Christina Morelli

The Best Advice Comes When You Least Expect It.

I haven’t posted much since I returned home from Costa Rica because I’ve been busy putting many plans and goals into action.  It all sounds so ambitious and motivational, doesn’t it?  Truth be told, it’s incredibly frustrating at times.  When you are involved in the arts industry on any level, you are constantly faced with adversity, conflict, and roadblocks that are not only out of your control, but sometimes downright hindering to your personal and professional growth.  

My goal this week was to attack the city head on with networking and getting my work out into the right hands.  Then Mother Nature stepped in, and as a result I’ve been confined to nothing but a computer and a shitload of time to think.  Needing a break from all the projects I’ve undertaken, I opened up a magazine for a few minutes today.  Strangely enough, I started at the back page, something I find myself doing quite often… maybe it’s cliche but even print media seems to save the best for last.  To my surprise I discovered an article written by Oprah Winfrey discussing friend and recording artist India.Arie’s recent struggle with the music industry.  I wanted to share what I read, because although they aren’t my own words, they spoke to me in a way I know they will speak to any artist who’s experienced even the slightest frustration.

This is an excerpt of the letter India wrote to Oprah:

“I took your advice to heart.  After last year hurt bad enough, I chose- you said ‘the universe will rise up to meet you wherever you are,’ so I just decided to be me.

Singing in different languages and working with people from different cultures was how I envisioned my career.  But in the quest for ‘success,’ to make a hit so that I could own myself and then be free, I’d gone so far off the path of my own vision, I didn’t even know what that was anymore.

I thought the music business had usurped my power, but really, I gave my power away- to other people and to anything I thought would make my life easier.

Since October I’ve been rebuilding.  I prayed my power back into my body.  And in March I started just making the music I love, following the guidance of spirit to a tee.  I didn’t censor or second-guess.  I listened to spirit and wrote those exact words.

I was always told not to get too preachy or esoteric or spiritual.  And while I’ve never said anything I didn’t want to say I’ve never said some of the the most important things I do want to say.  About acceptance versus tolerance, and the oneness of all people… but now I have. 

I’ve been making my own choices, speaking my truth the the people around me, letting myself be apart of world again.  (Stevie Wonder and Cecily Tyson both told me I needed to break the shell, and they used the same exact words.  I know what they mean now.)

I finally reached the fork in the road, and I chose the path of authenticity.  I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I feel good!”

And so I leave you with the final words of the article, which stood out most of all:

“Life is an open door to all that is possible.  And that’s a powerful thing.” ~Oprah Winfrey

Marilyn Monroe

The best and worst thing about writing is that words last forever.  Once they are documented, you can’t take them back.  In many ways, I’m grateful for that, for we have found hope, inspiration and laughter in the words that those who learned before us left behind.  I stumbled across a Marilyn Monroe quote the other day, and thought to myself how strongly it hit me.  As I read further, I discovered a slew of quotes from this woman, an icon and a legend, both famous and infamous.  I wanted a share a few… 

“I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.” 

“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” 

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” 

“A wise girl kisses but doesn’t love, listens but doesn’t believe, and leaves before she is left.” 

“It’s better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone.” 

“I’ve never fooled anyone. I’ve let people fool themselves. They didn’t bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent a character for me. I wouldn’t argue with them. They were obviously loving somebody I wasn’t.” 

And the most understated of them all…

“I restore myself when I’m alone.”