Innervisions by Alia Henderson
Innervisions “Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vision.” -Stevie Wonder
Innervisions
Š Copyright 2003 Alia Henderson
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Library of Congress Control Number: TXu001157204 ISBN 978-0-9792851-2-7
Author: Alia Henderson Illustrations: Dominick R. Domingo Graphic Design: Jacob Johnson Editors: Carey Braswell and Shannon Fox the jonzes
“Music can measure how broad our horizons are... my mind wants to see infinity.� -Stevie Wonder
Foreward Every fall, a magical event takes place in the animal world: the annual monarch butterfly migration to Mexico. Using what scientist’s call “an internal compass”, the butterflies travel hundreds of miles to the same mountains that their ancestors left the previous spring. This inner compass helps them navigate their surroundings and guides them in the direction of their purpose. Monarch butterflies aren’t the only creatures with an internal guidance system. Humans also possess an inner compass. It is the instinct that tells us we need to take that trip, pick up the phone, or move across the country. It is something we easily use as children, but as we grow older we tend to disregard it. Perhaps we are taught to think “rationally” and trust only in logic. Social images, ever prevalent in our daily lives, dictate who we should be and what we should think. Perhaps out of a fear of the unknown, we close ourselves off from these instinctual urges, the murmuring of our inner vision. But it’s important to follow our internal compass because it guides us in the direction of our true selves and what we really want in life. Inspired by the life of Stevie Wonder, Innervisions is a story about the importance of following our internal compass. Though many thought that because he was blind that his future was limited, Stevie followed his own internal compass, regardless of what others thought. By doing so, he achieved what many considered impossible: creative genius, visionary pioneer, and humanitarian leader, Stevie Wonder created his own destiny by following his inner vision.
As a baby, Stevie was blind, he could not see. And many had a limited idea of what he could be.
They told him not to try things. They didn’t want him to fail. But Stevie didn’t listen to them. He followed his instincts. He blazed his own trail. As a toddler, he made drums out of a pot, a pan and some spoons. When his Mom heard him drumming in perfect rythmn, she was amazed it was possible. How could he know how to play that tune?!
When he was nine, he wrote a concerto on the piano that he would play. It surprised all the people who told him not to be overly ambitious. They didn’t know what to say.
He performed rock n’ roll songs by Chuck Berry on his porch as a crowd of people would listen and admire. Until a lady from his church saw and told him he was singing dirty music, then had him kicked out of the gospel choir.
His Mom didn’t want him to struggle and hired a faith healer to try and restore his sight. But Stevie said he was fine with being blind. To him, everything was alright.
He did the same things as the other kids, like jumping from trees and rooftops using his internal “sonar”. People didn’t know what to think, they put up a stink...he wasn’t supposed to go THAT far!
His grade school teacher didn’t like that he was so bold. Her words cut like a knife. She told him that he had “3 strikes against him”. He was “Black, blind, and poor and would end up making potholders for the rest of his life”.
But even when others doubted him, Stevie held his head high and continued to follow what he knew. There was something within that assured him what they’d expected of him wasn’t really true.
Though illogical his dreams seemed to be, Stevie had his feet planted firmly on the ground. What he knew to be “real” could not be measured by the five senses; taste, touch, sight, hearing, and sound
He followed the direction of his internal compass, the intuition we all have inside. It’s the subtle voice that encourages us to “buy that ticket” or the gut reaction telling us not to take that ride. So whenever Stevie felt lost on his path or was in doubt, thinking he’d gone astray. He’d pay attention to that “feeling” inside, knowing it would show him the way
Though he was blind, Stevie had a different kind of sense that helped him to make a decision.
I t’s a knowing within that led him in the right direction. He was guided by his inner vision
Stevie continued to perform on his porch, and at the age of 9, he landed a record deal. Soon he was known throughout the world as a musical genius. Stevie Wonder had mass appeal!
An innovative pioneer, humanitarian, and musical icon, Stevie broke through barriers that he once weren’t allowed. I wonder what the teacher who told him he’d amount to nothing thinks of him now? By learning through Stevie’s journey, if you follow your inner vision and do what you you believe. It will guide you to your true destiny. There’s nothing you can’t achieve!