THE GIRLFRIEND’S CORNER

withCORNER april daniels

Someone asked me, “How does God's voice sound when you hear Him talking to you?” While everyone at the table chimed in with a version of what they imagined, I said, “It’s strong yet gentle. Strong enough to command my attention but soft enough not to startle me.” It’s crazy how I remember the stories my great grandmother would share about hearing God's voice. For a long time I thought that was crazy talk, until one day I experienced it for myself. As the Editorial Director and creator of this column, my strategy has always been to hear the voice of God. Every feature, each contributor, every bit of content, and more begins with a lot of prayer to align with the heart behind MB Magazine.

I knew for the “Men’s Edition” I wasn’t going to write as I normally do. I also knew I wanted our male readers to hear from a man who had something to authentic and powerful to say. As I started my normal process, God immediately laid my brother on my heart. A brother not by blood, but for the steadfast example of family he has shown my sons and me long after his brother, my late husband, transitioned. His integrity exemplifies enormous selflessness as he often pours into others. His heart connects with the needs of others not only through his words but also through his actions.

Brother, I’m grateful for our family ties, your transparency, and your male perspective on every topic we find ourselves discussing in deep conversation, no matter how many times you say, my sister and I can’t advise one another, lol. I didn’t know the response I would get when I asked; all I knew was I was walking in obedience. Thank you for your “yes,” and I pray the blessings that come from this moment are more than you imagined, bringing abundant increase over your life ...

LETTER to men like mea by Dwayne ‘Bruce Wayne’ Patton

What was thought to be the typical FaceTime between my significant other and my sister, April Daniels turned out to be just what I didn’t know I needed. I was invited into the call to give thoughts on April's choice of a man to write in her place for “The Girlfriend’s Corner” column in MB Magazine’s “Men’s Edition.” I thought the idea was to pick my brain regarding someone April had in mind or someone she had already chosen. Well … that’s exactly what she did, sort of. April caught me completely off guard with her choice of guest writer for the men’s issue … me! I was flattered but noticeably hesitant in my response. To be honest, I was shocked! She continued explaining the job in detail and why she thought I'd be “a perfect fit” as the voice to speak to men in her place. I had to reprocess what was being asked of me, even in the midst of our ongoing conversation. Nevertheless, I accepted the task, feeling both surprised and honored at April's choice. However, it also reminded me of some ambitions I should have attempted by this point but have not.

In order to understand my initial hesitancy at this request and even my own ambitions, you'll have to understand who I am and where I come from. Currently, I manage recording artists. As a “good manager,” you think of your clients and their best interests first. For me, from the time I wake up until I head back to bed, I focus on what more can be done for these artists and their brands. It's a selfless job, but I have no problem with it. Though that's not the only reason my aspirations have been put on the back burner.

My frame of mind as a manager had once aligned well with my previous “career.” Prior to becoming a manager of entertainers, I spent my late teens and early adult years in the streets of Chicago hustling, or as the city's joint task force would put it, in "organized crime.'' It's a time of my life I'm not particularly proud of nor would I ever try to deny. The mindset I needed and formed in that era of life was fundamental to my survival and freedom, but it also mentally hindered the concept of me living a public life especially visually. Someone allowing themselves to be too, visible was often the first sign of their demise. Intentional or not didn't matter at the time. That time of my life called for me to avoid cameras and being seen in photos at all costs. That's what I did and unfortunately still do, continuing the practice of staying hidden as much as possible. Even though I'm 20+ years removed from that lifestyle and, for the record, no one is after me, my mindset is muscle memory for me at this point.

For a moment, I'll have genuine intentions to launch YouTube Channel(s) and podcasts, as well as other visually driven promotional tools for my brand, yet have never brought myself to start any of them. As management, I constantly stress the importance of social media and overall visibility to an artist and their brand(s) yet refuse to commit to do so myself … until now! April extending me this honor still gives me a very uneasy feeling, a reluctance to put myself out there, but she has also acknowledged a gift she feels I have and believes in so much that she has allowed me to write this column on her behalf. This request has forced me to assess the mental space I have lived in and made a reality for far too long.

After mentally preparing to move forward with writing this column, I thought extensively about my subject: "What would inspire men?” And I couldn't get past the fact of how this request has inspired me. I figured, I'll use my own story to remind not only myself but also others about the potential and purpose inside of you. It's a real story that includes a good guy with a checkered past by societal standards; yet his outdated mindset that hinders his progress can for sure speak to somebody, no matter the gender. Prayerfully, they will identify with seeing these things addressed and potentially overcome that thing that’s winning the war inside them.

There's no substitute for truth and transparency, nor should you abbreviate who you authentically are. I admit, it won't be simple to deviate from bad habits that have been made into a way of life. But everyone reading this has my word … "I'm working on it!" And if what I have written speaks to you, you owe it to yourself to do the same. Furthermore, I'm certain men need to be reminded of their individual value(s) despite what they've gone through. So, let me say this next: many of us have something incredible to offer through our purposed talents, so don’t let another day go by where you sleep on who you were called to be. Know that your gifts are very much needed in this world and have the power to touch individuals in an exceptional way. Hopefully, this serves as a reminder, the same way April’s request did for me. After all, according to April, we're "a perfect fit" ... for what we are called to do!