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Lentheus Chaney EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Clorissa X. Wright MANAGING EDITOR Carlton Powell DIVERSITY FEATURES EDITOR Dr. Rondrick Williamson HEALTH & WELLNESS EDITOR
FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE! @urbanluxmag Š Urban Luxury Media, LLC 2014. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher Urban Luxury Media. The views expressed in Urban Lux Magazine are those of the respective contributors and are not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff. The registered office of Urban Luxury Media is 6040 Dawson Blvd., Suite F, Norcross, GA 30093. All information contained in the magazine is for information only and is as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Urban Luxury Media cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such format. Readers are advised to contact manufactures and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this magazine. If you submit unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant Urban Luxury Media a license to publish your submission in whole, or in part, in all editions of the magazine, including licensed editions worldwide and in any physical or digital format throughout the world. Any material you submit is sent at your risk and, although every care is taken, neither Urban Luxury Media nor its employees, agents or subcontractors shall be liable for loss or damage. Published four times a year by Urban Luxury Media, LLC 4565 Kent Road Atlanta, GA 30337
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A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR THE YEAR OF NO BOUNDARIES
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rban Lux Magazine starts off every year striving to showcase all things extraordinary.
Since 2009 it has remained our goal to bring you interviews of substance, point you in the direction of the best getaways, restaurants and gadgets and light your path to a fully luxurious lifestyle. We’ve turned the heat up for 2016! As we take our own advice and Photography by JUSTIN MARTIN step outside the paper box and expand our digital platform, we want to envelop you into an interactive, more visual experience. You asked for an up close and personal experience and we plan to deliver—starting
with live interviews, enhanced social media experiences and more. Just like the features within these pages, we are taking chances. We’re not scrapping traditional practices but we are embracing the new—new technology, new platforms and new avenues. Come along with us and embark on a year of elevated living. Cut the strings, color outside of the lines and dare to be bold. Cheers to a year of new. A year of YOU.
Lentheus Chaney
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CONTRIBUTORS J. WESLEY J. Wesley was born in Newark, NJ and holds a Bachelors in Sociology, a Masters in Education, a Certificate in Pastoral Counseling. He loves education and believes strongly that with knowledge comes much power and accountability. He is an author, an educator, singer, public speaker, spiritual coach, minister, higher education professional, and social advocate. Wesley has accomplished a lot and contributes his success to God, family, friends and supporters. jwesley.org
AMELIA PAVLIK As a freelance writer and editor, Amelia has a weakness for all things fitness and wellness. Her “spare” time is spent writing about a range of lifestyle topics for regional and national magazines, teaching everything from cycling to resistance training classes, and trying out the latest spa treatments and boutique fitness classes for her weekly blog. Learn more about her editorial and fitness experience at @fitbelleatl.
BRIAN HAMPTON Brian describes himself as a personal style instructor. Style has always been a huge part of who he is. Through the years, he has come to find that there is indeed a connection between the way a person dresses and the way they feel about themselves. Knowing this, Brian believes that we should dress as if we belong to a Great God who thinks very highly of us. @_dresslikeagent
DIRK SMITH Dirk’s life’s purpose is to coach business professionals in all aspects of managing their career. As a Professional Career Coach & Registered Corporate Coach for 15-years, he understands the recruiting and hiring process from the decision maker’s perspective which results in offering guidance looking through the lens of the decision-makers versus the individual. @AGentleman955
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CONTENTS 8
LUX APPROVED IT’S A BEARD THING
10 FIND YOUR INSPIRATION LIVING OUTSIDE THE BOX
12 STYLE RESORT 2016: MOCHACHINO
26 FEATURE
WILL PACKER
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32 CULTURE
BIG DREAMS SMALL SPACE
34 COMMUNITY PAINTING HOPE AROUNF THE WORLD
37 LUX DESTINATIONS A NEW LOOK FOR A NEW YEAR
38 LUX LOVE LET IT GO
38 ON THE COVER: WILL PACKER
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WILL PACKER LIVING FEARLESSLY &
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BIG DREAMS TINY HOUSE ONE WOMAN’S QUEST TO GO SMALL LIVING OUTSIDE THE BOX WHAT’S STOPPING YOU?
