>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

>>> WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

I´M YOUR HOST, SHAWNA RICHARDS.

A SOMETIME WRITER AND LONGTIME READER.

I INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE VIRGIN ISLANDS AUTHORS AND THEIR TALENT.

WE´LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL AUTHOR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WORK.

A STORY TELLER LIVES IN EACH OF US, AND I SO EXCITED TO GIVE OUR HOME-GROWN STORY TELLERS A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORIES.

TONIGHT´S SELECTION FROM THE BOOK HAS NUGGETS OF AUTHENTICITY, AND I´M SO HONORED TO WELCOME ITS AUTHOR, ALICIA BARNES.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO I KNOW A LOT OF OUR AUDIENCE KNOWS YOU AS A FORMER SENATOR, A FORMER COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES, SOMEONE CERTAINLY GROUNDED IN THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SPACE.

>> CORRECT.

>> AND THIS IS YOUR, I GUESS, INTRODUCTION TO OUR AUDIENCE.

>> YES.

>> AS AN AUTHOR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, I´M AN AVID READER.

I LOVE BOOKS AND I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A LOVE FOR BOOKS.

AND SO THIS WORK IS ACTUALLY MY FIRST WORK.

HOWEVER, IT´S AN OUTGROWTH OF A WORKSHOP I HAVE BEEN DOING FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

AND LITTLE KNOWN ALICIA BARNES FACT, I HAVE DONE A LOT OF SERMONETTES IN MY CHURCH.

>> I HAVE HEARD A FEW.

>> SO I HAVE DABBLED IN WRITING, BUT AS FAR AS A PUBLISHED WORK, THIS IS MY FIRST WORK.

>> SO YOU SAID YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF SERMONETTES.

AND THIS CAME OUT OF A WORKSHOP YOU WERE TEACHING?

>> CORRECT.

ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, I DEVELOPED A WORKSHOP CALLED CELEBRATING THE AUTHENTIC YOU.

IT WAS AN OUTGROWTH OF FRUSTRATIONS I WAS EXPERIENCING AT THE TIME, INSIGHTS THAT I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER JUST SPENDING TIME WITH MYSELF.

AND ASSESSING CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

AND I SAID TO MYSELF, WELL, IF THIS IS HELPFUL FOR ME, YOU KNOW, LET ME TRY TO ORGANIZE THIS IN A WORKSHOP AND PUT IT OUT THERE.

AND IT CAUGHT ON.

I MEAN, I DID IT ONCE FOR THE WOMEN IN MY CHURCH.

I WAS ASKED TO DO IT AGAIN.

AND EVENTUALLY, I WAS CALLED UPON FOR BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, YOUTH GROUPS, WOMEN´S EMPOWERMENT ACTIVITIES TO DO THIS WORKSHOP, AND SO THIS WORK IS ACTUALLY AN OUTGROWTH OF THAT.

>> WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC, YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE FOR THIS BOOK, WOMEN, MEN, OR IS IT FOR EVERYONE?

>> WELL, THERE IS AN INHERENT BIAS TO WOMEN.

YOU KNOW, BUT IT CAN BE APPLIED TO ANYONE´S LIFE.

AND WHAT I FOUND WITH THE WORKSHOP AS WELL IS THAT INHERENTLY, IT WAS DESIGNED TO EMPOWER WOMEN AND GIRLS.

BUT THEN I WAS ABLE TO TWEAK IT TO HONE IN ON VARIOUS TARGET AUDIENCES BASED ON THE REQUESTS THAT WERE COMING IN TO ME FOR THE WORKSHOPS.

I HAVE DONE IT FOR BOARDS.

I HAVE DONE IT FOR ORGANIZATIONS.

I SEEM TO HAVE LOST A SENSE OF CORE VALUE, CORE IDENTITY, SO I HAVE TAILORED IT TO UNIQUELY SERVE A SPECIFIC TARGET AUDIENCE, BUT INHERENTLY, THE WORKSHOP AND THE BOOK FOR ME, THERE´S A BIAS TO EMPOWERING WOMEN.

