http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290 en-gb copyright 2012 - Sequoia Houston sequoia@sequoiahouston.com sequoia@sequoiahouston.com Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290#blog1 I adore film (and I'm looking forward to doing television!) however there is nothing like being on stage. I'm currently in a play called Torn: The Willie Lynch Letter. It's a fantastic show by writer Jermaine Harris, that juxtaposes the ramifications of Willie Lynch's letter in 1712, when it was written, against the post traumatic slavery disorder faced in the African American community 300 years later, in 2012. We opened today, for a high school nonetheless. I must say that Jordan High School in Long Beach has one of the best auditoriums I've ever performed in. I was amazed at the professional grade and quality....it was even better than what we had at Arts Magnet, when I was there. While performing at high schools wasn't necessarily on my bucket list, I LOVE the fact that I'm able to give back to the community by sharing such a dynamic story and history with the students. In fact, Wednesday, the writer, a few of my cast mates and I went to different classes and spoke with the students about varying issues. What I told them, and what I'll share here, is that I find that life is entirely too short not to be doing what you love. If you think about it, you spend at least half of your 24 hour day preparing for, commuting to and participating in work. That's entirely too much time to dedicate to something you don't absolutely love. While dreams often take time and persistence to become reality, I wholeheartedly believe that the three essential steps to getting there are: 1.) Figure out what you want to do. This takes time, but boy is it worth it. A lot of times people ask what you want to be, and that's fine and all, but I think figuring out what you want to do is far more important. For example, I've always wanted to be an actress. I've worked on various projects, so I can now call myself an actress......but, more than that, I want to act.....everyday (or something close to that)....so that's where my focus should be; not on what I want to be, but what I want to do....I hope that makes sense..... 2.) Figure out what you need to do to do what you want to do. Now more than ever, the amount of resources we have are astounding. There's no excuse for not taking the time to research the necessary steps to do what you want to do. Find people who currently do it and reach out to them; search the internet. The only limits you have are those of your own imagination. 3.) Do it. As cliche as we tend to think of it now, Nike really had something with their slogan "Just Do it." It's not enough knowing what to do. Take action. Do it. Take that first step.....and know that it will not be easy. Will Smith tells a great story about how his father tore down the brick wall in front of his store and made he and his brother rebuild the wall......the thing is, if you look at all the bricks and think, "man, this is impossible," it will be. But if you take each brick and place it in it's respective place, one by one, building on the other, sooner or later, you will have your wall. It's no different with reaching your destiny. Take it one brick at a time. Be fearless! Walk into your destiny and LOVE YOUR LIFE!!!! Stay blessed, Sequoia Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290#blog2 This past weekend, upon leaving rehearsal for a play, I got into a little altercation with one of my cast mates. I asked him, what to me was, a VERY simple question, and he took offense to it. He pulled one of those kitchen sink arguments so prevalent in female culture. You know the ones where you start arguing about one small thing and before you know it, the whole relationship is in question?....Yea, that kind of altercation. The argument got so heated that I wound up calling him a “jack-a**” and telling him not to ever worry about me saying anything else to him again. EVER… before storming off in an Academy Award winning dramatic performance, rivaled only by that of Angela Basset in Waiting to Exhale. As I reflected over the events of the afternoon I thought of that good old adage “Never argue with a fool, because from a distance no one can tell the difference.” Boy did we both look and act foolish. When I came home, after watching Whitney’s home-going celebration, I read my bible. I was immediately led to James 1:19-21, which states: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Every man should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” So you know I applauded myself for being slow to anger…because, afterall, he was the one who started the whole thing. How he interprets information is not my responsibility, nor is it my concern…he had no right to start with me. He should really humble himself. But then, as God always does, He gently led me to another scripture, Ephesians 4:1-3: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” BUT…!!!! *sigh* Alright Lord. I hear you. Although I am not the one who started the altercation, my job as a witness for God is to be COMPLETELY humble and gentle and make EVERY effort to keep the unity. Had I done that? No. Granted, he made it quite challenging to be peaceful, but I should have held myself to a higher standard. That’s the thing about life’s lessons. They don’t require that you always make the right choices…they give you an opportunity to learn from the wrong ones. I took a few minutes to craft my cast mate an e-mail, apologizing for anything I had said or done that rubbed him the wrong way and quoted Ephesians 4:1-3, listing it as an example we should live by. As you have probably learned by now, I do not in any way, form or fashion believe that I did anything worth apologizing for, however if I am to be a witness for God…the only bible some people will ever read…it is important that I put my personal feelings about the situation behind me, and obey God’s word by trying to keep the peace. We have to remember that sometimes it’s not about you, but God’s work in/through you. Now, my cast mate has not responded to or acknowledged my e-mail. I don’t know if he even received it, but I have solace in the fact that I was obedient to God’s word. I am one step closer to living the righteous life that God desires. Whether or not my cast mate forgives me, apologizes for his actions or seeks to further discord when we see each other at rehearsal is beyond me. It is not my job to be concerned about what man does or says but to be consumed by what God does and says. I know this is a long note, but I hope that this message, and my experience, has blessed you. I look forward to chatting further with anyone who might be interested. I pray that we all commit to holding ourselves to a higher standard, and living out what God says, despite what the world tries to bring out of us. Peace and blessings, Sequoia Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290#blog3 Today was a roller coaster ride. My mom woke me up early and we went out running errands and having a fun "girl's day out." We had a blast. We found ourselves at this spa that focuses on cleansing, internal health and wellness. A typical "proud mom," my mother told the owner how "awesome" I am and began talking about my film, What Things May Come as though she were making an argument to the academy for it to receive an Oscar. Impressed, the lady asked me to come on her talk show tomorrow.High on life, we left and went to get some BBQ...I mean, if you're getting a detox the next day you might as well get it in, right? Lol I was talking to the owner about natural haircare products when I get a phone call from my property mgmt company. They called me at nearly 1pm to tell me that while the cleaning company was at my house the day before, they had the doors open and my cat got out of the house. I was (and still am) devastated. Aside by a quick trip to the vet, Athena had never been out of the house in her entire life. Now, she's out in the world alone trying to fend for herself....plus, she's declawed. To make matters worse, I'm in DC visiting my mom so there's absolutely nothing I can do. I can't even put into words how absolutely and amazingly horrible I feel. As soon as I get back from DC I'm moving to LA....what happens if she comes home and I'm all the way across the country? :( The ONLY consolation I have is that I have an amazing boyfriend. Not only has he made a point to regularly check on me to see how I'm doing, he went out of his way to go to my house and look for her. I didnt even have to ask him to do that. He did it on his own. He even went to the shelter for me to see if someone brought her in. Anyone can tell you they care about you....what makes all the difference is how they show you.I was planning to take Athena with me to LA and leave Prince (my yorkie) with friends here in the DC area. I guess the universe had other plans. I immediately went to get my dog. I couldn't stand the thought of losing them both. My prayer is that my baby is out there safe and sound...that, worst case scenario, someone found her, loved her and wanted to keep her and give her a fantastic home. Haunting thoughts have entered my head all day, but I'll continue to work on keeping it positive. I love you Athena! Stay safe my little princess. Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290#blog4 So, I've been trying to keep it under wraps, but the closer I get to "M" day, the more excited I get. I'm moving to Los Angeles! Finally taking God up on his offer to grant me his PERFECT provision. No longer doubting, questioning or second guessing myself or His plan for my life. I'm stepping out on faith and doing what I know I have been purposed to do.....and that's an amazing feeling. I'm obviously not good at keeping up with my blog, but I'll try my best to chronicle my journey... Goal for today: Finish cleaning my house....so I can hire cleaners to come in and clean it some more lol My love song to LA lol Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290#blog5 The list. Oh, you’ve heard of it. All of the traits that you want your mate to have. The things that you are believing in God to provide because, ask and ye shall receive, right? Over the years I’ve heard a number of arguments on why people should or shouldn’t have a list. On one hand, you shouldn’t settle for less than what you want/deserve; however, on the other hand, how do you really, truly know what you want until you’ve met the person? In fact, many of the successfully married people that I’ve met reveal that the person they married is not anyone they ever expected to wind up with, yet they couldn’t imagine life any other way. Having a “wish list” may be a good idea for Christmas or birthday gifts, but when it comes to your dealings with other people, are you really going to pass on a what could be a wonderful husband/wife and parent to your future children simply because he doesn’t drive a Benz or she prefers jeans and a t-shirt to dresses and heels? Ultimately, that decision is up to you. Either way, I still think it’s very important to honestly evaluate what you want in a mate and I believe the first step to considering what you want is to define what a mate or spouse is, exactly. If you really think about it, isn’t your spouse an “overseer?” They “oversee” the children, the household, the bank account…God forbid you get sick, they will “oversee” your medical affairs…This is a very important task to be appointed to someone. In 1 Timothy 3, Paul gives his protégée Timothy direction on how to select the deacons and overseers of his church. He mentions the following traits that a person (in this case, a man) must have to become an overseer. He must be: * Above reproach (meaning his words and actions conform to God’s word) * The husband of but one wife (faithful) * Temperate * Self-controlled * Respectable * Hospitable * Able to teach * Not given to drunkenness * Not violent, but gentle * Not quarrelsome * Not a lover of money * He must manage his family well *Please take a moment to review the chapter in its entirety, as I left off a couple of points for clarity’s sake He also goes on to say that "11In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything." In Ephesians 5, Paul compares the relationship between husbands and wives with that of Christ and the Church. Maybe using the criteria the church uses to select their overseers as a guide to how we approach the selection of our “overseers” is a good place to start. At the end of the day, maybe it’s not having a list, but what’s on your list that makes the biggest difference…How do these things fit in to your ideal description of a mate? Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=5#blog1 It’s amazing how sometimes a simple statement can hit you in such a way that it becomes profound…as if there’s some special secret shared between you and your consciousness…that happened to me today. While watching a video on zebras (don’t ask lol) I heard the narrator make a statement that moved me in such a way I simply felt that it would be selfish not to share…particularly with my single [ ie. non-married] sisters out there. The statement was this: “Female cheetahs usually won’t have kittens unless a potential father can chase her for several DAYS in a long series of foot races.” Now, I know you’re probably thinking “okay, this chick is nuts,” but allow me to explain. Take a moment to think about the last time you were courted. I know that’s laughable these days, but seriously…think about what happened the last time a guy really tried to express sincere interest in you. Now think about how you responded. It goes without saying that the times when a gentleman caller would come to your house, meet your parents, take you out on a nice date, bring you home and the highlight of the night was a kiss on the cheek, are far gone. Today, having sex on a first date, or shortly thereafter, is becoming an increasingly common experience. Now I’m not here to lecture you on whether or not sex is an acceptable practice outside of marriage. That’s between you and your maker; however, I will discuss a few brief examples of how, in my humble opinion, we can work towards having more fulfilling romantic relationships. The advice I normally get as a woman is “You’re so awesome; he just sucks. You should leave him.” Rather than focusing on what “he’s” doing wrong, my advice to you [and myself] focuses on what we as women can do differently. 1.) Be interested in the one who wants to “chase” you. Until recently, I’ve had a tendency to fall head over heels for guys who cared absolutely nothing about me. For a while it seemed that the worse a guy treated me, the harder I fell for him. I guess I figured if I just loved him hard enough, he’d eventually love me back. Interestingly enough there was always some amazing guy around whose constant attempts to show me how special I was went completely unnoticed. “I don’t want to ruin our friendship” I said…”He’s just not my type”…”He’s too nice/young/tall/short/skinny/fat/etc…” You name it, I’ve probably said it. Sound familiar? One day, one of my mother’s male friends gave me a bit of advice that took me years to understand. “Don’t like the guy you like; like the guy who likes you.” I thought he was some batty old man until I experienced the difference for myself. The thing is, you can be the most amazing woman in the world, but a guy knows what he wants…and if you think that he doesn’t know what he wants, or he’s afraid to commit, I’m sorry sis, but it’s probably just that he doesn’t truly want you. He may have fun with you or think you’re “cool people” but if he’s not showing you that he wants a future with you, it’s probably because he doesn’t see one with you. He’s likely just waiting around until someone better comes along. I know that is harsh, but it’s real. If the female cheetah ignored the advances of the male that was trying to vie for her attention, and instead waited for that hunky cheetah that she thought was cute but wasn’t really into her, she’d wind up becoming a lonely old cat lady (sorry, had to! Lol). I don’t want that for any of us…so let’s make a vow to ourselves that rather than wasting time on guys who could live without us, we’ll start paying attention to the ones who don’t want to. 2.) Allow yourself to be “chased.” “Equality” is a word that gets thrown around so cavalierly when dealing with male/female relationships. In fact, I’m reminded of an episode of Golden Girls when Blanche spoke on the topic with one of her dates. After saying he wanted to treat her like his equal she laughed heartily and replied “Your equal? I don’t want to be treated like your equal. I want to be treated much better than you.” To me, this is the right attitude to have when approaching a relationship. Know your worth. Not saying that you shouldn’t treat the man well, but allow him to be a man and in doing so, treat you like a woman. Yes, you can open your own door. You can pump your own gas. You can open your own jars, pay your own bills and do a myriad of things that you don’t need a man for…but realize, when a man is seeking to do these things for you, he’s not trying to undermine your ability, he’s trying to compliment it. Consequently, you should also be very cautious of a man who’s not willing to do these things for you. A man who truly cares about you wants to make your life easier. So many times we run men off with our “independent woman” machismo act. I know you may have told yourself that they’re just intimidated by your degrees, titles and ability to provide for yourself, but in all honesty and sincerity, if a man wanted to have a “pissing contest” at home, he’d date one of his boys. This isn’t to say that you should not be proud of your accomplishments, but in being proud of what you’ve already accomplished, don’t take away his opportunity to show you what he’s seeking to accomplish, with you. Men show their love by their actions. They’re hardwired to provide for you and when you take that away from them, they don’t understand the point of being with you. Once that happens, the relationship is over, even if it hasn’t yet begun. 3.) Don’t have “kittens” unless the potential father is willing to go the distance with you… With 72% of African American children being born out of wedlock, this is probably the most important point I hope you take from this message. So many times a man shows us a little attention and we reward him with our bodies. A lot of men won’t even date a female that’s not sexually active, so if you’re going to be in Rome you have to do as the Romans do, right? You’ve got to be in the game to win it, don’t you? No. Having sex is not a game. The decision to have sex or not is a very personal decision and there are both spiritual and physical consequences tied to your decision. While it would be highly unrealistic to think that my message will stop you from having sex, I hope that it will at least make you more cautious of whom you allow to be a “potential father.” I fought tooth and nail this week with someone who says that women are the reason there are so many children being born out-of-wedlock; that their decision to sleep around with “no good men” is why 68% of children are raised in a household without a father. I disagree. I think there are a number of factors that contribute to that statistic…All in all, he and I do agree on one point. As women, the consequences of sex typically affect us a lot harder than they do men. While sex may be a fun past time for two consenting adults, it’s vital that we protect ourselves. Remember that ANY time you lay with someone, you run the risk of contracting an STD or getting pregnant. The only "method" that's 100% safe is abstinence. Therefore, take a little advice from lady cheetah: Don’t have sex with a man who’s not willing to go the distance with you. The men who are willing to go the distance with you will respect you for your decision, and the one’s who don’t won’t stick around…..and let’s be honest, we’re better off without them anyway. That’s it. I hope you don’t take this message as me thinking that I have all of the answers, because I absolutely do not. I do hope, however, that this message helps at least one woman. I hope it shows you the value that you have and it gives you the courage to demand that a man show you that he’s willing to go the distance with you. I hope that it leads to a successful relationship built on mutual respect and adoration…and I hope that it gives a woman in a relationship that isn’t for her the strength to stand up and realize that you deserve better, even if it means being single for a little while longer. I don’t mean to assign blame or belittle nor do I mean to offend. I