Photography: Drexina Nelson
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IT’S A BEARD THING WITH today’s big rave about beards and the growing number of guys joining the “beard gang”, it is expected of anyone who chooses to rock the bearded look that it be well kept and maintained. Surprisingly, not every bearded man is familiar with how to grow a healthy, well-conditioned beard. This is where the Scotch Porter Beard Balm comes into play. Unlike other beard care products on the market today, the Nude Beard Balm is made of natural ingredients, which not only give shine, but also conditions and softens the beard to eliminate frizz and stray beard hairs. So fellas, if you want to make sure your beard isn’t dry-looking and is properly managed, be sure to check out Scotch Porter’s Nude Beard Balm, Moisturizing Beard Wash or the Hydrate & Nourish Beard Conditioner products online at scotchporter.com. Story by LENTHEUS CHANEY
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Photography by JUSTIN MARTIN
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FIND YOUR INSPIRATION
LIVING OUTSIDE “THE BOX” WHAT’S STOPPING YOU? Story by DIRK DUAN SMITH - Professional Career Coach | Registered Corporate Coach
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ntering a new year always presents an optimal time to reflect on a wide range of areas in your life. For many, a theme most often commanding attention is your career. Many people spend countless hours working in jobs they do not like and with people they have no interest in working with. A primary reason for the unfortunate loathing of your job is the work, itself, is not in alignment with your innate or natural gifts. So, what do you do? “You can get fired from a job, but you can’t get fired from your gift. So find your gift and you will always have work.” ~ Anon The first thing to do is find a quiet space, clear your mind and ponder the question “Who am I?” On the surface, the question seems simple and innocent. However, answering it is a bit more complex and requires deep introspective thinking to unlock the combination of gifts that are inherent only to you. What comes effortless to you? What do you get lost in doing where time seems to fly by? What do you do so easily that others have to work harder to do the exact same things? What are you passionate about? Your answers will help pinpoint your “gifts” which ultimately equates to your unfair competitive advantage. This means it is unfair others have to work hard to do the same things that are unproblematic for you. “Man can alter his life by altering his thinking.” ~ William James, American Philosopher & Psychologist LIVE OUTSIDE THE BOX What is this so-called “box” that provides artificial boundaries to which we give so much power over our life? It does nothing more than cast self-doubt and camouflages our ability to have the courage to confidently step outside of it. It is time to take a new uninhibited perspective on your life and walk into your destiny by creatively discovering new opportunities to utilize your gifts. Be open to creatively investigating and exploring non-traditional possibilities. GIFTS IN ACTION True story. There was a man who completed graduate school and was very unhappy in his job. He had an extensive and disjointed non-linear career as a graphic artist, photojournalist, operations manager and human resources recruiter. One day he was asked the powerful question, “Who are you?” After much self-reflection over several days, his answers revealed he had innate propensities toward: counseling and mentoring people, a natural knack for creativity, inherent teaching and training abilities, and instinctive listening and deductive reasoning abilities.
“What are you passionate about?” he was asked. With no hesitation, he immediately answered, “I want to help people find their purpose.” That was, of course, after he could find his! The conversation was 17 years ago and with well over 1800+ clients later, the man trying to find his way and purpose was me. I had to self-reflect, step outside of my self-imposed box before I could boldly and confidently enter a profession that had no connection to my previous positions. However, now, my work uses all of my natural abilities and makes my job not seem like work. What a liberating feeling! Today’s world is full of “boxes” and stifling borders. As you enter a new year, now is the best time to answer the questions: Who am I? What are my inherent gifts? Who needs people like me based on my gifts? What am I passionate about? I encourage you to give yourself permission to move outside of this imaginary square and confidently walk into the New Year using your innate gifts. Align them with your passion and you’ll, honestly, get paid to do something you’d do for free!