>> SO THIS BOOK REPRESENTS 20 YEARS OF ALICIA BARNES DOING THE WORK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS, AND I´M HAPPY YOU SAID DOING THE WORK, BECAUSE MANY PERSONS HAVE LOOKED AT THE BOOK, AND THEY´RE LIKE, OH, THAT´S AN EASY READ UNTIL THEY START TO READ IT.

AND YOU DO HAVE TO DO THE WORK.

AND IT´S DESIGNED KIND OF LIKE AN OLD FASHIONED COPY BOOK.

BACK IN THE DAY, WE HAD THE LITTLE BLACK ON WHITE COPY BOOKS.

I TRIED TO HAVE IT DESIGNED THAT WAY BECAUSE THERE´S A SECTION IN EACH SECTION.

>> I LOVE THAT WHERE YOU GET TO WRITE YOUR REFLECTIONS.

I WOULD CHALLENGE ANYONE WHO WOULD LOOK AT IT AND SAY THIS IS AN EASY READ.

IT´S NOT A LONG BOOK.

>> YEAH.

>> IT´S 40 PAGES?

>> ABOUT.

>> ABOUT 40 PAGES, BUT IN READING IT, YOU HAVE TO SIT WITH EACH SECTION.

>> AND TAKE A MINUTE.

>> THINK ABOUT IT, YEAH.

>> AND CHEW ON EVERY NUGGET.

>> YEAH.

>> ABSOLUTELY TAKE THE TIME TO DO LIKE YOU SAID, THE WORK.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> IS THAT WHERE THE TITLE CAME ON, YOU HAVE TO CHEW ON EVERY NUGGET?

>> YOU KNOW, THE IDEA WAS THAT, LIKE I SAID, I WANTED IT TO BE USER FRIENDLY.

I WANTED THE BOOK TO APPEAL TO THE NONREADER.

YOU KNOW, I´M AN AVID READER, SO 500 PAGES, THAT´S NOT INTIMIDATING FOR ME, BUT FOR ME, IT WAS A DELIVERY OF THE MESSAGE.

AND SO I WANTED THE BOOK TO BE, YOU KNOW, USER FRIENDLY, BITE-SIZED PIECES.

SO THAT´S THE IDEA OF NUGGETS INITIALLY CAME FROM, BUT THEN IT EVOLVED AS I STARTED TO LOOK AT THE PRECIOUS METALS AND KNOWING THAT IN NATURE, YOU KNOW, THEY OCCUR NATURALLY IN NUGGET FORM, SO THE BOOK EVOLVED.

SO THAT WHOLE NUGGET NOW STARTED OUT WITH JUST A BITE-SIZED AND THEN THE PRECIOUS METAL AND THEN SAVORING EACH AND EVERY NUGGET, SO IT´S EVOLVING, YOU KNOW, AS WE DELVE INTO THE BOOK.

AND THE WAY IT´S NUANCED.

>> WHAT I LIKED ABOUT JUST THE USE OF THE NUGGETS YOU TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT SECTIONS.

YOU HAVE SILVER, YOU HAVE GOLD.

>> RIGHT.

PLATINUM, PALLADIUM.

CORRECT.

>> WHAT I LIKED IS WHILE ALL OF THESE OCCUR NATURALLY, IN GETTING TO THAT FORM, THEY ALSO SUCCUMB TO PRESSURE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO WE TALK ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY WITH GOLD.

YOU KNOW, GOLD IS BEST AND IT´S PURIFIED VIA HEAT.

I TALK ABOUT THAT PROCESS, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE HAVE BEEN PURIFIED THROUGH THE TRIALS OF LIFE, WE COME FORTH AS PURE GOLD.

AND SO I SPEAK TO THE PROCESS THAT EVERYONE LIKES A NICE PIECE OF GOLD, BUT THE PROCESS TO GET TO WHAT YOU SEE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AS COMFORTABLE AS THE OUTCOME.

