Conversations Magazine Feature: Queen Afua

"There is a cosmic conversion going on within you, but you have to be quiet to hear this sweet language of the unspoken." ~ Queen Afua

                               (Queen Afua seen here with her sons Supanova Slom & Ali Torain)

by Cyrus Webb

She is the Monarch of the First Family of Holistic Health, and encouraging the world to take care of themselves beginning from the inside out. The lovely and unstoppable force that is Queen Afua has been my guest on Conversations LIVE twice now (along with her sons Supanova Slom and Ali Torain), and each time she left me feeling hopeful about the future and determined in my mission.

As an internationally renowned best-selling author, holistic wellness entrepreneur and highly sought after natural health practitioner, it has been Queen Afua's aim to show people a better way of eating and living. Though a great deal of her work has dealt with women, she has set an example for her sons and men around the world when it comes to the importance of taking care of your body and watching what you consume physically, emotionally and spiritually.
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With over 40 years of experience Queen Afua has built a Wellness Empire along with her sons that includes the following: The Global City of Wellness Institute, The Phenomenal Woman of Wellness School and The Heal Thyself School and her signature Heal Thyself and Sacred Spirit product line. Because she has a unique way of connecting with individuals she has been able to utilized technology to provide coaching and wellness information as well as travel from state to state and beyond sharing her mission with the masses.

Queen Afua is living proof that when you take care of your temple it shows others what is possible for them as well. That example has been passed on to her sons and because of her tireless efforts the rest of us are recipients of her gifts.

For more information visit www.queenafua.com and www.facebook.com/queenafuawellnessinstitute.

TO YOU, FROM ME: Celebrating the Gift of the Woman

"And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh: She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.'" Gen. 2:23 NKJV

Having been raised primarily by my mother and grandmother I learned early in life that women play a vital role in the world that we live in. Through those two women and others that I have had the privilege to know over the years, I have seen that we have to work together to achieve anything worthwhile. Sadly, this is a fact that is lost on some, causing a distorted view of the woman to emerge in entertainment and in the way they are talked about and considered.

Using the platform of Conversations Magazine I wanted to shine a light on women of all ages and backgrounds that are doing amazing things, thus 25 Women Changing the World was born. You'll find fascinating profiles of women I have had the pleasure of interviewing over the years as well as some who have impacted me from afar. My hope is that you will not just read their stories but look for amazing examples in your own life of women who are making a difference.

As the scripture above indicated, the woman was created as a gift to man and the world. That is the way she should always feel: appreciated, valued and loved. To do otherwise is to show a disrespect for who she is and why she was put on the earth.

Have a special lady you want to share with our readers? I would love to hear about her! Email me at cawebb4@juno.com.

Until next time, happy reading!




Cyrus Webb, Editor-In-Chief
Conversations Magazine


*     Conversations Magazine's Editor-In-Chief seen here with his grandmother Quattie Webb

Leeza Gibbons: Changing the World by Embracing the Power of Now

by Cyrus Webb

Over the years one of the greatest blessings I have received in my life is receiving the gift of today. It allows me to remember that although yesterday wasn't perfect my life is not over as long as I have breath in my body. Though it poses a great opportunity, what a waste it would be to use it repeating the mistakes and choices that we have already made.

One of the books that I read last year that really brought this point home was TAKE 2 by pop-culture icon Leeza Gibbons. Known for her contagious optimism and skills as a media personality, the book takes you into the makings of the woman she is today and allows the reader to see how where they are right now doesn't have to determine where they go.

It was my pleasure to have a conversation with her not just about the book but her own lessons learned along her incredible journey.

What has been the secret to her success? "I think in life we get exactly what we are willing to put up with," she told me. "If you don't respect yourself, then you can't expect anyone else to honor who you want to be in the world. We teach people how to treat us. You have to value who you are."

To this point she says in Take 2, "Surviving and even thriving through change depends on your ability to search out the good and work with what you have. How well you do that depends on how you view shifts in your life. (p.23)"

This reminds us that anything worth having is going to require some" work on our part. "Whether you are trying to recreate your life or invent a new product you have to drop the dread and you have to banish the blame," says Leeza. In the book she refers to it as a form of rebooting. "That's the biggest option we have," she told me. "It comes down to thinking." She gave examples of individuals who were all great at their professions. "The one thing they all have in common is they know how to think. When you change the way you think everything else in your life will adapt."

