Nanette Buchanan

The Prince George's Book Festival will be held Saturday, May 23 from 10 am til 4 pm at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Center, 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, MD. Early Bird registration ends March 15. Mission Statement: To raise reading awareness, promote reading for all races and age groups...more https://lnkd.in/dNDXRxt and register at https://lnkd.in/d_SU5SG.v...

The reality is we must understand that those who entertain us do live real lives. Their choice to be entertainers or provide entertainment is the same as our choice to work, have a profession, or be an entrepreneur. I'm not understanding why "we", those that choose or don't choose a movie, television show, book or live performances become critiques on the lives of those making a living. Yes, "we" have a choice, watch or don't watch, read or don't read, buy a ticket for the performance or not...... But to be brutal in our analysis of the individual is short of being cruel. Let's just think about someone seeing you in your chosen profession or job and blasting your performance, your reasons for choosing the profession, and your quality of life. Where you live and why you live there, who you date, marry, or associate with, how you may have become the icon or failure you are, and the best one ........ the image you portray for your race, gender, religion. Why do we feel the need to step into the lives of the entertainer, the athletes, or anyone else who we often observe at their job........ none who have in anyway demanded our intensive observation. They really don't need that audience, after all if "we" truly feel that way about them why bother mentioning what they do. Does the ratings of a show, the money made, or the awards given affect the "naysayers" in any way? Sure it gives...

  With the Holiday Season approaching, there are those who will find this time of year stressful, bitter sweet, but a reason to come together with family and friends.I offer this challenge. I find that posting an inspirational quote erases the stress, teases my emotions, and often leaves me uplifted. So for this week, as we approach the Thanksgiving week...... I will post my Thankful thoughts.  Please feel free to join in..... we all have a reason to be thankful. We're all thankful for waking up, our general health, the health of our loved ones..... let's dig deeper......Monday's thankful message.....I am truly thankful for the changes I have made in my life. It is through those changes that I have seen my growth, the changes in my attitude and how it has transcended into empowering me. For this I am thankful....

Just A Thought- Travel time- 14 hours gives you time to think.... my mind kept circling around our society issues. Drugs, violence and guns... the lack of morals and respect from our youth to the adults..... the increase of mental health issues....economic dilemmas....and so much more. Normally I would write when these things cross my mind.... writing is and always has been my plateau of peace. But today I popped in "our" music.... the 70's. Listening to the lyrics our focus was on peace, love (not sex, hell half of the songs we didn't really listen to the words until years later...LOL), and just great dance music. I thought about the media and what they woudn't publish, put on the air, allow to be seen in the theaters, what journalist wouldn't plaster on the front page unless it was the "Star" and everyone read it to get a good laugh. After my generation there were those who returned from the Vietnamese War, spun out on deeper drug addictions, and of course the change for women who had to become providers. Definitely a societal change..... leaving the question which remains today..... What do we do? I listened to the words of Marvin Gaye and his well known album "What's Going On", Earth Wind and Fire their greatest hits, "Devotion, Keep Your Head To The Sky, and Reasons"..... Curtis Mayfield...... and the list goes on. Music we embraced and lived by...... The irony of it all is either these artists were well ahead...

On this day of National Remembrance while reflecting on the past we need embrace today. Without the politics, the government input, and allegiance each of us live in neighborhoods that cry for change. It is a National cry..... it is no longer in small parts of the states or certain sections of the cities..... our Nation is crying. While reflecting there are more reasons to cry out. Yes, we stood together as one and as we face each crisis, Americans meet the challenge and come back with a strong front awaiting the next crisis...... but our backbone is weakening. Our education system, our jobs, our relationships to others....... abroad and at home...... we are weakening. Yes, we fight for others...... even teach them about democracy........ yet we are weakening. Today as we remember the way we were, what we did to rebuild, to reinforce, to stand United...... let us pray we can do as much for us..... as we do for others....