AND SO I SPEAK TO THAT AS IT RELATES TO OUR JOURNEY AND THE THINGS WE ENCOUNTER IN LIFE.

OFTENTIMES PEOPLE SEE THE END PRODUCT, BUT THEY DON´T SEE THE PROCESS AND WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE.

>> AND WHEN YOU SEE GOLD AND YOU SEE SILVER IN THE STORE, AND THEY´RE LOOKING NICE AND SHINA.

>> YES.

>> RIGHT, BUT I THINK SOMETIMES IN LIFE, WE ALLOW EXTERNAL FORCES, WHETHER IT´S PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SITUATIONS, CIRCUMSTANCES, TO REALLY DULL OUR SHINE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLU ABSOLUTELY.

SILVER IS THE SECTION OF THE BOOK MOST PEOPLE TELL ME THEY HAVE THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THROUGH, AND THEY REALLY HAVE TO SIT BACK AND REFLECT BECAUSE SILVER SPEAKS TO THE VERY THING THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, SHAWNA, THAT YOU SEE THE SHINY OUTCOME.

BUT OFTENTIMES AS WE KNOW FOR THOSE OF US, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM OLD SCHOOL PARENTS, YOU HAD YOUR CHINA CABINET, YOUR SILVER, AND SATURDAY MORNING YOU HAD TO POLISH THAT SILVER BECAUSE IT WILL TARNISH.

AND SO JUST LIKE US, YOU KNOW, AT TIMES WE CAN LOSE OUR SHINE.

YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE TO TAKE OUT THE POLISHING CLOTH AND POLISH AND GET BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL LUSTER.

SO THE BOOK SORT OF GOES THROUGH THAT JOURNEY AS WELL.

>> WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP, AND I KNOW YOU WERE AN ´84 GRADUATE.

>> FROM CENTRAL HIGH.

>> YES, WERE THERE BOOKS LIKE THIS WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, IF THERE WERE, I DIDN´T ENCOUNTER THEM.

THE CLOSEST BOOK I CAN SAY THAT I HAD AS A CHILD GROWING UP THAT PROVIDED ANY DEGREE OF INSPIRATION WAS THE BIBLE.

AND FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE, PSALMS 27 HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY GO-TO INSPIRATION.

SO THAT´S THE CLOSEST I HAVE GOTTEN AS A CHILD.

AS FAR AS AN INSPIRATIONAL BOOK.

I´M HOPING THIS BOOK WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG WOMEN CAN JUST REFERENCE AND LOOK TO AND REFLECT AS THEY READ THE PAGES AND RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE JOURNEY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE DESTINATION.

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE OF VALUE.

AND EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE LOST YOUR SHINE, YOU KNOW, TAKE OUT YOUR POLISHING CLOTH AND GET BACK AND KEEP GOING.

>> YOU TAKE OUT THAT POLISHING CLOTH FOR YOURSELF.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> NOT FOR ANYBODY ELSE.

>> NOT FOR ANYONE ELSE.

THAT´S WHY IT´S NUGGETS OF AUTHENTICITY.

WE FOCUS ON THE NUGGETS, BUT THE AUTHENTICITY PART IS EVEN OF MORE IMPORTANCE BECAUSE THAT´S TO THE CORE OF WHO WE ARE.

SO WHAT I AM HOPING THAT PERSONS GET FROM THIS BOOK, AS MANY HAVE GOTTEN FROM THE WORKSHOP, IS THE VALUE OF GETTING TO KNOW YOU.

OF TAKING THE TIME TO FEEL YOURSELF FEEL.

TO HEAR YOURSELF THINK.

FIND OUT WHAT YOU LIKE, WHAT YOU DON´T LIKE.

FIND OUT YOUR PURPOSE.

>> BUT ALWAYS EASIER SAID THAN DID.

>> IT´S EASIER SAID THAN DONE, AND OFTENTIMES YOU HAVE TO GET SO FAR AWAY FROM WHO YOU ARE TO REALIZE LIKE SOMETHING DOESN´T FEEL RIGHT, TO SORT OF FIND YOUR WAY BACK.

