

I promise the next blog, I will reveal the WOG.

Gdavis

gdavisplays.com

The first blog Rain Down On Me Part 1 was posted April 23, 2010. Well this mornig I felt the first rain drop and when I did tears began to fall from my eyes and down my face. Why was I crying?  Because I really don’t deserve this, God is so good and his praise must stay on my lips.

We have rounded a huge corner in this deal and soon I will be able to reveal to the world this “WOG”.  Maybe I should say re-introduce because I am sure the name is a house hold name for those in the gospel community.

Its amazing how God shows up just when you need him most. The last leg of our Spring Run has really been mentally taxing on myself and partners Hosea Productions. I don’t think there is anyone else who works harder and is more passionate about what we do in presenting real life situations on stage through Gdavisplays.

Last night I watched the crowning of a new American Idol who worked as a painter but he dared to chase his dream and now its reality.

Lee DeWyze Amerian Idol

This mornig when that first rain drop touched my face I thought of when I was growing up in Warren County and I would be working in those tobacco fields and it would look like rain then all of a sudden it would smell like rain, then one rain drop would hit my face and then you could actually see the rain falling in other places before it got to you, and when it did, it hit you so hard.

That’s the way I feel this morning. God’s blessing is about to hit me and this time I know it because I have felt the first rain drop. Pretty soon the bottom is going to fall out!!!

The next Rain Down On Me will be Part 5 and its my every intention to reveal this project once we have crossed every I and dotted every T.

Thanks for all of your prayers to those that have been praying for me, my request. Don’t stop now, keep me lifted and pray for those that are around me.

Gdavis

Not from Restaurant I had lunch!!

Ever since I got back from Baltimore I”ve been a little tired and it seems like I’ve been trying to play catch up. This is our last weekend of shows before we break coming up in Greenville, SC and Atlanta.

So please forgive me for not  blogging in a while but today at lunch I saw something that made me rush to my computer and want to blog about it.

My friend and I go to this popular restaurant for lunch to sort of catch up and hang for a minute. It s not a chain or anything but its very popular spot for lunch. Its sort of a Mom & Pop Hang Out for teachers. Very clean with a very HIGH GRADE posted on their wall I always look for this posting even in franchise places.

However, today I saw something that made me think that it’s not the grade tha is posted on the wall but rather the mentality of the workers that are working in key positions.

gdavisplays.com

This restaurant had a grade of 96 posted and is a very clean establishment, but this is what I observed while having lunch.

This is the set up. They have a cashier who takes your  order and your payment.  Then they turn around and give your order to the cook who prepares your meal while you sit and watch one of the television monitors that are placed throughout the restaurant.

They have a waiter who then brings your food once it has been prepared to you at your table.  So while Joe and I are enjoying our food and talking about the NBA Playoffs, we notice the waiter coming over to play with who I am assuming are her grandchildren or relatives.  One of the kids she is playing with appears to be a 2 year old cute little boy. She runs her fingers through his hair and tickles his feet and enjoys making him laugh.

Meanwhile the cook from the kitchen states “order up” she kisses this little boy goodbye and rubs his head.  Afterwhich, she goes behind the counter dips up a cup of ice and then takes the order from the kitchen counter and finshes preparation and then takes it to the person who ordered it.

 I watched her do the next several orders like this before she got a break. The problem I got with this is, she never washed her hands.

She went on with her work as if nothing had ever happened. I thought to myself , WOW….I wonder who did she play with before she brought me my food because her grandson or relative was in there before I got there?

So what was the lesson that I learned? Its not about the grade that is hanging on the wall its more about how much common sense is embedded in the heart of the people that work in ANY establishment. Remember, that grade on the wall will never make or cook your food.

Gdavis

gdavisplays.com

I once heard a preacher say going to church want get you into heaven but you should go anyway.

That is so true. Over the years I have had my share of hurt and pain brought on by getting too involved in church or the ministry. It seems the worse kind of hurt is that which is brought on by someone from the Body of Christ.

No one is perfect and we all have fallen short and its only by HIS grace and mercy that we are still alive and where we are today.

I am a member of Union Baptist Church in Winston Salem, NC under the teaching of  Rev. Dr. Sir Walter Mac, Jr. Every Sunday I attend church I leave with enough WORD to take home and meditate on to take me though the week.

