[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nEBkMwCizw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1]
Lauryn Hill was 23 when she made this emotional speech after accepting an NAACP award. While watching the video this past week the first thing that came to mind was “although she was at the height of her career, she was on the verge of a meltdown. She was at her breaking point…”. You could tell by the words she used, the look in her eyes…
She emerged in a picture this week with Martha Stewart looking a bit tired, maybe stress but her kids happy and healthy. My first impression was “Lauryn Hill is going through it” but I quickly shot down my assumption because who am I to judge a photo and say what someone is or isn’t going through. For all I know Lauryn Hill is at peace with her decision to leave the music industry. Less pressure to be something that she’s not. More time to spend with people who love her and would love her even if she never sold one record.
A few years back Michelle Williams sang in front of a church. I think it was after Christmas and mid way into her performance, she broke down in tears. She was in the group Destiny’s Child at the time and they were at the height of their success but who knows what she was going through behind the scenes or what was on her conscious.
I say all this to say,people have NO IDEA what people are going through in their life. Alot of people become envious of people’s success without knowing exactly what’s going on behind the scenes and what obstacles that person has to go through and has gone through to get to where they are. Everyday half of these people are trashed and dogged out by blogs, commenters, commentators and the likes. Hell I’m guilty of the trashing because I used to ghost blog for various sites (that shall remain nameless) and left those sites for that particular reason. How can you sleep at night knowing that things that you publish may potentially killed someone’s career or stopped them from eating?
I also used to wonder why celebrities chose to keep their relationships private but when Jay-z stated
It makes more sense than I ever would have realized. Yes I would love to see more examples of love but in this f*cked up world, it’s best to just keep your relationship private. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone…
I almost went through a meltdown before after dealing with something very personal and I had no idea who to call, because a part of my life I try to keep personal. I realize you can’t let everyone know everything and I’m wise enough to know that more than half the people I know wouldn’t f*ck with me if I was under different circumstances. Fortunate for me a friend called to save the day…
All It took was ONE phone call. ONE from someone that cared.
but I’m hearing news today that someone else wasn’t so lucky…
R.I.P Shakir Stewart
“Show me 10 millionaires and I’ll show you 9 unhappy people’ – Russell Simmons
can’t stop thinking about him
🙁
I feel you 100% with this. No one knows what a successful person goes thru. Shit. A unsuccessful person. Many times we get caught up in the hustle and movement of life that we put up this shield, only to have it torn down when we finally sit down and let everything set in. I had friends get me thru some things (as well as a mentor who saved my life) and i’m sure without them things could go another way..
You know, Im happy you posted that clip of Lauryn at the awards. I had that same clip from Youtube posted on my page once because I have always been a Lauryn Hill fan and one of my good friend asked me on my comments, “why do you have a clip of Lauryn Hill on your page and this is what I told her
Oct 2 2008 8:49 AM
I have her acceptance speech on my page because that was the moment she told the world her life was getting ready to change. She was letting us know (her true fans) that God has another purpose for her life! I understand and I dont want her to come back
wow! first of all its powerful your words necole and the words of lauryn. both speak volumes to the peril of many men and women. and not to get preachy cuz i’m far from but i think more than anything she was struggling with deciding to leave the music she loved so much to pursue other things. remember she pulled the britney spears on us and shaved her head and then FF to i believe lenny kravitz when he cut his locks sayin it was bad blood associated with them and he didn’t want that to rule his life anymore. i think it was powerful for her to take a stand like that and share with the world her defining moment.
too often we are afraid that if we reveal something so personal and sacred to us that it can be torn into shreds and made to make us look or feel less than adequate in the eyes of those who may love, envy, respect, honor–whatever us. revelation requires revealing that. and not to say that your wisdom in knowing who to talk to and what to say is wrong. but more than anything, as humans we have to understand that God loved us so much that He didn’t want us to be alone and He wanted us to relate and build relationships with others as part of our journeys on earth. its powerful to reveal yourself because it shows other that you are flawed and you are human, no more powerful than anything. and i honor shawn and bey for keeping it sacred…but they need to resonate like barack and michelle to show our youth that it is possible to do more than just sex each other and have kids randomly at young age. real love is possible and real love is work, trial, and tribulation. but in the sights of God its magnificent and endures all.
keep walkin tall sis! and though i don’t know you I LOVE YOU, no homo and def not on no stalk stalk! sometimes its good to know that another is praying for you even across the boundaries of acquaintance. life’s a b#*)$ and then you blog!