Today I had the honor of interviewing a person that is creating his own movement and a person I had the pleasure of serving in the United States Navy with as well.  We were both stationed at NAS Lemoore from 1997-2000 back when we were young and really didn't know that much about life.  Fast forward to today 18th of June Ugo Arimo who used to be the Hospital Corpsman in the Navy is now his own brand "The Black Spiderman".   Ugo Arimo is a man of many facets; Navy Veteran/NSL PRO /BJJ Black Belt World Champion/Published Model "The Black Spiderman", he also a a strong youtube presence so much so that he is a Google partner that being said the man has solid handily created his own movement (shout out to team blackout".   I am a fan of creating your own movement and living your dreams in passions.   With hard work and dedication Ugo has built his brand and stuck true to his passions it made me think of how my passion of music lead to being an artists, producer, publishing company, and record label owner (Secrets of Society Records with Donjay, Eddy Rome, and Chino Morabito and Stand Alone Music my own venture).  Sure when you dare to dream out the box and decide to do the damn near impossible people will not believe in your vision or even try to convince you to stay on a safer course, but if you do not follow your calling you are not living.  One takeaway I want my listeners to get out of my series is that you can do the impossible and you can create your own movement just stick to your plan and learn from your missteps.  Ugo I salute you and continue your journey things are paying off.   #salute!!!!

Today by far was the most powerful, emotional and empowering interview I've had since I started my Deeper Than Music Radio Show with actress, and jazz singer Liz Mikel I didn't know what to expect from the interview because I wasn't feeling well and the day started off with me rushing and running around.   Liz Mikel is a very accomplished actress and singer, she has this energy about her that lights up a room, I took note of this when I first saw her at the Scat Jazz lounge almost a year ago, during this time I was working out the details of "Deeper Than Music" show but it was details nothing finalized none the less after the show I asked her if I could interview her on my radio show and she agreed....I knew I was going to have a radio show but the details had not been completely finalized lol.  Initially I was very nervous and I didn't know what to expect as I am with all my interviews but once the person I interview and myself break the ice and get into our comfort zone the magic happens and its two people conversing me being the audience asking my questions and the interviewee being the star center stage allowing myself and the listeners a peak into their world.  Liz opened up about a lot of things and the one thing that stood out was how humble she was, this woman worked with Phylicia Rashad, Monique, Ben Stiller, James Earl Jones, and many other celebrities and she so kindly agreed to be on my show and was so down to earth.  

The one thing that struck a chord with me was when she told her story of wanting to be a dancer and an actress her mother didn't shun her dream but she supported it.   She also explained how when she was honing her creative side and finding her true creative calling ie trying the flute unsuccessfully her mother stood by her side.   While telling her story I thought back on the many times I would get lost in my head ie talking to myself, dancing in the mirror when I was a kid,  and making up my  own songs my mother nurtured and supported my talents.  Rather than question what I was doing I was enrolled in plays, talent contests etc and she always encouraged myself and my sister to follow our dreams and go after opportunities.  I also witnessed parents put limitations on their kids and how those limitations lead to dreams being crushed and mental weights being forever put on them.   In retrospect I can account my mothers positive reinforcement shaping my living a life with no limits attitude and going after the things I am passionate about pushing self doubt to the side and the many ways I can achieve my goal to the forefront in my thinking.  I can see the creative passion in my daughter rather than imposing limitations I push her to follow her passions and I also instill in her to learn and research as much as she can about what she is passionate about.   Thanks again Liz Mikel for allowing myself and my listeners to hear your story and your passions you spoke to so many things I mentally struggle with from time to time and also motivated me to keep doing what I do.

As I sit here taking a break from working on a song "Song Fancy" featuring former singer of Boy Band US5 and Sony Recording Artist Vince Tomas I sit and think about the power we have to either overcome our challenges or let or challenges and our mindset and negativity destroy any progress and happiness in our life.  I will admit this song by far has been a challenge and it is because of my mindset going into this song in the beginning, I am such a perfectionist that it hinders my works and my creativity…..sometimes it causes me to delay projects..however once I start and it into my zone and I realize everything that caused me to put off the project was all in my head.   In life you have the power and what Iike to touch upon is the power of "You"

• You have the power to let the challenges in your life hold you back or be a motivator to break on through and accept the challenges and face them head on.
• You have the power to let a troubled past be a reason to build a better tomorrow or let it haunt you like a ghost keeping you stuck in a perpetual past.
• You have the power to let other peoples opinion control and dictate your life like a puppet or take it as constructive criticism and develop your own sense of who you are and what you do in life.
• You have the power to decide who you let enter your life whether it be people who support and lift you up or those who tear you down.   You also have the power to decide when it is time to end a friendship or relationship in order for your growth.
• Remember in life a majority of the time it is the "Power of You" which leads to a breakthrough in your life fulfilled with growth and happiness or a life of being stuck in a state of perpetual sadness.
• Remember to never doubt yourself or self worth.  #MyThoughts

As I sit here wrapping up my night I think about my many friends the ones who are living their dreams and the ones who tend to let life pass them by the main ingredient in success and failure is the energy you surround yourself with.  I never understood how people allow other people to set limits on them, my thought process is you know yourself better than anyone knows you so an outside entity could never forecast what you can or cannot do.  My mother once told me to surround myself with people who are at or above my level and when she first told me this I thought it was kind of mean until I grew older and through life experiences it made sense.  The energy you surround yourself with has an affect on you like kinetic energy.  Throughout the years I've learn to let go of negative situations and people, there are some people who love drama, gossip and being stuck in a circle of drama.   Ultimately you cannot change people, they can only change them.   Some people will put their limitations on you because they cannot see your vision or see themselves reaching your goal they impose their limitations on you.  Life is a journey and why not enjoy the process even in a loss there are lessons learned and a victory.  Negative people way you down and can kill dreams.

Putting yourself in stressful situations is just as damaging.  One thing I've learned is certain situations it is better to walk away from than it is to engage it.  There have been plenty of times where a situation steered me from a goal or caused me to put off something I could have easily done at that moment.  My point is life is about growing and part of that growth is nurturing the things you are passionate about when loose or fail.  Enjoy the journey and try to surround yourself with like minded people who support, motivate and encourage your growth.   Well I am going to call it a night.  Thanks for reading.