Who? I'm Shalonda. Most people call me Shani. My mom calls me "boo boo" and I most commonly refer to people I know as "honeybear".
What do you do? I'm a singer. writer. dreamer. creator. creative. I craft words and melodies. I recently released a collection of re-imagined jazz standards called "Just Go." I'm a freelance music video producer, a part of a collective called thebangpop and a serial advice-giver.
What inspires you? I'm inspired by unconditional LOVE. By the idea (fact) that GOD loves us when we don't have sense enough to love and appreciate ourselves. Other sources of inspiration include: LIVE music, jazz, really old people, Nina Simone's musical courage and freedom, angora rabbits, documentaries about artists, the woman my grandmother was, the woman my mother IS, amazing food, remembering all the things GOD has brought me through, discovering new music, personal stories, highly creative and imaginative people and trees — to name a few.
Why are you fly? I look for GOD everywhere and I work tirelessly at refusing to submit my will to a lesser self.
Advice:
1) Trust GOD.
2) Learn your worth. Decide that you are worthy — the earlier, the better. You're worthy of healthy relationships and of great things happening in your life. You deserve the very best. It sounds like such a generic thing to say, but it's absolutely true.
3) Support and encourage other young women. No one can steal what belongs to you.
4) Take responsibility for the role you play(ed) in every bit of everything happening in your life.
5) You attract that which you are. If you want something (someone) different, BE it first.