What Leeza shared reminded me of what she wrote in Take 2 in the chapter Ask Yourself: Are You Worth It? The section was called "Who Do You Think You Are?, and she began it with this profound statement: "How we see ourselves is exactly who we'll become." This has a great deal to do with the story we tell ourselves about ourselves.

"You do have to have a real sense of who you are and a real foundation," Leeza said to me. "You have to run your own race and don't worry about what others are doing." She then shared something that I hadn't thought about before, having a mission statement for your life. "Take some time to really write down what you want and who you are," she urged. "We do it in business, and we should do the same for ourselves." Our mission statement should include how you interact with the world and how you want the world to see you. By doing this Leeza says we will then know who you are and where your lines in the sand are."

It's obvious that someone like Leeza is setting an example for men and women alike when it comes to the course she is on. I asked her what it was like to know that she was an inspiration to others. "I think that when we are of service then we really do feel productive and proud," she answered. It was then that she shared that she went back and forth about writing Take 2 and if she really had something to say that others would be able to glean from. "I finally got to the place where I said how I am received is not my work. My work is to embrace it and put it out there." It is that realization that has not just made the book a reality but put its message out in the world for others to take in.

Writing Take 2 wasn't about saying everything for her was perfect. It was more about showing a path and focusing on a way to a better way of looking at life. "Where we put our intention and attention is where things go," Leeza says. "Where focus goes energy flows." This is important to keep in mind even when we make mistakes. "If you never fail then you're not taking enough risks in your life. All successes are built on failures." Leeza says we cheat ourselves by not starting anything simply because of the fear of failure. For her it is better to try and fail and then build on that failure moving forward.

A great deal of what has helped Leeza in moving forward is the realization that she is not the source of all the answers. In the chapter Let Your Spirit Soar she discusses prayer and it's role in her life. "Anytime I need to feel connection and to recognize that there a greater power at play in my life, I pray. Often I ask for strength and wisdom and to have an open mind to recognize God's messages to me. I think so often we pray for something, but we don't like the response, so we deny it. I pray that I will accept the reply and recognize that no is an answer, too. (p.174)"

"Perspective is a beautiful thing," Leeza said as we wrapped up our time together. "It's about learning to be in gracious acceptance. Real strength comes from knowing your limits.  Be quiet and allow answers to come in." This definitely requires a bit of faith on our part. "We can only know so much," she says. "People who are happy don't see the top of the staircase, but they keep climbing anyway."

As Leeza relays in the book "This is your moment... Don't wait for some far-off time when the alarm will ring and you'll suddenly know to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight." All of us can begin walking towards that spotlight right now. It all begins with the choice to do so.

TAKE 2 is available right now in print,electronic form and as a audiobook on Amazon. You can stay in touch with Leeza at her website www.leezagibbons.com and through social media at www.facebook.com/officialleezagibbons and www.twitter.com/leezagibbons.

Conversations Magazine Feature: Author Kelly Stone

by Cyrus Webb

The path of Mississippi native Kelly Stone is one that men and women can both appreciate and learn from.

At the end of 2013 she published her first book I DANCE FOR YOU, and already the love story that encourages the readers along with the characters to follow their dreams is resonating with readers around the country.

Conversations Book Club was excited to host Kelly's first book signing in Pearl, MS in early March of this year---and event that thanks to her family, friends and eager readers was a sold-out event!

I asked Kelly in her first radio interview was the experience has been like. "It's been exciting," she told me with a smile in her voice. "It's a scary process, because it puts it out there," but the fact that people are reading words that she wrote is a dream come true for her."

Having known Kelly for most of her life it was just last year that l learned she had an interest in writing. I asked her when she first discovered the gift within herself. "When I was in 5th grade my grandmother noticed I liked to write poetry," she explained. From there she went to writing things for church and different events. "I thought it was just something fun to do." Growing up reading a lot, Kelly says she looked for books that would resonate with her and things that she felt. When she couldn't find that kind of book she decided that she could write it herself.

When it comes to the message of I DANCE FOR YOU her mission was a simple one. "The direction that I wanted the story to go in was one that people could relate to whether they came from the South or whether they come from New York. It doesn't matter where you come from. Everybody has situations that they deal with in life and everybody has a path they have to go on. It's up to you to decide. You have that choice to find your own path, find your destiny. I wanted people to see that whatever you want to do in life you can do it."