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STYLE
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RESORT 2016 MOCHACHINO Photography by SABRE MOCHACHINO Models: JASMINE MICHELLE RIGGINS & NICK DENBEIGH Styling & Make-Up: NYOKA GREY
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STYLE
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STYLE
Tomato Stretch Sateen LifeGuard Shorts - $125 Red, White & Black Leaf Print Shirt - $110
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Rayon Challis Sport Stripe Tribal Print Lounge Pants - $105
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STYLE
Candy Pink & Navy Status Print Cocktail Sheath Dress- $280
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STYLE
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Aegean Blue & Gold Status Print Swim Briefs - $80 Royal Blue & Gold Chinese Brocade Emperor’s Robe - $275
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STYLE
Matte Jersey Retro Print Jumpsuit - $266
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STYLE
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Tomato Red/ Sport Striped Rayon Jersey Lounge Pants - $85
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FEATURE - WILL PACKER 26
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WILL PACKER LIVING FEARLESSLY &
CONQUERING HOLLYWOOD Story by CLORISSA WRIGHT
2015 was the year of the man. As we all bobbed our heads to Jidenna’s new men’s anthem, Classic Man, Hollywood’s favorite producer Will “Power” Packer was busy in the studio working on movie and television gold. You’ve undoubtedly been under a rock if you didn’t enjoy one of the many Will Packer experiences in 2015. His NBC TV series Truth Be Told starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Vanessa Lachey brought laughs back to Friday night television and his films The Wedding Ringer and Straight Outta Compton brought in nearly $300 million dollars at box offices worldwide. He’s been on the same mission for his whole life—and there’s no stopping his momentum. ~ continued on page 28
Photography by DREXINA NELSON Hair: REGINALD DOSS Grooming: DENISE TUNNELL Wardrobe Stylist: LEAH TAYLOR for TAYLOR-ECTOR STUDIOS
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FEATURE - WILL PACKER
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“I had a dream! Growing up I always knew that I wanted to be in business for myself. I wasn’t sure exactly what I was after but I knew that I didn’t want to work for anyone else. In college, the opportunity finally presented itself.”
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LIVING FEARLESSLY
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illiam Packer is a St. Petersburg, Florida native. In 1996, he graduated from the historic Florida A&M University with magna cum laude honors and his Bachelors in electrical engineering. Two years before graduating college, Packer and his fraternity brother (and future business partner), Rob Hardy raised funds to produce and direct their first collaborative production, Chocolate CIty. Visibility of the $20,000 independent film boosted dramatically after the duo brokered a national distribution deal through Blockbuster Video stores. With independent success fresh on his heels, Packer ran full speed ahead and never looked back. “When you’re in college and you don’t know what you don’t know, sometimes that’s the best way to learn—and the best launching pad for a career. I was fearless in college and made a bunch of mistakes in terms of filmmaking. Fortunately for me, it panned out.” That same year Will and Rob founded the Rainforest Films Corporation. As the producer, Will shouldered the responsibility of figuring out how to make, market and distribute their first major film, Trois without any Hollywood support. He cheerfully reminisces about that major turning point in his career. Because the independent film was able to turn a profit, he earned the respect of industry colleagues and heavy-hitters who at one point wouldn’t return his calls. The imprint would go on to birth other cult classics like Trois 2, direct to DVD releases like Motives and Puff, Puff, Pass and theatrical releases like Stomp the Yard, Think Like a Man and the box office favorite, Ride Along, starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart. Will’s innate ability to be personable, foster relationships, build credibility and close deals seems to have paid off. Never one to stay in the proverbial box, the creative thinker always has his business strategy hat on. He credits social media for recently providing another, more “everyone” friendly platform that has aided in advertising efforts. “...people are using social media to make buying decisions. Social media connects us in a we didn’t have before. In a way that traditional marketing can’t, you can position our project in a favorable light.”
Grateful for what he’s been able to establish, Will pays it forward with information and knowledge whenever possible. While mentoring up-and-coming filmmakers, he recommends that their first order of business should be to create something then go out and generate their own buzz. He shares that it’s up to them to force Hollywood to pay attention to them. He notes that showing that you have an audience and profit potential is critical to gaining traction—especially since we are in the most digitally dominant time in our history.