AND EVEN THAT JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY, I SPEAK IT IN THE BOOK UNDER SILVER, AND IT´S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE´RE HONEST WITH OURSELVES, AND WE TAP INTO OUR TRUE PURPOSE AND AUTHENTICITY.

AND SO THAT´S WHY IT´S CALLED NUGGETS OF AUTHENTICITY.

>> SO DID YOU THINK ABOUT WERE THERE ANY THINGS YOU LEFT OUT?

DID YOU SAY I COULD HAVE HAD A SECTION ON BRASS, A SECTION ON COPPER?

YOU HAVE SILVER, GOLD, YOU KNOW, PLATINUM, PALLADIUM.

WHAT DREW YOU TO THOSE FOUR SPECIFIC METALS?

>> THE JOURNEY, AND I ALIGNED IT WITH MY WORKSHOP.

WITH THE WORKSHOP, THE FIRST THING IS JUST DISCOVERY.

GETTING TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

AND SO THAT JOURNEY, TO ME, IT´S SILVER.

BECAUSE WE CAN LOSE OURSELVES.

SO TO GET TO KNOW WHO WE ARE, YOU HAVE TO FIRST ASSESS WHERE WE ARE.

AND THEN DO THE WORK TO GET TO THAT POLISHING CLOTH AND REALLY GET THROUGH ALL OF THE TARNISH AND EVERYTHING THAT LIFE HAS THROWN AT YOU TO BEAT YOU UP, AND THEN FIND THE TRUE YOU.

SO SILVER TO ME WAS VERY RELEVANT AND APPLICABLE TO THAT SECTION.

AND THEN PALLADIUM, I USE THAT BECAUSE, AND I USE MY OWN JOURNEY.

SOMETIMES WHEN WE AREN´T REALLY LIVING OUR TRUE LIVES, BEING OUR AUTHENTICSELVES, WE CAN GET SO OFF TRACK AND WE CAN FIND OURSELVES IN SITUATIONS THAT MAY BE GOOD, BUT MAY NOT BE GOOD FOR US.

>> RIGHT, AND I SAW THAT IN YOUR SECTION ON PALLADIUM, YOU TALKED ABOUT THINGS LIKE VALIDATION AND PROTECTING AND RESPECTING OUR PEACE.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND WHEN I SAT DOWN TO READ YOUR BOOK, AND I REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I THINK OFTENTIMES WE DON´T LEARN ABOUT BOUNDARIES UNTIL WE´RE FORCED TO PUT BOUNDARIES IN PLACE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND IT´S SO IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, I PUT MY DAUGHTER THROUGH A PERSONAL DEFENSE COURSE BEFORE SHE WENT OFF TO COLLEGE.

AND THE INSTRUCTOR SAID SOMETHING, AND YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU LEFT OUT OF THE BOOK.

WHAT I WOULD HAVE ADDED.

IF I HAD ENCOUNTERED HIM PRIOR TO WRITING THIS BOOK, I WOULD HAVE INCLUDED SOMETHING HE SAID.

>> OKAY.

>> NO IS A COMPLETE SENTENCE.

>> IT CERTAINLY IS.

>> IT´S A COMPLETE SENTENCE.

>> IT NEEDS NOTHING ELSE.

>> YOU DON´T NEED TO EXPLAIN.

JUST NO.

AND SO OFTENTIMES WE HAVE A DIFFICULTY JUST SAYING NO.

BUT IF WE -- >> BECAUSE WE FEEL WE HAVE TO JUSTIFY IT.

>> EXACTLY, AND THAT´S WHY THE BOOK, WHILE I SAID, YOU KNOW, ANYONE CAN READ IT, I HAVE AN INHERENT BIAS FOR WOMEN BECAUSE WE ARE PLEASERS.

AND WE´RE NURTURERS AND WE DON´T SET APPROPRIATE BOUNDARIES, AND WE OFTENTIMES DON´T KNOW HOW TO SAY NO.