With being in the public it's easy to be swayed by what others expect from you. I asked Kelly how important it was for her to stay true to her own beliefs. "It's very important to be yourself as you write, because a reader can tell if you're sincere," she explained. One of her biggest fears in the beginning was letting her mother read the book. She wasn't sure how she would react. Thankfully, she got the encouragement she needed. "Sharing with my mom gave her the courage to share with the world," she says. "I was able to say 'This is who I am. This is how I write. It's okay to be yourself.' "

Kelly also received encouragement from her older sister. "I set out to inspire people, but I didn't have the confidence that I needed," she revealed to me in the conversation. Her sister pushed her and planted the seed that people would want to read her story. "I started to believe it myself," she says.

Though it is a love story that deals with issues of race, acceptance and the power of the dream, I DANCE FOR YOU is all of our story in some way. "We all have problems," Kelly says. "We all are dealing with different issues."

She hopes the courage that the characters and even she has found will resonate with anyone who wonders if they can achieve their own dreams. "When you have a dream it initially seems impossible, because it's so far off," Kelly admits. "It's important for us to realize it's not impossible. You have a choice to work towards that dream. You have to be the person that decides this is my dream, and this is what I want to do and I'm going to see it through from beginning to end. A dream can come true."

I DANCE FOR YOU is available on Amazon in both print and electronic forms. Stay in touch with Kelly at www.facebook.com/authorkellystone and www.twitter.com/authorkstone.

CONVERSATIONS PROFILE: Towanda Braxton

by Cyrus Webb

Her family has been in the public eye for years, but one thing about Towanda Braxton: what you see is what you get.

She is a multi-talented individual who has not just relied on her beauty to make it in the world. She is a real talent that can sing, run a business and still keep it real as millions are able to see on Braxton Family Values.

It was my pleasure to speak with her about not just her journey in the entertainment industry, her venture called The Secret Squirrel and her remaining true to herself.

TOWANDA ON THE SECRET SQUIRREL:
"I came in [this business] as an artist first, and then I became an assistant. Through The Secret Squirrel I ask those who want to be personal assistants to answer this question: 'How would I want my assistant to treat me?'

"You want to be indispensable. You want it to be difficult for them to replace you.If you are going to do treat people the way you want to be treated you're going to do a great job."

TOWANDA ON PERSONAL GREATNESS:
"I'm still on that journey. I don't think I will ever reach that plateau because I'm a perfectionist. It makes me want to strive to do better all the time."

TOWANDA ON REALITY TV AND BRAXTON FAMILY VALUES:
Our family made a pact that if we were going to do it [a reality show] then we were going to be 100% real. No sense in doing it if it wasn't real. That is what people get from the show: the realness."

TOWANDA ON SUCCESS:
"If I can help somebody then I am doing my job. Everybody has hiccups along the way to be the person who they are and who they were meant to be. The things that I have gone through in life have made me stronger."

TOWANDA ON LIFE, FAMILY AND PURPOSE:
"What keeps me going is my children. They keep me grounded and laughing.

"Enough is just not enough for me. I always strive to be better than I am. When it comes to The Secret Squirrel I don't like interviewing people who know it all. Everybody should learn something new everyday.

"I think I have many purposes: my business, acting, etc. I meet people all of the time who change my life. It doesn't matter how old they are."

TOWANDA ADVICE FOR OTHERS:
"A person should find their niche and stick with it. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do. You can't live for everybody. You have to live for you. Ask yourself this question: Are you making yourself happy today?"

To stay updated on everything going on with Towanda Braxton and her brand visit www.towandabraxton.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/towandabraxton and "Like" her Facebook page.

*   Photo provided courtesy of Towanda Braxton

Recording Artist Johnny Gill: After 16 Years, Still Winning

by Cyrus Webb

It had been 16 years since recording artist Johnny Gill released an album. Many have gotten to know him for his hit singles like "My, My, My","Rub You the Right Way" and "Where Do We Go from Here" (with Stacy Lattisaw) as well as his involvement with the popular groups New Edition and LSG, however, there seems to be no substitute for the man himself.

Well, with the new project STILL WINNING the wait for Johnny Gill fans is over. Giving music lovers his heart in each and every track, he is letting it be known that he's not done yet---and there is much more to come.