CONQUERING HOLLYWOOD In the grand scheme of life, most of us strive to make your parents proud or impress our peers. The veteran producer has been in the game for over 20 years and usually after two decades on a job, it’s time for retirement. Ask Will what 20 years means to him and he’ll tell you that it’s just the beginning—he is just getting started. Over the years, he has found inspiration through mentors, colleagues and peers like Michael Strahan, Steve Harvey and Kevin Hart. He appreciates their superior work ethic and drive— and feeds off of that type of energy. “I have been very supported by others in my line of work. I’ve established great relationships.” After the dissolution of Rainforest Films in 2014, Will poured all of his energy into his namesake corporation, Will Packer Productions (formed in 2013). Under this umbrella, he joined forces with Universal Pictures and produced About Last Night, The Wedding Ringer, Think Like a Man Too, No Good Deed and Ride Along 2. In April 2015, Packer embarked upon the remake of a classic, historical mini-series. Undertaking any remake is a daunting task in a normal situation, but taking on Alex Haley’s Roots is the type of make-or-break project that play-it-safe producers avoid. Not this outside-the-box producer! Jet setting across the country and spending time in three states in one week for multiple projects, he has dedicated a large portion of his energy to the retelling of the original 1977 miniseries that is a staple in most AfricanAmerican families movie collections.
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We are not surprised that he boldly names this as one of the most challenging project that he’s ever worked on. Every aspect of this film is important to depict correctly. “To even attempt to remake something as iconic as Roots is a big risk,” says Packer. “I want to make sure that we get it right. People think they know the story. Today’s younger generation really believe that they know our story in its entirety but sadly, current teachings are diluting the facts related to the true events surrounding the slave trade.” This serious historical film is set to air on The History Channel, A&E and Lifetime simultaneously with a Packer-approved cast and director. “It is going to be a major, major television event and I am so very excited about it and so proud to be a part of it. The fact that three networks are going to air it shows the high-level commitment of everyone involved.“
ON LIVING LIFE “For me, it’s about balance. I am able to work so hard in my professional career because I have a great balance in my personal life. For me, it’s really about putting family first and letting them keep me grounded.” -Packer on the routines of successful people Packer is a doting family man and has no problem stating that they are the fuel and drive behind his enthusiasm. He feels blessed that he has not been forced into a catch-22, having to choose between career and family. With his beautiful wife Heather, Packer lives in Atlanta. He lovingly shares that she is the person to keep him going through doubtful times. As his number one cheerleader, she helps to keep everything in perspective, “...we all need someone in our corner that’s gonna cheer us on, tell us when we suck and do what it takes to help us rebuild and become great again.” He is the father of a junior in college, a high school sophomore, and eighth grader and a fifth grader—who are all honor roll students. He and his wife keep their children grounded by teaching giving and not allowing them to take things for granted. They also have a family tradition of giving back by donating to charitable organizations and hands-on time at homeless shelters. ~ continued on page 30
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“I am continually trying to be better and trying to work hard and do the best that I can. I want to be the best me that I can be. I want everyone to be the best that they can be. If we all try to do that, we can make huge change in this world.” Citing his amazing support system, he proposes that everyone have a foundation of self-belief before looking at other sources for uplifting. In a motivational tone, he speaks very highly of the importance of believing in yourself first and self-validate.
2016 AT A GLANCE With nearly 40 movies and television shows in his portfolio, we can count on his upcoming productions to bring our emotions out. Starting with the release of Ride Along 2 (scheduled to hit theaters January 15th), followed by the weekly ABC sitcom Uncle Buck starring Nia Long and Mike Epps (his television debut) in the spring. The rest of the year will deliver the highly anticipated Roots film and A Meyers Christmas to hit the big screen in the fall. Of course we had to dig into the vault to find out who’s on Packer’s “wish list” of actors. We were pleased to find greats like Denzel, Will Smith and Morgan Freeman followed by young guns, Michael B. Jordan and Zoe Kravitz. “I’m looking forward to working with as many talented people as possible.” He has promised us laughter, cries and drama—and we know it a promise that he’ll keep. We’ll also keep a watch out to see if his beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers or one of his favorite NFLers, Cam Newton will make their way to the Superbowl. Stay up to date on Will’s upcoming projects at willpackerprods.com and on social media: Twitter & Instagram: @WillPowerPacker - Facebook: Will Packer.