only wish to empower. I love you and I’m praying for you. Your sister, Sequoia Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=5#blog2 Happy New Year! Since it's a new year I decided I'd start afresh with my blog. My plan is to provide new, fresh content at least once a week. I decided to migrate my posts from my old blog [using a new system] for those of you who may be interested in reading them. Get ready world, cuz Quoia's got a brand new blog [cue music from Papa's Got a brand new bag ]! I look forward to sharing my life with you! With love, Sequoia Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=5#blog3 November 18, 2010 Today’s letter is to someone from another country, so I’ll write Kaid, a friend I met last Labor Day weekend when my mom and I took an impromptu trip to Canada. Dear Kaid!!! Hey my dear friend. Wow…it’s been over a year now since we met. Can’t believe that. I still don’t know whether to think you’re a God send or just nuts lol. Either way, thanks for giving two chicks on the greyhound some of your time. Sorry for seemingly falling off the face of the Earth. I have a lot more going on on my end now than when we first met, so managing my time has become more challenging lol. I still remember the first time you sang for me. Your voice is AMAZING. Like my mom said, it truly sounded like a cd. I can’t wait until you’re discovered and everyone is able to hear your music. Are you still moving to VA? I still think you should move to Austin. It’s more like Toronto than anywhere in VA that I can think of…plus I think you’ll have a better chance with your music. I’m sure you’ll enjoy either place though. I’ll be in the DC/MD/VA area for Christmas. If you’re out there we’ll have to catch up. I hope all is well! Talk to you soon, Seq Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=5#blog4 November 17, 2010 Dear MJ (Yes, Michael Jackson), It’s been more than a year and I still can’t believe you’re gone. I still remember the day you passed like it was yesterday. I woke up that morning and something honestly just didn’t feel right about that day. I didn’t know what it was; I figured I was just tripping. Early in the day we learned that Farrah Fawcet had passed away. No one could have imagined that just hours later you would be joining her in the afterlife. I was devastated…You would have sworn my last name was Jackson they way I carried on…”I’ve never known a world in which there was no Michael Jackson.” Yes, I actually said that. Amazing how you can feel so close/connected to someone you’ve never met yet feel so distant from those you actually know. I hate that I didn’t get an opportunity to meet you in person or see you perform live. Even still, you have made a great impact on my life. After watching “This is It” and seeing how dedicated you are to perfecting your art, it has inspired me to work towards my craft with the same fervor and tenacity. After all, how can I claim to love it and not make it the best it can be? Although you died well before your time, I almost envy you because you were able to spend every day of 40/50 years doing exactly what you loved. Granted, you dealt with a lot of nonsense (some of which could have been avoided Mike, but I digress…) but very few people get to spend their whole lives doing what they love. I thank you for showing me what it means to put your all into your craft. I pray that I am able to remember your example every time I approach my craft. Also, thank you for your dedication to community and humanity. It’s amazing how much people claim they’re all for the environment but when it comes down to it, they’re not. You actually showed your dedication, and I can appreciate that. I could write you a thousand letters and probably never say all that I’d like to say, so I’ll just end with this….thanks so much for being you. Thanks for your music and thanks for the example you’ve shown. Love always, Sequoia Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=5#blog5 November 16, 2010Dear Leader of the United Nations First and foremost I have to say thank you so much for being there for me while I was unemployed. There were a handful of people I knew that I could count on no matter what and you made the list.I can honestly say that I had some of the most fun times ever hanging out with you. We always tried new, fun things and you were always introducing me to something I’d never tried before…although with the exception of Ghengis grill, I can’t say any of them made it into the regular rotation lol. I think one of the most fun things we ever did was when we went and sat by the lake and people watched; that was classic. Then again, I dunno…playing at the park with P was pretty fun too…particularly chasing him around in my heels lol. He’s a really cool kid. I’m so proud of him for getting picked for the team. You’re going to have a little all-star on your hands Thanks for working out with me! I was really starting to see some results…not so much now though lol. I just found out that there’s a MMA place by my house. I may check them out and see about signing up for a class.Our drifting apart is entirely my fault…I still feel horrible about what happened, but just know that I’m really happy and although I’d probably change when/how I told you, I wouldn’t change my decision. He’s a great guy and I actually think you’d really like him.No matter what, you will always be one of my dearest friends. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call me. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=10#blog1 November 15, 2010Dear Mr. Eight Ball:Over the years I’d thought about you ever now and then; wondering how you were doing…and how you could be across the street (TSU) yet we lost touch. I was beyond thrilled to catch back up with you on facebook/myspace last year. It seemed like a whole new beginning; a chance for us to rekindle what friendship we once had and explore the possibilities of what could be. For something with such a dynamic start, it sure fizzled out quick. In actuality, our friendship was probably over again before it even began.I know that being so far apart was a struggle for you; it was for me to. I know that in a perfect world you’d have a little army wife doting on you and traversing the world with you, wherever you may go…and I still want that for you; just not for me. When you told me that you thought I didn’t have time in my life for you because I was pursuing my acting career I was stunned. I couldn’t imagine how someone who claimed they cared about me so much could ask me to give up the thing that I enjoy most in this world.I can’t apologize for not being “the one” for you, because I can’t apologize for God’s decisions. I can’t apologize for not being willing to give up my life and become an army wife….I also can’t apologize for not choosing you over my love of acting…I understand how you feel about it and you’re entitled to feel that way, but I wholeheartedly feel that someone who really cares about me [for the right reasons] would never place me in a situation where I would have to make that kind of decision.That said, I can’t apologize to you for the way things turned out, but I do hate that you seem to harbor hard feelings about the situation. I honestly don’t know if it’s meant for us to be friends or not; I’d hate to think otherwise, but that’s not up to me. Either way, I hope that you find what you’re looking for and that you’re able to forgive me, not for me, but for you.Until we speak again,Q Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=10#blog2 November 14, 2010 This is going to be short. First, I don’t hate anyone. I have had a few people in my life that have really hurt me. Although I will likely never forget the pain or what happened, I have forgiven all parties. I’ve come to learn that some pain is necessary in order for you to fully appreciate joy. Warmest regards, Sequoia Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=10#blog3 November 13, 2010 Dear Papa, I can’t believe it’s been nearly 16 years since you’ve been gone. I still hate that I didn’t make it home in time to see you before you passed, but I know that you understand. I still miss you so much and wish that I’d gotten the chance to know you as an adult. I can only imagine all of the interesting stories you’d have to tell. There are so many things that I want to say but I don’t even know where to begin… Guess what!?! We have a BLACK president. Isn’t that nuts? I know it’s still a little weird for me to believe, but I can only imagine how you’d feel about it. He’s getting a lot of flack for everything but I think he’s doing a good job considering the mess we’re in. Although I wish you were here, I can honestly say you may have gotten the better end of the deal on this one. It seems like we continue to lose our values more and more as time goes on and the earth is headed straight to you know where wearing gasoline you know what. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy life and the opportunity to live it; I just wish things weren’t so corrupt. You know how you always told me to make sure I got my education? Well, I did. Last December I graduated with my MBA. I still can’t believe it. I’m thinking of going back for my PhD but I definitely can’t say that I want to any time soon. I’m enjoying finally being able to enjoy life. Just about every day I get to spend time doing what I love…I get to go to acting workshops, be in productions, go on auditions, read at table reads and now I’m finally using those writing skills to create my own projects. You’d be a bit sad to know that the family sort of fell apart after you left. We still all love each other but things are totally different. It’s particularly sad for me since my mom’s side of the family isn’t necessarily close either. Sometimes I feel like I don’t have any family at all. My mom and I get along pretty well, but my dad….well, he’s who he’s always been. I find solace in the fact that one day I’ll have my own family. I have the best boyfriend in the world! I really wish you could have met him. I think I actually got it right this time J. He’s one of the sweetest guys I’ve ever met. Even if he’s not the one I wind up with (although I truly hope he is) I’m so thankful to have this time with him…I don’t have any human children, but I do have Prince and Athena. I think you’d like them both. I could go on and on with all of the things I want to tell you….maybe I’ll start writing you regular letters…seems like it’d be pretty fun. Either way, I love you and I miss you! Love always, Coco Ps. I heard a rumor that there’s no breakfast in heaven. Is that true? Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=10#blog4 November 12, 2010 Dear Nelson and Nadia, Today’s letter is particularly special to me because I get to write to two of my favorite little people in the world; my little cousins. It’s so funny because I still remember life before either of you were even here; however, I can’t imagine life without either of you. Although we don’t get an opportunity to talk that often, I just want you to know that I am so proud of you and I love you dearly. I guess I should probably give a few pieces of sage advice before I end my letter….Let’s see… 1. ALWAYS RESPECT YOUR PARENTS I know, I know. Cliché right? You hear it all the time. Well, it’s true. Although I still can’t believe it, you’re nearly teenagers. There’s going to be about a decade where you think your parents are the stupidest people on the face of the Earth. In fact, you probably won’t even be able to understand how it’s possible for them to have gotten as far in life as they have….I mean, who doesn’t know how to use an ipod? Even when you think that there’s no way they could possibly understand you or what you’re going through, respect them. When you think that they’re the meanest people on Earth and have the stupidest rules ever, respect them. One, it’s biblical, but also, as you get older you’ll realize how very wise they are. True enough they may not be tech savvy and they may not have had to deal with all the things you may have to deal with now, but they’ve been here for a while and they haven’t lived this long to not know anything. Plus, they love you and just want the best for you. Consequently, after the decade of you thinking they’re complete idiots, you’ll have a complete 360 and realize that they are your first source for wisdom and knowledge (next to the bible of course). 2. NEVER BE AFRAID TO FOLLOW YOUR PASSION Nothing is as soul-numbing as not following your dreams. The problem is that following your passion often doesn’t lead to the big bucks. You may have to do something else while pursuing your dream, but always take the time to pursue your dreams; afterall, when you work a job you’re helping someone else pursue their’s….I find that by ensuring that you have adequate work/life balance you can successfully do both. For example, I go to work from 8:30-5:30 but at 5:31, I’m off to do things related to my acting career, whether that be taking a class, reading scripts for the screen writer’s association or producing my own projects. Spending time doing what I love not only greatly enhances my quality of life, but it makes me better at the mundane things I have to do because I know that they’re just a means to an end so that I can do what I really want to do. Think about it like school. You go to class because you have to, but afterwards you get to participate in the activities that you really enjoy. Never forsake that. 3. YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE TODAY (OR TOMORROW….OR THE NEXT DAY) This is something I struggle with. I’ve always believed (and I still do) that any action you take now affects a future outcome. When in doubt, always err on the side of intelligence. Always work to make the best decisions you can with the best information you can find because it will usually make for a better overall outcome. That said, you don’t have to know exactly what you want to be when you grow up. True, it’s good to have an idea, but you don’t want to spend so much time planning for the future that you don’t get a chance to enjoy the here and now. These are just a few things that I think may help you along they way. Clearly there are far more lessons; many you will have to learn on your own. Always remember there’s a difference between being smart and being intelligent. Smart people learn from their own mistakes. Intelligent people learn from the mistakes of others. I think it’s important to be both smart and intelligent. Know that I am always here for you. I’m a phone call away. You’re more than welcome to call or visit whenever you want. It’s been fun watching you grow into the people you’ve become; watching your individual personalities develop. I can’t wait to see what you decide to do with your lives. Love always, Cousin Sequoia Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=10#blog5 November 11, 2010 Dear Director of my breakout movie role, I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Sequoia, a versatile and dedicated actress who’s willing to go above and beyond [no casting couch business though!] to ensure that I bring my role to life with the vision and fervor that you expect. In fact, I hope to exceed your expectations. I believe in telling a story; not just reciting lines. I believe in a through-line; not just what’s going on in my head at the particular time I happen to be on camera. I believe in true, natural emotion and not just cheap laughs. I believe in working hard AND smart and that no matter how I did, there’s probably always a little better in me. Finally, I fully believe in respecting the production team’s vision and having the humility to know that I truly don’t know everything. I’m ready and willing to learn, grow and increase my skills while at the same time wowing you with the passion, talent and energy I bring to set each day. I thank you in advance for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime and having enough faith in me to allow me to fully pursue my dreams and my potential. Until we meet, Sequoia Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=15#blog1 November 10, 2010 (finally back on track )My favorite internet friend huh? Wow…I have so many.Since Jennifer is a new pet-parent and we probably talk more regularly than any of my other internet friends, I think I’ll write to her.Dear Jennifer,Ah, welcome to the world of pet parenthood…I mean, you’ve had cats before so it’s not like it’s new to you, but yorkies are a hot mess. I’m not going to say I told you so but…lol. You have me in tears talking about your little guy and the new adventures he’s gotten himself into. I didn’t tell you the other day, but my little guy got to a pair of my glasses once to….or tried to anyway. They were in one of those soft glasses cases and that poor thing didn’t stand a chance against puppy teeth. He had just gotten his first couple bites into my glasses when I saw what he was doing. Luckily he didn’t break them. They just had little teeth marks on the left lens. I think it was his way of showing that he was always with me lol.He’s a little bugger though. What’s particularly funny is that some of the things he does are so hilarious I can’t even get mad at the little fella. That pancake thing was priceless. I wouldn’t have believed it if it hadn’t happened to me. I can’t wait to hear about all the crazy stuff your little evil genius….I imagine that while we’re at work they’re probably at home working on their master plan, like Dexter’s Laboratory or something lol. You know, I actually thought about writing children’s stories about my pets because they’re just that funny.One thing that really helped us out was me getting him a cat. He was so doggone bad (but cute!) that I couldn’t imagine having another dog, but he desperately needed a playmate. She provided just the company for him to keep me from punting the little dude somewhere, like Baxter lol.Enough about the kiddos though. Can you believe we’ve actually known each other for like 5 years? It had to be around 2005 or something when Xuqa was all the rage….well, actually, I don’t know that Xuqa was ever any of the rage, but we had so much fun on it…until they went through those changes every other day. Haha Remember being more worried about getting peanuts than having actual cash? Good ol college days. I miss college. I’m like you when it comes to homecoming. Ours is this weekend and if I had just a few more “peanuts” I’d go. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! Haha remember that? Don’t Do Sh*t Sorority/Fraternity….How lame is that, but it was SOOO much fun….then remember how we tried to justify it by saying “We don’t do sh*t….until the last minute but we still make A’s”……wtf? How nerdy is that? And the “pledge” process? Clearly we just needed something better to do with our lives. College couldn’t have been that much of a challenge if we were doing mess like that. It probably would have been fun for all of us to go to school on the same campus. Either way, you’ve always been hella cool. Your status messages keep me laughing and whenever I make it back to that coast we’re going to have to go to that store you were telling me about haha!Talk to you soon chica!