Today is a really cool day for me, for a number of reasons. First, and most importantly, today represents the first step of many that I’m successfully taking “for my demons”. So, what happened exactly, and why for your demons? Here goes:

Today, for my demons, I experienced B*ING. The most obvious substitute for my crafty * is the letter L, for BLING. Yes, I did it. I bought myself a life present! A “big boy” gift of BLING. The Cartier Pasha tank that now sits on my wrist is something that I’ve wanted since I first became In TransIT way back in October 2009. I put a picture of this watch on my bedroom wall because I love it, and knew that I had to have it someday. To me, it’s a life present that very much symbolizes a goal achieved, an old era gone by, and a new one beginning and taking beautiful shape.

The second part of B*ING is the letter E, for BEING. My BLING very much represents an important and hard lesson I’ve had to learn over the last two years in BEING. Back in 2010, someone said to me that I needed to learn how to just “BE”. He said that BLING like my Cartier watch on the wall kept me from BEING, which in effect rendered me a bad and unworthy person in his eyes. Sadly, I’ve really struggled with that statement and concept for the last two years. I internalized what was seen by one set of eyes and assumed that I had no value in all sets of eyes. Even as my self-esteem took a prolonged nosedive, I continued to try and understand - when we are BEING, what are we actually doing?

Sadly, the answer to this question did not fully resonate with me until March 29th, when my paternal grandmother died. Her death, while logically not shocking, really struck me because I believed she was invincible. My grandma Missy was essentially my primary caretaker until I was three years old, as my mother and father were finishing their medical residencies. She in effect was like my mother in my earliest days, and her death broke the bottom of my heart.

As I grieved and prepared the eulogy I delivered at her funeral last week, I also began to celebrate. I ceased grieving a seemingly invincible woman pulled into death by age and circumstance (she was 82). Instead, I celebrated a woman who raised 14 children BY HERSELF, who was the foundation of East Baltimore’s religious community though she never had a license or a car, who received a Master’s degree in Theology at 80 YEARS OLD. I celebrated a woman who had mastered the art of B*ING.

For those who knew my grandmother - and I know there are many, since there were 300 people at her funeral (!!!) - she loved fashion. While never monetarily rich, she was always rich in spirit, love, honesty, and STYLE. She adorned herself with what B(L)ING she could - and looked GOOD! More valuable and lasting, though, was her commitment to B(E)ING. My grandmother Missy was always and undeniably HERSELF. Her spirit will last forever for its unconditional commitment to BEING. She was a woman who was always true to herself and to others - even when they didn’t want her to be!

So, what does a Cartier watch have to do with my grandmother? Actually, a LOT. In her lifetime, her commitment to BEING brought her family up from the aftermath of slavery and abject poverty to a place where her 26 year old grandson can buy Cartier. That is TRULY a miracle, a blessing, and such a testament to what her unwavering spirit has done for me - and my entire family.

They also matter and are related because her death was my first real and heavy reminder that we are only temporary visitors on this Earth. It finally hit me, by reflecting on my grandmother’s life, what BEING actually means, and what we do when we are BEING.

While we are here, we have no choice but to master just that - BEING. If a part of BEING is having BLING, then DO IT. Work hard. Pursue dreams. Explore. Travel. Live. Love. But most important of them all - BE. Be true to your gifts that are unique to you. Share them. Cultivate them. Be true to your spirit that is occupying your body for this earthly journey, because, if you’re not - then what really is the purpose of B*ING?

I’m sure I’m incredibly behind the ball, but last weekend I finally had the chance to stream “Never Say Never” on Netflix. The documentary that goes inside the life and success of Justin Bieber, and how Scooter Braun leveraged the young popster’s YouTube clout to build a global megabrand. The story is obviously impressive, but what struck me most was an exchange Justin had with his vocal coach. Paraphrased, it went something like this:

Justin: “Sometimes I just wish I had a normal life!”

Coach: “This IS your new normal. Get used to it.”

What a powerful statement! I love it, because normal is ENTIRELY relative. It is up to us to decide what our “normal” will be - and to then live it. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, as I’ve embarked on a New Normal of my own. My new normal includes waking up at the crack of dawn to exercise, balancing an exciting but very new workload in addition to new music I’m currently recording, and learning to better respect my mind, my body, and the resources given to me.

I’ll tell you now. It’s exhausting. And, like the exhaustion Justin expressed, I feel it, and want to express it! When I look at the work I still have to do to continue to grow and develop to who I want to be, who I know and decided I am, I can often grow frustrated, impatient - and terribly sad.

I’ve been learning how to sit with my sadness, though. To feel it, to understand it, and then to remind it of my commitment to my New Normal. My New Normal works through sadness. It acts in accordance with feels right to its Inner Voice. My New Normal has discipline, courage, and if need be - is comfortable standing alone and fighting for the light I know has been bestowed on me to share.

