Acceptance and Change

June 4, 2010 beautycf2010

By: Lana Leazer

Last night, I went to another great WHERE LA Magazine Event that hosted an evening at the restaurant First & Hope Downtown Supper Club and then the musical ”South Pacific” at the Ahmanson Theatre. I was accompanied with my beautiful friend, Juanita. We met and enjoyed the many samplings that this restaurant had to offer, Lamb Ribs. Yes, not Lamb Chops, but Lamb Ribs! Cheesy Tater Toys, Mac and Cheese, Mini-sliders, Soft shell crab and Deviled eggs. The restaurant is wonderfully appointed. Literally, the host and cocktail servers wear evening regalia that were reminiscent of the 1940’s. The restaurant has 3 parts to it, the bar area, the dining area, then the Jazz lounge that features live music. Think of a European joint with the lounge level underneath the main dining area.

As we were talking and catching up, I confided in my friend about the many changes that happened in my life and how I choose to live it. In my past life, I would tend to have temper tantrums and if I had a problem with someone or something, instead of confronting it, I would build up troops, meaning my girlfriends, tell them my side or version of the story and get them to back me up. It was all to feed my ego and make me feel that I was right! Talking smack and not really confronting the issue. As I grew and evolved, I realized that putting all that energy and not dealing with the person is just the round about way of doing things. When we gossip, we tend to judge and automatically put the intended “victim” in a negative light. So, I came up with a challenge, which believe me has been extremely hard and not say anything bad about anyone or if someone makes me mad, don’t go running to my girlfriends about it, deal with the person and that matter. Get it resolved. The flip side of this is that I learned to respect what is between two people is their own. There is no need to justify, defend or brag about it. It just is.

One of my girlfriends couldn’t understand this new evolution in me. I use to tell her everything, but those things that I would tell her were about others. She wanted to know intimate details of a certain relationship and I explained that it was special and sacred to me and I didn’t wish to share. Sure, I admit that I didn’t want to be judged, but I felt it was no one’s business. It was between that person and me. My old self would have divulged and shared, but I find it to be highly disrespectful of the other person involved. I wouldn’t want the other person to say anything. She was missing my point. She never asked me if I was happy and that is all that I wanted.

My soul sister Juanita stopped me in my tracks when I explained that this girlfriend of mine had even questioned my newfound faith, told me I lost touch with reality, because I was going through a spiritual evolution. Juanita said that happens all the time. “It’s like you’re a snake shedding its’ dead skin, like seasons change, so why can’t we? Some people don’t understand the change.” It reminded me of my what Reverend stated, “It’s time to lose your mind, lose it and get to your spirit, your inner you, people are going to say and talk about you, that person has lost their mind!” So, I was flattered when she said I was being “realistic”. Not only had I accomplished and evolved into my authentic self, it was beginning to show.

Watching South Pacific seemed to coincide with how I was feeling. South Pacific is a wonderful musical about going against stereotypes and accepting change or differences. It is very conflicting for the person going thru it and dealing with how they feel because they are scared of what the others will think? I don’t want to give the musical away, but I want to say that it is a must see and a gorgeous love story. “Be the Change that you wish to see”- Ghandi.