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CULTURE
BIG DREAMS
SMALL SPACE Story by LENTHEUS CHANEY
WHAT STARTED OUT as a innocent agreement between a little girl and her mother became reality when Jewel Pearson decided she wanted to follow her dream of living a simpler life. In 1992 Jewel was raising a kindergartner who promised to buy her mom an RV so that she could follow her when she made it big one day. Jewel’s daughter has since graduated from law school and in a ten year process, Jewel has downsized from a four bedroom house, to a one bedroom apartment and now to a 360 square foot tiny home. After getting laid off, Jewel finally took the leap of faith. She says, “I wanted to use that down time to focus on building my tiny house, as well as build the tiny house to change my lifestyle so as to not have to worry about being laid off again.” The ability to still thrive even when faced with unemployment is a comfort that many tiny home owners share. After researching for almost two years, Jewel worked with designers to help translate her vision to plans and was able to create a space that is uniquely her own. She describes her style as “ethnic chic.” With a newfound sense of freedom, Jewel has taken her quest for living a simpler life and turned it into something very special. She now offers her expertise to others looking to go small. Prospective tiny home owners can book a tour of her home, purchase the plans to her tiny home or consult with her to assist in making their tiny dreams come true. Learn more about Jewel, book a tour or view more images of her tiny home at msgypsysoul.com.
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Photography by GLYN A STANLEY
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COMMUNITY
PAINTING HOPE
AROUND THE WORLD Story by BRIAN HAMPTON
THE DIRE NEED to administer assistance to countless lives in third-world countries is one that often seems to be a helpless battle. In fact, most people feel so helpless that they end up doing nothing at all thinking that their efforts to help out are practically futile. On the contrary, the benefit of having people with a heart to contribute to these urgent needs proves to generate a collective heartbeat toward the more less-fortunate nations of the world. After all, we all are pretty knowledgeable about the fact that these countries are in need of food, clean water, financial & medical assistance, etc. Global Paint for Charity, Inc. (AKA “GPC” or “Global Paint”) is another notable non-profit organization with a brilliant plan focused on securing the future of our children and their environments through shipping paint throughout the world. GPC founded in 2010 by CEO Rony Delgarde, is the organization that we want to get the word out about to increase awareness and help facilitate further sponsorship.
Every year, homeowners throw out about 64K gallons of paint which end up in landfills, our soil and gradually seep into our drinking water. Rony Delgarde, a Haitian American, was inspired when first arriving in the U.S. at a young age. Upon landing, he immediately took attention to the vibrantly colored homes and professional buildings in the city of Miami. Rony thought to himself many years later that there were plenty of housing projects globally that could use some serious beautifying not only for appearance sake, but additionally to help the growing issue of environmental preservation. With 1 billion rural residents and 600 million urban residents living in unsanitary and overcrowded spaces, this would eventually prove to be an amazing idea that would generate a huge following of supporters and volunteers. Just 1 gallon of paint on dirt and mud walls can serve as a barrier to hundreds of life-threatening and infectious diseases.
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r. Delgarde’s GPC site outlines the following alarming details: “90% of the 2.5 billion people living on less than $2/ day in the developing world can’t save enough money to buy a 5 gallon bucket of paint which typically sells for $89.99 – $130.99 a bucket.” The idea is to collect paint and have it shipped to these developing countries for the purpose of housing rehabilitation initiatives including hospitals, family homes, schools, churches and orphanages. Their mission, “to improve global lives by providing color, hope, happiness and encouragement to those in need while keeping paint out of landfills.” And with a great host of paint donations from residential households and commercial businesses, GPC has managed to paint 1500 family homes including 40 schools, 12 orphanages and 17 churches and homeless shelters. With just 5 years in the works and an outstanding head start in realizing this vision, the organization is ecstatic about what is ahead in its near future and has developed a strategic plan to increase its influence globally. For more information on how to donate paint, volunteering, and partnership, please visit GPC at globalpaints.org.
