Never Let Fear Hold You Back

For several years in the late 90's, I realized that I was in a dead-end situation. I wanted so desperately to change my environment, move to a city where homes were affordable, meet people similar to me, upwardly mobile, middle class 30-somethings, and leave the NYC metro area. However, fear, doubt, and disappointment became a weight that deadbolted me to working in a dead-end government job in Child Support and residing in a Bronx high-rise co-op.

Finally, in 2001, with the grace of God, with belief in myself, and with support from my family, I found the strength to step out on faith. I had once heard a woman say, "If it is to be, it is up to me." I sat down and wrote a list of pros and cons for staying and leaving, asked what I had to gain and lose, and realized that I had more to lose by fearing taking a chance on the unknown.

Moving out of my comfort zone in NY was the best decision I ever made. Atlanta has offered a wealth of things to do, new friends and contacts, business opportunities, better weather, lots of parties and fun, and a new beginning. It was the best decision I ever made, and this taught me many more life lessons: Never let fear hold you back.

Welcome to the Sea of Sexiness

OK, so it's finally here. I know some of you have been awaiting this masterpiece for a long time - 6 years to be exact. Well, who knew? Who would have known? I mean, it was "THE ATL", after all, right? The so-called Black Mecca. The happening place to be. "Get in where you fit in." Where all these successful Buppies live, riding around in phat cars, chillin' in nice cribs, and landing these high-paying gigs? Gorgeous men and women everywhere you turn, lots of parties, restaurants, festivals, musicals, live jazz events, concerts, and many other things to do. We have Piedmont Park, Chastain Park, the Fox Theatre, the Roxy, Variety Playhouse, the Civic Center, the World Congress Center, Centennial Park, the 14th Street Playhouse, The Rialto Centre, the High Museum, the Georgia Aquarium, and the countless club scene is sick.

So what happened? So glad you asked. It all started when I stepped into Centennial Park after an impromptu invitation from my next-door neighbor to see India Arie perform on this fateful May afternoon in 2002. The energy was amazing! Diverse crowd of young and old, white and black, rich and poor sat on lawn chairs and blankets, or stood up, dancing to the soulful rhythms of Arie strumming her guitar and belting out her well-written tunes. "Welcome to the ATL!" I thought happily. "This is exactly why I moved down here. This is where it's happening!" My heart and soul were filled with glee.

The afternoon of fun flowed smoothly into an evening of dancing, with a welcome introduction to the Atlanta nightlife. We headed straight to Hairston's Dinnerclub, a Stone Mountain (east side suburban city) landmark, one might say, one of the few (if not only) black owned clubs that, for decades, has stood the test of time. Wow, was all I thought, upon entering. Here we were -- wearing casual capris, tiny tanktops, smelling like sweat after having been baking and dancing in the park for a couple of hours, looking like scrubs that rolled in off the street -- and everyone was decked out in their fashionable attire, men in tailored suits, women in dresses and high-heeled sandals, skin aglow, from, both, deliberately inadequate air conditioning and just good skin care. It was a sea of sexiness. I smelled the liquor, the colognes, the perfumes, felt the stares, the aura, the attitude, saw the ambience, the decor, the fine brothers...

Stay tuned... This gets good. ;-)