So this weekend as you enjoy the Super Bowl, take a minute to think about what a New Normal may look like to you, and then commit to fight for it.

IN TransIT,

Glenton
www.facebook.com/glentondavis
www.soulpopu.org

Over the past few weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about the pivotal moment in time in which we live. We live in the crux of what many call a New Economy, a changing of the guard from established traditions to a nascent frontier of possibility, challenge, and opportunity. Whether it be the controversy surrounding SOPA and PIPA, the heated anticipation with which we go into an election year, or digesting the massive amount of information hitting the waves on personal branding and the future of employment trends, the world is fundamentally changing.

In many ways, I feel similar changes in my own life. Right now, everything is very new. I am beginning new opportunities in my work life, enjoying new personal beginnings, and am learning to celebrate my new voice which has emerged from much of the old confusion and introspection that had become my norm for the last 18 months. And I have to tell you - as excited and THANKFUL I am for all of the new, wonderful beginnings in my life, I am also nervous, maybe even a bit scared.

Questions flood my mind like “Am I ready for these new beginnings? Can I handle the challenges that come with opportunity?” These questions seem to be the common thread that tie the New to the Old, and often hold it down. It is my firm belief, though, that until we learn to cut those ties, we will continue to be tested. I recently experienced such a test and finally confirmed that the cord has been cut. There is no returning to the Old. It is time to step into the New.

With such commitment comes a new strength, a new sense of peace and resolve, that I have rarely felt before. It is one that is born from within instead of being validated externally. It is one that can confidently learn from the Old, accept it, and use those lessons to better adapt to and benefit from the New. So, I say - the time is now. In with the New!

IN TransIT,

Glenton
www.facebook.com/glentondavis
www.soulpopu.org

It’s been a pretty busy - even tumultuous - week in my life, and after drinking a grande black coffee from Starbucks at 10pm, I cannot sleep (no surprise, here). I’m also late to the game learning about the truly heartbreaking tragedy of Jamey Rodemeyer. To me, it conjures up so much heartache, so much anger, I found it hard to breathe. Why do we tolerate such hate? Why do we allow fear to fester and ripen into such darkness? It is my true belief that fear is at the root of so much evil, so much destruction and waste. All I can ask myself as I reflect on the suffering of this poor child is - WHY?

Tonight, though, I was reminded of WHY it is so important to be brave and stand up for your passion, what you believe in, and for the uplifting of others. Jamey was such a strong boy. In the face of fear, insecurity, and hatred - he persisted. It breaks my heart, though, that this evil broke his. It broke his spirit. And now he is gone.

I am 26 years old and struggle with finding my bravery almost every hour of every day. I could only begin to imagine the fight inside of this 14 year old boy. The only thing that comes to my mind is SHUT OUT THE NOISE. SHUT OUT THE NOISE. It is crucial that we all learn to create our OWN.

My critics (of which there are many) say that this is selfish. That it’s greedy. That it’s self-absorbed and egocentric. Even narcissistic. After 17 months of believing such ignorance I adamantly disagree. The creation of one’s own noise is self-love at its healthiest, and there is NOTHING narcissistic, self-absorbed, or selfish about that. It is the acceptance of our intrinsic light, and only through sharing it can we create more light. Shame on the people who use their fear as a platform to tear others down. SHAME ON THEM.

To everyone else: Be Brave. Shut Out the Noise, and Create Your Own.

This weekend got me thinking about lots of things, the most important being the importance of keeping dreams alive. And I mean ALL dreams. Whether it be to achieve a certain goal, become an even better version of ourselves, to start a family, or even a new workout routine, it is so SO important that those visions and goals and dreams stay ALIVE!

Yet - how does one totally ensure that? I for one am still learning, one day at a time. The last fifteen months of my life have centered in excruciating agony and detail around this very question. How do I make all of my dreams - as I see them today - a reality? How do I keep myself open to how these dreams may evolve in the process?

All I can think of now is that pursuing any dream is a GRIND. It takes consistency and patience - two virtues that do not come easily to someone like me! I’m finally learning for myself - in a natural, spiritually encouraging way, that it’s OK to take the time to find your grind. But once you find it, STAY ON IT. Every so often, a grind must be re-aligned, re-calibrated, or even re-designed, but once done STAY ON.

To help me stay on my new grind, I am recommitting to a task that serves personalities like mine well. It is the task of ‘5’. Each day, challenge yourself to do 5…yes, 5! specific tasks directed towards the achievement of any goal that you set for yourself.

Life is a grind. Get on it and do your ‘5’. This will keep your dreams alive.