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LUX DESTINATIONS
A New Look for a New Year Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta Gets a Facelift Story by AMELIA PAVLIK
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hic grays with pops of color here and there. Modern furniture with clean lines. Gray marble and oversized showers. Behold, the fresh look for the rooms at Midtown’s luxury hotel gem, Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta. Recently, I was invited to spend the night in one of the redesigned rooms — and I jumped at the chance. For years, I’ve thought that this sleep spot was home to the best customer service in town, but the rooms were a bit antiquated compared to those at other hotels in town. But not anymore! The new design is courtesy of New York-based design firm, Meyer Davis. Currently, almost half of the rooms have been renewed, and the second phase of the refreshment project is slated to begin later this year. When I walked into my corner king room, I immediately loved the gray decor peppered with white and colorful accents (think crisp white bed linens and orange arm chairs). There was also a neat dark wood round table with a quasi banquet where you can snuggle up and enjoy some tastes from Bar Margot (Ford Fry’s restaurant — of Optimist and Marcel fame — which is the hotel’s spot for lunch and dinner) without ever having to leave your room. There’s also the latest technology including a 55-inch flat screen that welcomed me (name and all) and an iPod docking station. And I loved the oversized shower with the rainforest shower head. Oh, and to complement my one-night stay, I enjoyed the same benefits that I’ve always thought made the hotel top-notch including access to the amazing fitness center and salt water pool, turn down service, and town car service to spots within 7 miles of the Four Seasons. So, my verdict? Thanks to this facelift, I feel like one of my favorite sleep spots is back to being one of the city’s top A list options. Cheers to a fabulous new look for the new year! For more information about the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, visit fourseasons.com/atlanta.
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LUX LOVE
LET IT GO! Story by J. WESLEY
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he great gospel legend Milton Brunson pinned and recorded a familiar song. “I am free. Praise the Lord, I’m Free. No longer bound. No more chains holding me. My soul is resting. It’s just a blessing. Praise the Lord, Hallelujah I’m FREE!” Normally this song is sang during the homegoing celebrations of our loved ones with the hope that their soul is at peace. Free from a world of suffering. The congregation mourns the fact that a loved has departed, but on the other hand there is rejoicing because the loved one is free from the bondage of the flesh. Do you believe that freedom only exist when we leave this life? Life is a journey comprised of experiences that are designed to mold us into stronger beings that can teach others through our example. Our struggles and experiences should never be taken for granted nor diminished. However, the struggles come to build stamina for the other trials that are to follow. I pose to you a series of questions: “How do you handle tribulation? How do you compartmentalize what has happened to you during your life that was out of your control? How do you handle what you have done to others? During your times of transition from relationships, employment and other areas, what spirit(s) did you allow to enter that still has control over you until this present day?” As you have taken the time to ponder over the proposed questions, you might discover that there are some negative things that have happened to you that is causing stagnation. We sometimes believe that if we do not address the trauma in our lives, that it will just disappear. That ladies and gentleman is just a fairy tale. Our childhood trauma if unresolved grows into adulthood drama which makes it very difficult to live a life that can be meaningful instead of defensive. It’s in the place of defense where we don’t allow ourselves to embrace love, hope, truth and a different perspective of how life can be.
We have allowed the hurt, fear and anxiety to keep us locked in our own fairy tale to the extent that we have become numb to reality as well as the many possibilities that life has in store for us. If a word of encouragement can be offered to you in this season, it would be to let it go. Whatever you have acknowledged your “it” to be, just know that as long as you continue to hold on to the corpse, the longer you will remain in the graveyard. There are some things in our lives that just had to die so that we could live. The challenge is being able to let the dead thing go so that you can truly be free. Some relationships that we have held on to, offenses that others have committed against us, and the list goes on. Ask God to forgive you, you forgive others and forgive yourself. It is not always an easy task, but it is a much needed one in order to truly sing the song of Milton Brunson “I am free. I am free. Praise the Lord I’m free. No longer bound. No more chains holding me. My soul is resting. It’s just a blessing. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah I’m Free”. Today make a choice to let it go and be free. Be free from the offense, the hurt, the betrayal and the pain. You can live without it.
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