-Seq Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=15#blog2 November 9, 2010 (actually the 10th...i got behind )Dear Music Man,You know, it’s funny that the last letter was to a stranger…because I honestly feel like that’s what we are now. You were once my closest friend; my confidant…We used to laugh at the dumbest things and know what each other was thinking before we even said it….Even still I’ll see a commercial or some youtube clip and think to myself how you would have really enjoyed seeing it. I’ll hear a song and wonder what you would have thought of it. Now you’re a distant memory. You’re a bunch of jumbled up thoughts, failed hopes and thankfully unattained wishes now seen through rose-colored glasses. I used to hate that we don’t talk anymore, but now I think it may very well be for the best... Even when we parted ways it was well beyond time that both of us moved on with our lives. We weren’t growing and we weren’t right for each other, although at the time I would have given anything for that not to be true; the only thing sadder than fighting a losing battle is fighting it alone. There’s no way I would have been able to move on with my life had you still occupied any piece of it. I think despite everything we went through, what hurt the most was the fact that you never even replied to me when I wished you well with your new relationship. Granted, that wasn’t my place, but I just wanted to let you know that I was happy that you were happy…I guess I can also say that it hurt to see you doing things for her that you’d never do for me; Simple things like acknowledging that we were in a relationship on FB (I know that’s absolutely absurd, but still lol)…mentioning my name in any of your posts….showing me that you were excited about me or my presence in your life. I bet she doesn’t have to beg you to come spend time with her like I did. I bet she’s never had to cry herself to sleep at night because you said something cruel or was reckless with her heart…but none of that really matters now I don’t guess. For her sake, and yours, I pray you treat her better than you treated me. Don’t get me wrong; it wasn’t all bad. I thought we had some good times; otherwise I wouldn’t have stayed around as long. I can honestly say though that I’m proud of myself for knowing that I’ll never let another guy show such disregard for me ever again…I guess sometimes you have to fall off the bed to learn the lesson.You always said that you thought I could find someone better than you and although I would have never imagined that to be true at the time, you were absolutely correct…and maybe not better than you, but better for me than you. A friend of ours, when seeing how senseless I was being in my pursuit of you, once told me “You should never have to wonder how the man you love feels about you.” It took a bit of trial and error, but I fully agree. I never have to wonder how my guy feels about me. He shows me; even when he’s not trying to….that’s what happens when you really care about someone…and I imagine that’s what’s happening now with you and your new love. It’s the small things that matter most. Guess I should have listened to you when you said it the first time lol…..oh, and that’s another lesson I’ve had to learn (unfortunately more than once) the hard way; when someone tells you about themselves, you should listen to them.A couple of others things I learned, that I hope can provide solace to anyone going through a breakup:1.) Even though you left, God didn’t.2.) The next day, the sun still came up and the Earth kept right on spinning. If the world kept moving; I had to too.3.) You live, you learn and you move on.*Exhale* Despite everything, I don’t hate you nor do I have hard feelings towards you. I wish you well and hope you’re having a magnificent life. I echo Ceelo when I say “although there’s [meaning was, not is] pain in my chest, I still wish you the best…”Yours truly,Sequoia Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=15#blog3 November 8, 2010 (actually the 10th...i got behind )Dear Stranger,Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by my page. I can’t tell you how humbling it is to know that someone I’ve never met before thinks enough of me to read my thoughts. I’m not sure whether you believe in God or not, but either way I’m praying for you. I pray that God keeps his shield of protection around you. I pray that He doesn’t put more on you than you’re able to bear. I pray that every negative circumstance you encounter comes to light as an opportunity for you to learn and grow. I pray that you will always have an abundance of love, joy and laughter. I pray that God gives you only some of what you want and all of what you need…..and that what he does give you far exceeds anything that you ever thought you wanted.If you’re in need of encouragement, you might try reading a few of the things I wrote further down. This was a ROUGH year for me, but I hope through my pain I’m able to console someone else. We’re all in this game called life together, right? We may not know each other but we are still connected through the heart .Please sign my guest book so that I’ll know that you visited. I hope you have a great day!Love always,Not-so-Distant Stranger Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=15#blog4 November 7, 2010 (actually the 9th...i got behind )Dear Dreams, We spend so much time together, however it's interesting that I'm actually getting the opportunity to speak to you. First, I apologize if you feel I've given up on you. I promise you I haven't...and I pray that you haven't given up on me. I know some people say that you're only entitled to one true love, however I can honestly say that I love each of you, differently, but just as much as the other. I honestly don't know if I'll be able to accomplish all of you, but I do know that I'll die trying. I am very thankful and blessed to have accomplish those of you that I have to date. Dreams, [aside from God] you are the reason I wake up each morning. You are my motivation; my muse. You make taking each breath and each step just a little bit easier. I often get frustrated because I'm living in my plan B and not pursuing you with the fervor that I would like to, because I have nasty little habits like eating every day and having a roof over my head....clean clothes on my back and some of life's other privileges. I'm sure you can understand. My mom told me recently that she's really proud of me for making my "day job" just a day job and pursuing you in my free time. Brittany made a similar reference. It's good to know that those close to me can see me running towards you in full pursuit. Dreams, I promise not to compare you to those of other people. You are mine and mine alone. I look forward to growing with you and spending the rest of our lives together. Love always, Beautiful dreamer Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=15#blog5 November 6, 2010 (actually the 9th...i got behind ) I'm the only child, so I'll have to pick my closest relative...This one is a toss up between my cousin Angie and my cousin Harold....Since Harold and I talk regularly, I'll write Angie. Dear Angie, It was great talking to you the other day. I really hate that we don't get to talk as much as we used to, but I'm glad we at least had an opportunity to catch up. I can only imagine how you feel with the passing of Aunt Ora Mae. I know how very close you were....I know that nothing I can say will bring her back or even soften the blow; I know that nothing can replace her....I hope that you are able to find peace in knowing that she's not suffering anymore and is in a better place and that her love for you will continue throughout the ages. I pray that you are I are able to take this time and use it as a reminder to not lose touch again. Time is so short and so precious. When thinking about what I might write in my letter to you I was instantly brought back to our childhood. You were a little beast! You were so mean to me....and my parakeet lol. Looking back I guess that's one of the perks of being a big cousin. It just felt a little like getting hazed at the time lol. It's amazing how a relationship so bad could turn into something so great. I still remember when you were head over hells for New Kids on the Block! Thinking of that now is hilarious. Your music selections were all bad though. You were also the one who introduced me to Tupac.....a love affair that has stood the test of time. Remember when we used to write songs together? We should write something new one day. I still remember us sitting up listening to music all night when Papa passed... Remember when you and my mom played that practical joke on me?!? She had you call me and talk about how I was messing with your man.....I could have gone smooth off that day....Better the me then than the me now. My patience isn't as long these days lol. My mom was always playing all kinds of random practical jokes on me....Fun household to grow up in.....I still wish you would have taken her up on her offer for you to come stay with us...I can understand your decision though. I used to love coming to visit you for the summers....You know what kind of hell I had to pay for getting away from Brooklyn Ave, but it was well worth it lol. I've met some of the most interesting people through you and Tameka lol. I guess I can say now that ya'll have some of the strangest friendships/relationships I have ever seen....To each his own though I guess....One thing I can say is that although we haven't done as great of a job as possible of staying in touch you're still one of my best friends. I want you to know that I am so very proud of you. You have matured so much over the years and the choices you're making now are really some good ones, from what I can tell. I can't wait until you come visit me! If ever you feel the need to talk or chat or listen or whatever, you know that I'm just a phone call away. Love always, Sequoia Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=20#blog1 November 5, 2010Dear mom, I just got off the phone with you. I love that we talk just about every day. Your are truly one of my favorite people, even when you're not; and you will forever be my best friend. A lot of people say that parents shouldn't be friends with their children; that it somehow minimizes the respect your child has for you. I thank you for not following this advice. I have the utmost respect for you, overcoming challenges, being a single mother, putting yourself through school and successfully raising a great daughter . But wait...there's more. I also respect you as a person and as my friend. I respect you as a woman, business professional and as a sister in Christ. You are immensely intelligent and I am honored that I get to benefit from your wisdom and experience. I could go on all day with the things that I thank you for but the more I think about it it's best summed up by me merely saying thank you for being you. I know we get into it with each other, but no matter what we always find our way back into each other's good graces and never out of each other's hearts. As you mentioned the other day, that's a part of unconditional love. I love you and can't wait to see you for Thanksgiving! Love always, Bernadette/Bernadine lol Dear Dad, Sup? ~Seq Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=20#blog2 Nov 4, 2010 This one is going to be short and sweet, like our "romance" lolDear Mr. Chiropractor, I just want to say "thank you" for yesterday. I don't know if that whole "transference" thing applies to all therapists, but I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you now lol. Every since my wreck, I's been feeling real down. I's been feeling mighty bad...but when you adjusted my neck & back yesterday Mr. Chiropractor, I know'd there's a God! So again, thanks! Love, SQ P.S. Can't wait to see you again tomorrow!!! Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=20#blog3 Nov 3, 2010 My first letter will be to my bestie KG! Hey! Hope this letter finds you well…I don’t really have any recent updates, since I just saw you this weekend. Thanks again for the hospitality. Guess I have to step my game up when you come back to Dallas lol. I just want to tell you thank you so much for always believing in me and always supporting me. Thanks for taking a vested interest in me and what I’ve got going on. Sometimes people forget how much that means…Since I’ve known you, you have been super supportive…even when we were at Cougar High doing non-sense on the North Tower Hall Council, or whatever it was called lol. The towers…ah, the good ol days. I also want to tell you that I am so proud of you. It takes strength to start over and you are doing an excellent job. I’m so happy for you and I pray that you’re using your measuring tape wisely lol. Seriously though, I pray that things work out for the two of you. You deserve to be happy and to have someone love you unconditionally….other than your mom of course ;P. I’m also super proud of you for working towards becoming Dr. K.L Grimble….I think that sounds pretty cool, although if you want to use your full name, I think that will work as well. I hope that one day I can be as big of a cheerleader for you as you are for me and I hope that I can be as supportive of you as you are of me. Be patient with me; God’s not done working on me yet J. Love ya always and I look forward to hanging out again soon! PS. We have been to the moon! Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=20#blog4 For the next 30 days, I have decided to follow my friend Lori in her pursuit to write 30 letters in 30 days by writing 30 letters of my own. I think this will be an interesting challenge. Can't wait to see what things may come :) ~Seq Day 1- Your best friend Day 2- Your crush Day 3- Your parents Day 4- Your sibling (or closest relative) Day 5- Your dreams Day 6- A stranger Day 7- Your Ex-boyfriend/girlfriend/love/crush Day 8- Your favorite internet friend Day 9- Someone you wish you could meet Day 10- Someone you don't talk to as much as you'd like to Day 11- A deceased person you wish you could talk to Day 12- The person you hate the most/ caused you a lot of pain Day 13- Someone you wish could forgive you Day 14- Someone you've drifted away from Day 15- The person you miss the most Day 16- Someone that's not in your state/country Day 17- Someone from your childhood Day 18- The person you wish you could be Day 19- Someone that pesters your mind- good or bad Day 20- The one that broke your heart the hardest Day 21- Someone you judged by their first impression Day 22- Someone you want to give a second chance to Day 23- The last person you kissed Day 24- The person who gave you your favorite memory Day 25- The person you know that is going through the worst of times Day 26- The last person you made a pinky promise to Day 27- The friendliest person you knew for only one day Day 28- Someone that changed your life Day 29- The person you want to tell everything to, but too afraid to Day 30- Your reflection in the mirror Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=20#blog5 LISTEN LIKE MEBy S. Houston, 11-2-10 I’ve seen the stares of a million pairs of eyes,trying hard to realize why they call our president “nigger.”I’ve seen the tears and heard the cries of children struggling to get byAs Wall Street’s pockets are getting bigger. I’ve seen the sicknesses, deaths and the need for helpAs politicians play games with our HEALTHcare.I’ve seen parties grow, with racist undertonesand zombies who claim they just want their country unblack; oops, I mean backand are making us aware. I’ve seen people who claim to love this great land,But refuse to stand by the man who’s trying to move us forward.I’ve seen the warning signs of social genocide; heard the silent cries of those getting left behindand the ardent laughter and senseless lies of those who support it. I’ve seen the love of mankind fall by the wayside for the love of capitalism and pride; and don’t forget the president. I’m not talking Obama; I mean the kind with the green and grey tint.So as you joke and scoff at hope, put this in your pipe and smoke it;if we stand aside and let them win this time, our only hope will be to die quick. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=25#blog1 May 11, 2010 God has a definite and divine plan for us all. We often have trouble understanding his plan because it doesn't look like our plan. Have you ever prayed for something and given up on it because when God didn't move at your pace you talked yourself into believing it wasn't "God's will?" So many times we ask God for the desires of our hearts but move on to something else because we thought he didn't hear our prayers. God may not answer your prayers in the way you expected or even in the way/time you wanted, be he'll always answer. So often we fail to recognize that what we're going though may not be a curse, but a preparation for what we ourselves have told God that we wanted. God is a master chef. He works with only the best ingredients and takes his time so that the end result is pure perfection. He is not a God who deals in microwave time. Too often God is trying to give us direction but we can't see him for the tears in our eyes. We can't hear him for the complaints in our mouth and we can't focus on him for the fear in our hearts and minds. Always remember that God has not given you a spirit of fear. He has given you power over your situation, over your enemies and over yourself. Step out of your own way. Dry your tears. Tell the guests of your pity party that they don't have to go home, but they have to get out of here. Stop talking. Stop complaining. Stop trying to figure things out. Just listen. Pay attention. God promised that he will never leave nor forsake you. He promised that his plans for you are for you to prosper and have abundant life. Do you believe this? It's a yes or no question. There is no room for "buts" "ifs" or qualifiers. Faith without work is dead, yes, but perhaps the work you should focus on is building your faith by learning to sit still and rely on God. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=25#blog2 February 10, 2010 Well if this wasn't a great way to start the day! I received an e-mail from the writer/director of my current show "The Cosbys: The Lost episode" explaining that we'd gotten a good review: Very funny characterizations and efficient, fast-paced, believable blocking in Buster Spiller’s self-directed The Cosby’s: The Lost Episode elicit the most audience response of the evening. JuNene K. as Clair Huxtable is the hilarious stand-out of the entire performance with her multi-layered repeated delivery of the line, “Mama gonna tear that ass up.” Who knew that line could be so funny, said so many ways? Spiller’s solid cast includes Aron Watson, J.R.Bradford and Sequoia Houston. You can review the full article at http://sjamaanka.wordpress.com/2010/02/10/back-to-the-future-with-teco-productions/. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=25#blog3 I have a rosebush in my backyard. When I first moved into my house I didn’t even know I had a rosebush because there were no roses. I thought it was just another piece of shrubbery. One day I went outside and saw that I had two little roses. I was so excited. I took pictures. I told people. I made up this really great quip about how God loves me so much that he sent me roses. A few days later there was a storm and they blew away. I thought little about it and moved on to something else; however, a few weeks later I noticed that not only did I now have four red roses, on a separate rose bush I had a single yellow rose. Once again I took pictures, told people. Clearly I get excited about the small things. Shortly after, these roses followed the suit of their predecessors and went away. Last Thursday night there was a really bad thunder storm. The wind’s whispers turned to howls as its speed and intensity increased. The rain beat on my window a/c unit like an African drum. The lightning whipped across the sky and the thunder roared with rage. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a bit of a scaredy cat in those situations. I had trouble sleeping and wound up calling one of my friends to help me get my mind off of it. Thank goodness for friends who don’t mind you calling at 2am! LolAfter the storm was over, I didn’t think any more of it. I still remember that it happened. I still remember how scared and uncomfortable I was. I still remember how alone and vulnerable I felt. I still remember who I talked to that helped me get through it. Most importantly, I still remember how excited I was that it was over.Over the weekend I went out into my backyard and noticed that I now have a bush full of roses. Now, I don’t know a lot about rose bushes and how they operate, but I do think that the rain helped the flowers blossom to their full potential. While I may have still had roses without such an intense storm, my bush may not have bloomed to its full potential.This reminds me a lot about life. There are so many times where it seems we’re given something only to have it taken away. We have children, mothers and fathers that we have to bury. We have jobs that we lose. We have relationships that we expected to last forever, that fall short of that goal. We have dreams that seem to keep us on a roller coaster ride of emotions, because it seems as soon as we take one step forward, we take three steps back. Sometimes it seems as if we’re always coming out of one storm, only to head right into another.I encourage you to read Lamentations 3. In this passage Jeremiah gave a heart-wrenching account of how he was going through it. He even went as far to say that he had “forgotten what prosperity is.” We’ve all had times where we’ve felt like this. Jeremiah gives us hope to get through these times.v19. I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.v20. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.v21. Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:v22. Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.v23. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.v24. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”v25. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the ones who seek him. Jeremiah does not say that we will never go through storms again. He doesn’t even say that he’s through this storm. He merely gives hope that when you have faith in the Lord, you can make it through your storms. David, in Psalms 103, gives us even more hope when he says in verses 4 and 5 that God “redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” and “satisfies your desires with good things…” If you’re anything like me, you’re probably thinking “I’m all about the love and compassion part, but I’m really not feeling these storms. What’s that all about?” Well, I have an answer for you. James offers this advice in James 1:2-4: v2. Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kindsv3. Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.v4. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. I’m sure if rosebushes had feelings, they would have been quite frightened by the storm Thursday. In the end, that was something they had to endure in order to reach their full potential. We also have to endure sometimes frightening and uncomfortable storms in order for God to help us blossom to our full potential, not lacking anything.Finally, let's remember the message from Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."I hope this message has been a blessing to you and I encourage you to go back and read each chapter I’ve mentioned in its entirety.God bless! Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=25#blog4 I'm a little late, but I just realized that I was the "Fly Member of the Week" on the Fly Guy Chronicles. Check it out: http://www.flyguychronicles.com/2009/06/sequoia-houston/ [1] Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=25#blog5 I think life has an interesting way of throwing curve balls. Just when you think everything is going just the way you want, everything sort of falls apart......and out of the ashes comes what you need. I have learned so much about myself and everything around me over the past few years and I'd be remiss if I didn't share. My goal for this note is to be a blessing to someone else. I don't know who you are or what you need, but I hope you can find it here. I also hope that you'll add to this note so that it can be a blessing to yet another person. Lessons Learned Always put God first. Things just work out better that way. Always be true to yourself. Know who you are, what you want and don't accept less. Never allow your feelings to be discounted. Someone who truly cares about you will not only recognize your feelings, but they will regard them with the greatest care and respect. Never apologize for how you feel. You're human. You have feelings and emotions and they deserve to be respected. Do, however, be careful of how you express your feelings to others. Regard your time as you regard your money...Only spend it on things and people that are worth it. You should never have to wonder how the one you love feels about you.... Never accept less than you want from a relationship. If you're not getting your needs met, don't be afraid to move around. Be sure that you express what you want and need from a relationship as well as what your expectations are with your significant other (preferable before they're your significant other) so that they're able to 1. work towards meeting those needs 2. decide they can't/don't want to meet them. It's not fair to be upset with them for not meeting your expectations, when they never knew what they were. It's also not fair to expect them to just "know" what you want. They wind up guessing and their guesses won't always be correct. Communication is key!!!! Communication is key!!! Communication is key!! Had we communicated better, we'd probably still be together.....then again, I can say what I want...we could have been the best communicators in the world and if it wasn't in God will, it wasn't going to work. Not now doesn't mean never....maybe this is just my hopeful thinking, but another ex taught me this one. Just because things aren't right today doesn't mean that they won't be right sometime in the future. That said, don't waste your time waiting for someone to come around. Someone who truly wants to be with you will be with you. You don't have to try to convince them that it's the right thing to do. Like Uncle Steve said, if a man loves you, there's nothing you can do to get him to stop.... For my ladies, I've heard this time and time again and I never really thought that it was relevant, but now I see the wisdom in it. Be interested in the one who's interested in you. SOOOOO many times we have that sweet guy who would do anything for us and who sincerely loves and cares about us and we brush him off for someone who often isn't nearly as good for us. Like the bible says, "A man who finds a wife finds a good thing." A man knows when he's found what he wants/needs. Don't waste time worrying about what could have, would have and should have happened. Never prolong a relationship that you know isn't working....for any reason. Something that's meant to be will be. If it's not in God's will, it won't be. Never forget that. Never be afraid to ask God to intervene. I asked God to remove all of the people in my life who didn't have my best interest at heart and got dumped the next day....I swear he always moves quickly when I pray this prayer. ***Let me clarify this one....It's not that my ex didn't have my best interest at heart. We're still really good friends. We just weren't right for each other, and staying together wasn't in either of our best interest. I don't want to paint him out to be a bad guy, because he's not....I just wish things were different, but hey, not my will, but God's will be done. :) Be ready for God to intervene when you ask him to do so. Always remember that regardless of what the world says about you, all that matters is what God says about you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Never make life decisions based on someone who doesn't care enough to be a part of your life...or who isn't worthy to be a part of your life. I'm off to bed for now. Please feel free to leave your own lessons learned :) I've always thought The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was one of the greatest cds ever, however now I have a much greater appreciation for it. Enjoy the song :) Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=30#blog1 February 20, 2009 On Valentine's Day I wasn't out eating at some lavish restaurant with my "valentine." I was working...and luckily doing what I love. I had an amazing photo shoot with the wonderful photographer Bryan Chatlien. He took a million wonderful pictures and now I'm tasked with narrowing them down. I hope you'll help. Please note that none of the pictures have been edited yet. I've somewhat narrowed it down on my photos page. He mentioned that I need to narrow it down to about six. Please check them out and give me some advice on which ones you think I should keep. The link with all of the pictures is located at: http://bryancphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/7369074_gKhHZ#P-1-20 [1] Thanks a million! Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=30#blog2 I haven't put the pen to the paper in quite a while, so I'm really excited about this poem. I'm hoping I'll have more soon...and as I do, they'll be posted here for you to enjoy. This doesn't necessary reflect my true views of Valentine's Day (though you should know that I really don't like it), but I'm a writer, and I must write what the people want. So without further ado, my much anticipated poem "Valentine's Day." VALENTINE’S DAY By: Sequoia Houston, February 9, 2009 (c) 2009 Why do you mock me so fiercely? You should know that I hate you. The cherub’s bright smile shows no sympathy For the loveless’ gnarled and naked truth. Your red and white paint, mere reminders Of the rebuke and scorn of love’s tattered heart Lying dangerously, shamelessly, painfully on the floor. Even, perchance, if Cupid’s arrow Does happen to land near me, I am only able to enjoy the leftovers From the clouded, disheveled debris. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=30#blog3 I'm so excited and honored to have been a part of the inaugural production of Soul Children's Theatre's "Don't You Want to be Free" by Langston Hughes. This was one of my favorite shows that I've ever been a part of. It was truly "edu-taining." Written in 1937, it journey through slavery and beyond to show you what it was like to be black in America back then. Go Langston! Be on the lookout for the next Soul Children's Theater peice "The Frederick Douglass Story" directed by the South Dallas-reknown H.J. Steward. It's sure to be a treat. As is my new custom, I'd like to give a shout out to everyone in the cast. I truly enjoyed working with you, and hope we'll be able to work together again sometime soon.....I'd like to give a special shout out to my new family! Mookie- You've done it once again! I'm so very proud of you and can't wait to see the many things you will accomplish in your lifetime. Just a heads up, I'll probably be posting you shaking your butt on our way to DC sometime soon. lol Ashley Sade'- I never knew that we would become as close as we have. I'm so glad I met you. You're so talented and I'm sure Debbie Allen is somewhere shaking in her boots.....or at the very least, trying to get in touch with you so she can be your mentor :). Mo Hill- What can I say? You are one of the funniest guys I've ever met. You have such an energizing presence and you're just a joy to be around.....oh, and you're a pretty good actor too. I can't wait to see you in "You Wouldn't Know a Good Man" and whatever else you have planned for the future...and I hope we're able to work together again real soon! Keith "Sir Wellington Thurston" Douglas- You are truly one of a kind...I'm still trying to figure out if that's good or bad....but alas, let me stop with my written vitriol :). I know I joked with you several times saying "We can't all be working actors" but that's very true and I'm proud of you for turning your passion into your full-time occupation. I pray that I'm able to do the same thing sometime soon. You are all very talented people and it was an honor getting to work with you, getting to know you and getting to become your friend......we just can't do so much drinking. I have to keep my youthful appearance for the big screen :). Love ya, Seq Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=30#blog4 Fire from Below will debut on Sci in September 2009! Please view the trailer so you can see what you're in for :). http://www.cinetelfilms.com/trailer.php?film=38 [1] Enjoy, Seq Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=30#blog5 December 21, 2008 I'm not just saying this because I was a member of the cast, but if you missed The Black Nativity on December 20th or December 21st, you missed quite a show. It was a pretty good show throughout the entirety of it's run, but we really put out feet in it last night and tonight. It was truly an honor working with such a dynamic cast. I think we should go ahead and take this thing on the road! loll. Thank you to all of my friends who came out to support me and/or who called, e-mailed, etc to show their support. It is truly appreciated. Special thanks to my mom who traveled all the way from Baltimore,MD to see her baby and to my boyfriend who drove down from Houston. I would also like to send a special shout out to my fellow cast members: New Arts Six: You ladies are amazing! It was truly wonderful having the opportunity to share the stage with you. I enjoyed each and every conversation and I hope that we are able to keep in touch. H. J. Steward: You can grow up and call yourself whatever you want, but you will always be Mookie to me! lol. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of such a dynamic show. Can't wait to work with you again soon. Nelson Mandella Nance: Yea, I had to say the whole name lol. It was great getting to work with you. You are truly talented. Best wishes for success now and in the future. Andre' Taylor: When I first found out you were going to be playing Joseph, I didn't know what to think. In hindsight, it turned out to be pretty cool. You're cool ppl and very talented. It was great to see how the shepard scene evolved over the course of the show. Best wishes for much success in the future. TJ Cochran: Thanks so much for helping me off the stage each night. I'm sure I would have broken my neck had it not been for your help lol. You're very talented. Best wishes at KD and in New York! Christa Taylor: What can I say? First, I'm going to need you not to be making me cry on stage! I'm still sitting over here singing "Brown Baby" and the show's been over for a few hours now. lol It was so great getting to know you. It would be an understatement to say that you are talented. Your voice is beyond amazing. Best wishes to you in all of your endeavors. I hope we keep in touch! Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=35#blog1 December 18, 2008 I attended my second ever movie premier (hopefully more are to come!!!) yesterday evening and had a great time. It was so interesting to see all the special effects as well as how everything looks post-production. The movie, Fire from Below, will broadcast as a Scifi World Premier in September 2009. It will also be available on dvd sometime soon. I have a few special thanks I would like to extend. God, family and friends are excluded, only because it goes without saying that I am immensely thankful for all that they have done and continue to do in my life. I love you! Andrew Stevens- Thank you for seeing something special in me and allowing me the opportunity to be a part of such a great film. "You betta quit playin on me now." lol Linda McAlister-Thank you for your tireless efforts and support of me as well as the rest of our agency family. Your encouragement makes this journey a lot easier. Thank you also for your passionate support of the motion picture industry and bringing the industry to Texas. You are truly a woman of action and not just words. :) Mario Mims- Thank you for talking to me on the phone all the way to Eustace, Texas. It made the trip far more enjoyable. It was great working with you and I hope we are able to work together again sometime in the near future. "If you don't come back right now, you ain't gettin' none of this." Ok, I do want to thank one family member and one friend that was there to support me last night :) Judge Aunt Melodee "Melo Yello" Mota- Thank you so much for attending the premier with me. It was greatly appreciated. Your commentary made the movie much more interesting. I need to talk to Andrew to see what we can do about getting it addded as captions throughout the movie lol. I can't believe we didn't take a photo last night! Bryan Chatlien ( Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=35#blog2 December 15, 2008 Today was the submission deadline for the new plays festival at Teco Theater. I submitted my new creation, A Lesson Before Crying. It's a heart-warming tale about a grandmother who figures if the auto industry can get a government bail out, so can she. Reminiscent of the prodigal son, this is a story that teaches you to forgive and to make each day the best it can be. I am currently working to adapt this story into a short film. I will keep you updated! *Photo courtesy of callmebecks.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html [1] Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=35#blog3 Issue Date: December 12, 2008, Posted On: 12/12/2008 TeCo Begins Run of Black-Themed Shows Theater company’s management pleased to perform before packed houses Silver Hogue By Silver Hogue Staff Writer Staff Photo: Chris McGathey TeCo Theatrical Productions will perform Black Nativity through Dec. 21 at the Bishop Arts Theater Center on Tyler Street. TeCo Theatrical Pro-ductions opened its holiday season with the first of many African-American themed productions. The company, which performs at Bishop Arts Theater Center on Tyler Street, debuted Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity to a packed house of spectators Dec. 4. The play, which will run through Dec. 21, is directed by H.J. Stewart and features a cast of 10 performers. “The production was truly inspiring and a blessing,” said audience member Serena Wills. Stewart said opening weekend was a huge success. “The show is meant to be more of a celebration that challenges you and welcomes you to the holiday season,” he said. “We want to put people in a good place because the holidays can be a stressful time. Hopefully, we brought some joy.” This is the third year TeCo has produced Black Nativity, but this is the first time the production has featured New Arts Six, a performing arts ensemble devoted to the preservation of African-American music, poetry, and literature. “The cast really rose to the occasion,” Stewart said. “We were really lucky to have New Arts Six perform with us. It really added some spice and soul to the show.” Black Nativity is the first of several upcoming shows that will feature an African-American theme — leading up to Black History Month in February. IF YOU GO To purchase tickets, call 214-948-0716 or visit tecotheater.org. Several productions are slated to begin early next year, including a jazz show by ALW Neo-Soul and a performance of The Audacity of Hope: A Celebration of African American Achievement. The latter will feature local actors Alex Bujvon, Keith Anderson, and Alatha Renee, who will pay homage to important history makers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Maya Angelou, and Jesse Owens. Mayela Cavillo, manager of TeCo, said she believes the upcoming season will be a success for two very special reasons. “We had a sold-out performance last weekend,” Cavillo said. “I think the fact that the playwright is African-American and the results of the presidential election greatly contributed to the increased numbers of attendees we had at the show this year.” _E-mail __silver.hogue@peoplenewspapers.com_ [1] Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=35#blog4 November 5, 2008 I am so happy to be alive! I'm happy to be an American and I'm happy to be a Black American. With roughly 338 to 156 electorate votes and the popular vote, Barack Obama has made history in succeeding in becoming the 44th President of the United States of America. The most amazing thing about this for me is that when Bill Clinton won it was like "oh, Clinton won."....when George Bush won it was like " oh, Bush won.".....when Barack Obama won it was like "we won!" ....and not even "we" as black people....but we as people; we as Americans. Like President Elect Barack Obama said, "this is for Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Gay, Straight...." God promises that his plans for us are to prosper us, and not to harm us. God has truly blessed us tonight! To God be the glory!!! *Picture from www.yahoo.com [1] Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600http://www.sequoiahouston.com/index.php?pageID=8290&offset=35#blog5 November 2, 2008 I never thought I'd ever blog. I figured if people wanted to know what was going on with me, they should just call or shoot me an e-mail......yet here I am on the blogging bandwagon. I hope you enjoy reading about what's going in my little piece of the universe. I feel like my life has been consumed with this election stuff. I've already voted, yet I'm still tuned to CNN, like hearing what one of the candidates says is going to make a difference (for me) at this point. I think it is absolutely amazing that we have had the turn out to the polls that we've had so far and I hope the number continues to grow. That said, if you haven't already done so, please go vote! Vote for the candidate that you feel will be the best president; look beyond race, age, gender and attacks...look at who will be best for your pocket book, who fits your ideals and who you honestly feel can get the country in the direction that we so desparately need it to go. Honestly, I think either candidate could get in the office and do a descent job. I feel in my heart, however, that Barack Obama is what we need as a country right now....plus, the mere thought of Sarah Palin being anywhere near the White House terrifies me. There's something about her that I just don't trust. Like just about everyone else in the country, I'm quite ready for November 5th to get here; that way we'll (hopefully) know who our next president is going to be and stop being subjected to blatant lies and needless bickering. I have to go to work tomorrow, so I'm off to bed. Prayefully one day my full time will be acting, but until then a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. With Love, Sequoia