AND NO IS A COMPLETE SENTENCE.

AND WHEN YOU -- >> DO YOU THINK A LOT OF THAT IS CULTURAL?

>> IT´S CULTURAL, ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY CULTURAL.

AND YOU KNOW, JUST SPEAKING AS VIRGIN ISLANDS WOMEN, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NURTURERS.

WE ARE ALSO FREEDOM FIGHTERS.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU KNOW.

>> MANY THINGS.

>> WE ARE MANY THINGS, AND WE TAKE ALL OF THOSE THINGS ON.

AND WE FEEL OBLIGATED.

AND WHEN WE DON´T, WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO APOLOGIZE, AND WE DON´T.

SOMETIMES WE JUST SIMPLY HAVE TO SAY NO.

AND YOU´RE ABLE TO DO THAT WHEN YOU EMBRACE YOUR AUTHENTICITY.

YOU KNOW YOUR PURPOSE.

YOU KNOW YOUR DESTINATION.

AND SO WHEN CERTAIN GOOD THINGS COME YOUR WAY, IT MAY BE A GOOD THING, BUT IT MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT THING FOR YOU.

AND THAT´S WHERE YOU CAN SIMPLY JUST SAY NO.

>> BUT YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I THINK THAT WE DON´T RECOGNIZE THE GOOD THINGS.

YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR OWN BLACK LITERATURE AND OUR BLACK EXPERIENCE, AND OUR CARIBBEAN EXPERIENCE, AND A LOT OF IT REALLY COMES FROM TRAUMA.

>> CORRECT.

>> SO WHEN THINGS FEEL GOOD, WE´RE MORE INCLINED TO SAY OH, GOSH, NO.

THAT FEELS TOO GOOD.

BUT THE STUFF THAT IS REALLY LIKE THE STRUGGLE BUS, WE´RE LIKE, YEAH, THAT´S WHAT I´M ACCUSTOMED TO.

>> AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO EMBRACE LEISURE.

OFTENTIMES LIKE MY PARENTS´ GENERATION, YOU TRAVEL FOR WEDDINGS, FUNERAL, AND GRADUATION.

>> YOU DON´T SIMPLY TRAVEL FOR VACATION.

IT´S LIKE, EVEN NOW WHEN I TELL MY MOM I HAVE TO TAKE A TRIP, OH, YOU HAVE A MEETING?

YOU´RE GOING FOR WORK?

I COULD BE LIKE, NO, I´M JUST TAKING A TRIP.

SO WE HAVE GOTTEN, YOU KNOW, PROGRAMMED INTO THINKING THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ON.

>> BUT THAT´S THE HUSTLE CULTURE.

>> THE HUSTLE CULTURE.

BUT WE LOSE SO MUCH.

WE THINK WE ARE ACTUALLY GAINING GROUND WHEN WE´RE LOSING.

BECAUSE IF WE´RE HUSTLING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, IT´S ACTUALLY NOT PROGRESS.

AND SO IF WE WERE ABLE TO STEP BACK, YOU KNOW, DISCOVER WHO WE ARE THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF SELF-ACTUALIZATION, ASSESSING WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE WANT TO GO, DISCOVERING OUR AUTHENTIC SELVES.

>> THAT´S WHERE THE NO COMES IN.

THAT NO, I´M, YOU KNOW, TOO MUCH IS ON MY PLATE RIGHT NOW.

MAYBE LATER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, I GET GREAT OFFERS TO DO WONDERFUL THINGS.

AND I HAVE LEARNED, LIKE, I CAN´T TAKE THAT ON OR THAT´S REALLY NOT, YOU KNOW, WHERE MY STRENGTH IS.

OR EVEN IF I DO HAVE A STRENGTH IN THIS AREA, IT´S NOT, YOU KNOW, A PRIORITY RIGHT NOW.

I WILL ASSIST, BUT I CAN´T TAKE THE LEAD.

