THROWBACK THURSDAY: TINA TURNER TEACHES US SELF LOVE IS EVERYTHING

Yesterday I was stuck on what exactly to express in my weekly "What We Cam Learn From" edition.  It was going to be centered on ESPN' anchor Steven A. Smith,  and the controversy around his comments of domestic violence and "provocation" initiated by women, but my spirit wasn't ready yet. Today, I thought,  which woman would I honor in Throwback Thursday? I had no idea, but this morning I listened to a sermon on "Knowing Who You Are."

The importance of identity, purpose and the confidence in both is of the highest manifestation in self love. When you know what God has made you to be; when you know who you are as a spiritual BEing of purpose; when you know who you are as a woman. ..that is a powerful place to be in life. Over the course of the day, it came to me.

No other than Tina Turner. Her spirit of strength,  vitatlity, transformation and confidence is the perfect woman to emanate self love on Throwback Thursday.  Yes she is still alive, but the throwback is honor of her decision to walk away from all that didn't serve her and walk into a life worth living.

Tina Turner, born Ana Mae Bullock in 1939, is a singer, author, choreographer, dancer and actress who rose to musical fame between the 50's and 70's. Her powerful career was groomed and managed by her ex-husband and fellow singer Ike Turner. Ike not only wrote for, produced, and "discovered" Tina, but he also inflicted years of emotional, mental and physical abuse on her due to his personality and lifestyle. Much of their relationship is depicted in the film, What's Love Got To Do It. The title is based off a song written and performed by Tina after her divorce and choice to transform her spirituality and career.

Thru her pain, she found Buddhism and opened her consciousness to a higher purpose and state of BEing. Tina not only left Ike, but she went from performing r&b to feeling alive thru rock & roll. She was transparent about the violence inflicted on her, and even more transparent about how it helped her understand demanding what she wanted in life, and truly practicing self love.  She moved to Switzerland with her lifetime partner, away from the hectic lifestyle that epitomized the US. After being together for over 20 years, they married last year, and she is a graceful 78 years young.

Her iconic song, What's Love Got To Do With It, is a very relevant lesson for the woman of today. Many millenial women have a "by the time I'm 30" deadline. They expect life, their career and marriage to be manifested by 30. Marriage for 20 somethings has to do with love and fantasy. But when fantasy and love fade, what's left? You have people who didn't (on average) spend time getting to know themselves or really what their values and intangible desires are. Women, who look for men to complete them and fulfill their childhood dreams by getting married. Now there are few couples who really have the maturity and spiritual understanding necessary to connect to the higher purpose and functioning of marriage, but most,  not so much. The missing ingredient is self love,  self knowlege, self worth, and confidence. This is the major lesson that Tina Turner's life symbolized.

Her life and transformation is an ideal example of the power of self love and living confidently. When you know who you are, what you deserve,  and how beautiful life can be when you trust in yourself,  you open a peaceful life of possibilities.  You tap into an eternal flow of blessings. Of course this doesn't prevent negative life circumstances from happening, but you build the strength to be you and live your resiliently despite circumstances.  There are people who provoke life to emit negative circumstances, but most people just receive what life gives out, not knowing what role they can play in preventing such circumstances.  Life is not fair but it is responsive based on how we think and feel about it. Connect to who you are, your faith, your strengths, and everything around. BE mindful of who and what you let in. Don't shame others for their unhealthy or maladaptive choices.  Live your life to the best you can!

BE Love
Written By:Tiffany W.