Dr. Sir Walter L. Mack, Jr.

He is an awesome man of God that I consider not only an awesome orator but-one who  is very well read an abreast to world news and the flight of African Americans in today’s society.

Yesterday he taught on being misunderstood.  After I left service I thought about my life for a moment. God has brought me from a mighty long way. Not that I was a bad guy or anything but there is a time and a season for everything and I am indeed grateful to God that he has kept me and protected me during those times in my life when I made bad decisions that not only affected me but others.

No one is capable of changing their past no matter how good or bad it was and in some cases not matter what you do as I have stated before people will never forgive or let you forget and most of the time is either one of two people. Family or someone from the Body of Christ or a combination of the two which is really confusing.

Life is too short to hold grudges or to set unrealistic expectations on anyone just to see them Fall Short according only to YOUR EXPECTATIONS.

The world has many definitions for the word Man, Husband and Father. However, I like to think of man as being the common denominator for all 3. It takes a man to ignore, turn the  other cheek, hold his tongue when his character is being attached by anyone but especially a family member who is in the Body of Christ.

So I wrote this blog for those that have been hurt by family members who are or may not be in the Body of Christ. Its a painful thing and the worst thing you can do is try to defend yourself to someone who will never forgive you and continue to set unfair expectations on you. The battle is not yours. Trust and know that in time all things work together for those that love the Lord.

We have all been misunderstood at some point in our lives and this will not be the last time, the only reason it hurts because its coming from a family member. I also once heard someone say God gives us Family so we could deal better with our enemies. lol

Gdavis

Some-days its hard to find the fight to keep on fighting. Some days its hard to find the strength to get up just to keep on going.

gdavisplays.com

I have been in some what of a funk the last week not sure why but then again maybe its when you put your all and all into something and you don’t get the return that you expect or its no where near what you expect.

This entertainment business can be cold hearted sometimes. There are no guarantees at all. You can only do what you can do and hope for the best. Thus the saying “only the strong survive.”

I said it several times to folks in my inner circle and to certain family members, I don’t want success on the next level for me, I want it for all of the people who have stood by me, behind me, gone before me. Those that have prayed for me and with me, those that have sacrificed so much in order that I may the opportunity to pursue my happiness.

I was thinking about that passage that says life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I wonder why did Thomas Jeffrson say the pursuit of happiness?  He must have known that if we wanted happiness then it would have to be something that we would have to pursue.

When I get in funks like this I think of those before me that found the strength like Dr. King I”m sure didn’t feel like getting up and facing the crowd day after day but he found the strength.

Spike Lee

Closer to what I do I’m sure there were days Spike Lee thought, is doing this all worth being broke and not having a dime and owing everyone? But his breakthrough came and those days are a distant memory.

When its hard for me to sit at the computer and type at the keys I think of my friend and college mate Darrel “Sky” Armstrong who played basketball at Fayetteville State Universityduring the time I was Sports Information Director and how the two of us would dream of HIM playing in the NBA. He was so determined. I remember the day Coach Jeff Capel bought him a suit for drat day of the  Expansion Developmental League Team the Raleigh Bullfrogs. He was the first player chosen that day.

Years later, not only would he make it to the NBA but he was named 6 man of the year he would also be featured by Amad Rashad on Inside the NBA .

Darrell Armstrong

When he played with the Orlando Magic, he also got a chance to play in the NBA Finals. I’m sure he had days when he said  “why am I playing basketball for little or nothing is it worth it?”

Closer to home I can only imagine what my mother went through at times working in a textile mill in Henderson NC being the bread winner for 3 kids, herself and a husband. How did she find the strength to get up and do what she had to do?

So as I fight this funk I think about those that I know on a  personal basis who have a story to tell that may never get shared with the world but I know it and as I reflect on their stories I find the strength to keep moving until my breakthrough comes.

Me & My Mother

So if you find yourself in a FUNK just look around you. There are family members, friends and loved ones that have overcome odds and lived to tell about it. What got them through? They are no different than you and me. They have cried, they have been hurt and they have lost sleep staying up trying to figure out how to make it all work.

So like them we too shall survive and this too shall past and we only need to look around us to find the strength to keep going.

Gdavis