The single JUST THE WAY YOU ARE conjures up all of the reasons why Johnny Gill fans can't get enough of his voice and the message he sings about, and it is that loyalty that keeps him moving forward. In our conversation I had a chance to ask about his journey in music, the lessons and what he has to say to his fans.

"I have been blessed with a gift from God that is magical. You can't design it," Johnny said to me. "I think about my career and how my music has touched people. It is beyond a miracle and a blessing. To have people to connect with you is a gift."

Like many other soulful singers before him Johnny Gill began singing in the church and blossomed from there. He believes the main reason he is still able to do what he loves is because he understands the importance of staying consistent. "I stay true to me and my music," he says. "If you look at my body of work you'll see that I'm open to trying new things. At the end of the day my biggest goal is to always stay focused and be careful that I don't lose who I am. I set out to make great music, songs I can identify with and connect with and do it justice." Remaining true has given him the confidence to say that in spite of it all, he has put his heart and soul into each and every project. "I have something to hold my head up about and be proud," he says. That comes from walking in his musical truth. 

His beginnings were not so full of pride. Johnny relayed to me how when he first started in the business at the age of 15 he was not always the best of himself. "There was no blueprint about how you are supposed to be and act," he told me. "All the things you have to learn growing up in this business---the ups and downs that come with it---now make me blessed that I have my fans there for support." He understands that it is all a process, a machine that brings it all to life. The process that gets his music to the masses is something he feels more connected with, and he knows it's important not to take any of it lightly. 

To his fans, Johnny says this: "Thank you. Know that I don't take you or my success for granted. I couldn't have done this without you. "

Johnny Gill's music is available through online retailers like itunes and Amazon.com. Stay in contact with him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/realjohnnygill. His website is currently under construction but you can find it at www.johnnygill.com. 

Ricky Whittle: Finding Success By Being True to Himself

by Cyrus Webb

We have all heard the saying "To thine own self be true." For many that might not resonate, but for Ricky Whittle there could not be a truer saying that explains the success he has been able to have.

Many in the United States have gotten to know him from his role as Charles on VH1's hit show SINGLE LADIES, but the U.K.-born model and actor had already made a name for himself on shows like Dream Team and Hollyoaks and now he is ready to conquer the world.

"It's always a pleasure and an honor to be doing something that you love," Whittle told me during our conversation. When I mentioned his growing fan base through through SINGLE LADIES he told me he saw it as an amazing opportunity. "For starters it's fantastic. For them (the fans) to appreciate it is a job well done for me. " He says that his start in the states is "a great start" for him in expanding his based. "It's onward and upward from here."

The internet has been a large part of how the word has spread about this talented actor. Whittle says it's taken some getting used to, but he is adapting to how people are getting their information about him. "The world is ever changing," he says. "It really is becoming a technological place. It can be scary, but I am enjoying the opportunity to have that instant connection with my fans. That part is fantastic. I definitely like to reach out."

As much as Ricky Whittle loves what he does, acting and modeling weren't his first choices for a career, but it quickly became the only thing he wanted to do. "I didn't know until I stepped on the set of the show the Dream Team that this is what I wanted to do. I fell into acting. I wanted to be a soccer player, but being on that show changed everything. I learned from the director, cameraman, everyone I could. I am still learning. One of the best lessons came from Terence Maynard. He told me 'Don't act it just feel it. Don't try to act it because that is when it is going to look fake' That is by far the best advice I got,  and I never looked back. Now I honestly can't see myself doing anything else. I'm like Peter Pan. I get to play make believe for a living."

Though he has been fortunate, Whittle realizes that the business is not all glitz and glamour. "Some just see an easy way in or a quick buck," he says. "It's a very competitive and aggressive industry. You have to be patient and understanding. You're not going to get the chance to be seen in a lot of jobs. You have to never give up and believe in yourself, following your heart's desire."

His belief for all of is that the key to finding success is being the best form of who you can be. "You shouldn't try to imitate anyone else," he says. "Just be you. Don't be disheartened. If you're not being true to yourself you might miss out on your opportunity. Stay faithful to yourself and what you want. What's meant to be will be."

Stay in contact with Ricky Whittle on his website at www.rickywhittle.com and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mrrickywhittle.

Photo Credit: JAIPHOTO