SO WE HAVE TO LEARN TO BE ABLE TO KNOW OUR AUTHENTIC SELVES, KNOW EXACTLY WHAT OUR PURPOSE IS SO THAT WE CAN STAY ON TRACK AND NOT BE DISTRACTED WITH GOOD THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE GOOD THINGS FOR US AT THE MOMENT.

>> SO WHEN THE PALLADIUM SECTION OF YOUR BOOK, YOU ALSO SPOKE ABOUT IDENTITY CRISIS.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND TRYING TO BE, I GUESS, EVERYTHING FOR EVERYBODY.

>> AND EVEN TO FULFILL THE IMAGES THAT WE SEE.

YOU KNOW, AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, MILLENNIALS AND WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER GENERATION IS CALLED, BECAUSE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA NOW, WITH INSTAGRAM, WITH ALL OF THE BODY IMAGE ISSUES.

>> IT´S A LOT.

>> IT´S A LOT COMING AT THEM, AND THEY´RE SO DISTRACTED WITH EVERYTHING, TWITTER, TIKTOK, FACEBOOK, WHATEVER.

YOU KNOW, THEY´RE NOT TAKING TIME TO JUST GET TO KNOW THEMSELVES.

AND FOCUS ON WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO AND BE.

AND SO THAT WHOLE IDENTITY CRISIS ASPECT, YOU KNOW, BECOMES EVEN MORE RELEVANT TODAY THAN WHEN I WAS DOING THE WORKSHOP SOME 20 YEARS AGO, BECAUSE THERE´S SO MUCH BOMBARDING US NOW.

>> AND I ALWAYS FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT WHEN I WAS THAT AGE, THAT I DIDN´T HAVE THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I FEEL THAT WE WERE BLESSED TO NOT HAVE THIS INFORMATION OVERLOAD.

YOU KNOW, TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING IS STILL TOO MUCH.

AND I JUST THINK RIGHT NOW IS JUST TOO MUCH INFORMATION COMING AT US ALL AT ONCE.

AND SO EVEN IN THAT LIGHT, I DON´T DO TIKTOK, I WOULDN´T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.

I´M NOT ON INSTAGRAM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SET BOUNDARIES EVEN IN THAT SPACE, ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND THAT´S WHERE IN SOMETIMES SOCIAL MEDIA I THINK IS BEST DESCRIBED AS THE WILD, WILD WEST.

ANYTHING GOES.

>> ANYTHING GOES, AND AGAIN, EVEN IN THAT ARENA, YOU KNOW, IT HAS ITS VALUE, BUT AGAIN, BOUNDARIES.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR FOCUS IS, THEN YOU´RE ABLE TO TAILOR AND STREAMLINE WHAT YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO SEE.

BUT YOU THEN HAVE TO KNOW YOURSELF.

>> IN YOUR BOOK, YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES AND THE PRESSURE AND I WISH THAT YOU -- THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIGGER NUGGET.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> BECAUSE YOU SEE A LOT OF THE LENGTH THAT PEOPLE GO TO BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT CAR AND THE RIGHT THIS AND THE RIGHT THAT.

AGAIN, WITH ALL OF THOSE EXTERNAL PRESSURES FOR VALIDATION.

>> RIGHT.

AND YOU TOUCHED ON THE WHOLE VALIDATION ASPECT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU´RE LIVING AN AUTHENTIC LIFE, YOU´RE INTERNALLY VALIDATED BASED ON CORE VALUES AND YOUR INTERNAL INSPIRATION.

WHEN YOU´RE LIVING AN INAUTHENTIC LIFE, WHEN YOU´RE LIVING A PHONY LIFE OR A SUPERFISHEL LIFE, YOU´RE EXTERNALLY VALIDATED.

THE ONLY THING THAT CAN KEEP YOU SATISFIED IS IF YOU CONTINUALLY PROP YOURSELF UP WITH MATERIAL GOODS OR PRAISE FROM SOMEONE.

SO YOU´RE FOREVER ON THIS REQUEST OF BEING EXTERNALLY VALIDATED.