IN TransIT,

Glenton
www.glentonmusic.com
www.soulpopu.org

We can all attest that Michelle Obama is a strong and inspirational woman, a true role model for our young girls and our communities. Her history and her presence command and teach. Little did I know that I had so much to learn about Michelle Obama, until she appeared in one of my dreams last week.

The dream (what I can remember of it) went as follows: I was in Denver with my family, in what seemed to be a hybrid church/airport/meeting facility. We were there to literally just watch the Obamas arrive. After their arrival, I sat down with my family and out of nowhere, I heard someone call my name. I looked to my right, and, lo and behold - it was Michelle Obama!

Of course, I was stunned. Thrilled. Frightened. Excited. But mostly stunned. As I approached, I heard her say “Hi Glenton. It’s nice to meet you. I’ve read about the work that you do with Soul Pop U”. Almost immediately (still in the dream), I burst into tears.

These weren’t just any ol’ tears either. I was WAILING. Wailing with a sadness I can painfully recollect even in my conscious state. Likely in an effort to save herself the embarrassment of my emotional breakdown, she escorted me outside, where the scene changed.

We were now on the National Mall in Washington DC. It was there - in our formal wear - that we went for a pretty long walk. During it, I recounted all of the struggles, hurts, pain, disappointment, shame, and guilt I’ve experienced and felt over the last 14 months. It was EXCRUTIATING. It was DEBILITATING to try and rationalize to the First Lady why I couldn’t go on “as if”. She was very supportive, reassuring, and warm - and with a smile said “But honey, you have to”…

And with that, we were back in Denver. Mrs. Obama made room for me in her motorcade, and we were off for an incredible gala where I danced, dined, and laughed. And felt COMPLETE.

It was also around this time when the dream abruptly ended. My doorman was calling to see about letting in the handyman to fix my stove. Talk about a way to wake up…

Though entirely random, this dream has stuck with me because, through it all - no matter how rough, hot tough, how absolutely demoralizing - we must always act and work AS IF. We must love AS IF. We must live AS IF.

Because, who knows - one day AS IF will turn into IT IS.

IN TransIT,

Glenton
www.glentonmusic.com
www.soulpopu.org

I’m sitting in a Starbucks in downtown Manhattan, having just finished packing the first two boxes of books, office supplies, and memories from my current apartment. I’m moving to a new home on Sunday, and on that day my transition to a new life will come to fruition. Tonight, as I write, I think I can say that I am mostly happy. I haven’t been “mostly happy” in so long - almost a year.

It was a year ago today that the first of a series of heartbreaking events came into my life which introduced me to my Demons. I learned a debilitating lesson from all of my Demons on what it means to have backbone. I learned what it means to face fear, face shame, square in the face and say “Hello. I’m Glenton. I know you are one of my Demons. So, what are we to do, today?”

I was talking to a friend about this the other day. She told me that she wasn’t raised to cry, she wasn’t raised to face her Demons. And, to be honest, neither was I. Over the last year, I’ve spent months in meditation, in prayer, in therapy, trying to understand what I’m to do as ME, Glenton William Davis, Jr., now that I’ve been introduced to my Demons - and reduced by them to nothing. I honestly hit rock bottom, and only through having Faith, and knowing that something Divine must exist in me - as It does in all things - was I able to survive. I thank God, the Universe, the Laws of this Place, everyday that I am HERE, now, stronger than I was one year ago today, or even yesterday.

Over the weekend I had my first studio session in over six months. To describe my feelings as GREAT would be an understatement. I felt my essence, my inner self, surface for the first time since “Are You Ready” was released on 4/22/2010, and since 1 Year Ago today. So, it gives me great pleasure to say that WE ARE BOUNCING BACK, that my next single is on its way to all of you, and I am so excited, so happy, and so blessed to share with you what I love - and that love is to SING.

It also excites me to share that I’ve been in the studio with my longtime business partner, collaborator, and friend Jeffrey Germain, working on my debut LP. The record is tentatively titled “For My Demons” - and for good reason. It’s a record dedicated entirely to every symbol and manifestation of fear and shame that I had the agonizing pleasure to meet one-on-one, and often all at once, over the last year. I met my Demons in the following fears:

Fear of Abandonment
Fear of Personal Rejection
Fear of a Broken Heart
Fear of Poverty
Fear of Worthlessness
Fear of Failure
Fear of Success
Fear of Narcissism
Fear of “The Right Thing”
Fear of “The Wrong Thing”
Fear of Potential
Fear of Burnout
Fear of Death
Fear of Apathy
Fear of Self

I’ve also met, spoken to, gotten to know, have gone to bed with and awaken to the shame that I felt and internalized from:

Abandonment
Rejection
Going Broke
Total Loss
Privilege
Being Black
Being Smart
Being Humbled
Burnout
Losing Faith
Losing Control
Wanting Death
Fearing Death
Acceptance

It is with acceptance that I celebrate my Demons today. I celebrate that I’ve met them, I know who they are, and I now know how to deal with them. I know how to speak with them. Like a teacher learns to coach her students or a father learns to guide his child, I have been blessed with the rare opportunity to be the conductor of my Demon Orchestra. I am in charge of them now, and not the other way around.

When I play “Devil’s Advocate” with myself, I wonder how empowering it will be to readily acknowledge and give credence to so much perceived negativity. I think to a maxim (paraphrased) I read the other day: The wise forgive, but they never forget. Today, Demons, I forgive you. Today, I forgive myself for not always being strong enough to lead you. Today, I know you - and I will never forget you, lest you cry out for help again like you have done over the last year.

In getting to know you, my Demons, and to LOVE you, I have also learned the beginnings of what I know will be a lifelong lesson - offered in Lauryn Hill’s 1998 title track “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”:

Deep in my heart
The answer, it was in me
And I’ve made of my mind
To define my own destiny

To My Demons, Happy Anniversary.

In TransIT,

Glenton

www.soulpopu.org
www.glentonmusic.com
www.facebook.com/glentondavis

Today was a great day, including doing my first press interview for Soul Pop U in over a month. I’m excited that the organization’s story will be shared in a book that will be released to the market in Spring 2012!

I also learned the value of truly being done with the past today. I started my morning with a horrible attitude. On my way to my weekly Inten.Sati class (www.satilife.com), I had a cab driver who took me the long way to the gym, costing me almost twice the fare it should, and I encountered a rude woman at the entrance to the gym where I work out. I was ready to lash out - and it wasn’t even 6:30AM.

An affirmation we recited this morning was “I’m done with the past; I know it’s gonna last!” And I couldn’t help but be inspired and comforted by it. The last year has been trials, tests, and heartbreak - but it has also been one of great restoration, or great blessing. I would not be in a position to watch Soul Pop U mature and empower young people all over the country had we not traveled through this “past”. So, though I’m grateful for it - as I’m learning to accept that all things do happen for a reason - I’m DONE with it. I’m so thankful for today, and keeping it this way. I’m so excited to share with you tomorrow what we’re cultivating - as we speak!

IN TransIT,

Glenton
www.glentonmusic.com
www.soulpopu.org

I write to you from my mother’s house, of all places. I’m in suburban Maryland after a whirlwind of a day - most of it unpredicted - which saw me wake up late in New York, forget the things that I needed for a business trip THREE times, run through a rain storm to make a bus to Philadelphia, and cancel my evening and Friday morning plans to end up in suburban Maryland with my sister for the night. If I had only known at 7AM that all of this would have happened, I would have worn my running shoes…and packed Advil.

But, if I take a step back and look a bit deeper at my day, so many blessings were revealed that, to me, must have always lain beneath the “insanity”. For starters, Soul Pop U had a WONDERFUL day at Communications Tech HS working with its 11th graders. I continue to be inspired by the dreams of our young people. I am encouraged by their willingness to confront and overcome obstacles like youth violence, achievement, and self-doubt. I am brought to life when I hear them say “Yes! I’m AWESOME!”

I also got the chance to spend some quality time with my sister in suburban Maryland, and celebrate her acceptance into Columbia University for a pre-med post bac program! I am thrilled for her, and this great news is well deserved after four years of working so tenaciously at the University of Pennsylvania. The good news came after a day in which I was so proud of my family for the way in which we came together to support her, and to support each other. That’s the greatest blessing of family, is it not?

When I look around me, it has been a long road - one that I continue to travel every second of every day. But what a great road. For all of the perceived pain and anguish, I have to remind myself to look beneath at the blessings waiting to shine their light before me. Today was one of those days. And I am so thankful.

In TransIT,

Glenton
www.glentonmusic.com
www.soulpopu.org

All I can say is WOW. I feel like I’ve been reborn tonight. For the last ten months, I have been asleep, completely subjugated by a toxicity that I’ve allowed to consume me. I’ve written more about it in my now reinstated newsletter “Tracking Down Diddy,” but I want to say THANK YOU here. The lessons I’ve learned over the last ten months have been so difficult. I’ve broken myself down, built myself up, only to break down again and realize that it is I who must sweep up the pieces and say NO to my naysayers. I must say “This is who I am, and I will not be shamed”. I must say “This is what I love, and not for me or any personal gain, but for the love that it creates”.

This “it” is Soul Pop U. For over a year, I’ve been afraid of it. I now have my wake-up call, and I can no longer be afraid.

In TransIT,

Glenton
www.glentonmusic.com
www.soulpopu.org