YOU HAVE TO BE PRAISED, YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS NEED A PAT ON THE BACK.

YOU KNOW, THE NEXT BIG THING, THE NEXT CELL PHONE THAT´S OUT, YOU NEED IT.

THE NEXT MODEL WHATEVER CAR, YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT.

BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS DONE FROM AN EXTERNAL PERSPECTIVE TO VALIDATE AN INTERNAL VOID.

AND IF WE WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO JUST -- >> FIGURE OUT WHAT´S MISSING.

>> AND FIRM UP OURSELVES INTERNALLY, WE´LL SAVE OURSELVES A LOT OF GRIEF, EXHAUSTION, TRUST ME, IT´S NOT WORTH IT.

YOU SIMPLY NEED TO TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW YOU.

AND IT BEGINS ALSO TO AVERT OUR VERTICAL RELATIONSHIP.

>> IN YOUR BOOK, YOU HAD LOTS OF GEMS.

I CAN´T EVEN CALL THEM NUGGETS.

DROPPING KNOWLEDGE, DROPPING GEMS.

ALL THROUGHOUT, BUT IS THERE A FAVORITE PASSAGE THAT YOU CAN SHARE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

SURE.

I WOULD LOVE TO.

SO MY FAVORITE, I JUST LOVE THIS SECTION.

AND EVERY TIME I READ IT, I GET GOOSEBUMPS.

IT´S GOLD.

AND IT SAYS GOLD IS A HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER RARE PRECIOUS METAL.

FOR MANY CENTURIES, GOLD HAS AND ORNAMENTATION, SYMBOLIZING WEALTH AND PROSPERITY.

IN THE BIBLE, GOLD IS CONSIDERED HOLY AND SET APART.

IT IS THE ONLY PRECIOUS METAL MENTIONED BEFORE THE FALL OF MAN.

WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT, GOLD IS PURIFIED AND STRENGTHENED.

BUT HE KNOWS THE WAY I TAKE.

WHEN HE HAS TRIED ME, I SHALL COME FORTH AS GOLD.

JOB CHAPTER 23, VERSE 10.

LIKE GOLD, WHEN EXPOSED TO LIFE´S FIERY TRIALS, WE WILL BE PURIFIED, REVEALING THE STRENGTH OF OUR AUTHENTIC SELVES.

AND I THINK THAT SUMS IT UP FOR ME.

>> AND I LOVE THAT, BUT IT ALSO MAKES ME THINK, ESPECIALLY AS BLACK WOMEN.

>> YES.

>> THAT WE ARE ALWAYS ASKED TO BE STRONG.

>> WE´RE ALWAYS -- >> SOMETIMES TO OUR DETRIMENT.

>> TO OUR DETRIMENT, AND THAT´S WHY NOT WITHSTANDING THAT EXPECTATION, YOU KNOW, IF WE TAKE EVERYTHING IN TOTALITY, WE WOULD KNOW WHEN TO STEP BACK AND WHEN IT´S OKAY TO BE WEAK.

>> OKAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO IN THE 20 YEARS OF JUST GATHERING ALL THESE NUGGETS TOGETHER AND PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, HOW DID YOU GET ALL OF YOUR NUGGETS FROM YOUR NOTES AND ALL THE DIFFERENT PLACES YOU PUT IT TOGETHER TO A BOOK, TO A PUBLISHED BOOK?

>> WELL, TRUTH BE TOLD, I´M LIKE ORGANIZED TO A FAULT, SO THAT PART WASN´T TOO CHALLENGING BECAUSE I HAD THE WORKSHOP MATERIAL, HAD ALL MY HANDOUTS, HAD ALL MY NOTES ALL IN ONE BINDER OVER THE YEARS, SO THAT WAS EASY.

HAD MY EMAILS FROM WHEN INGRID, SHE FIRST APPROACHED ME HAVING ATTENDED ONE OF MY WORKSHOPS, AND SHE SAID, YOU SHOULD REALLY REDUCE THIS TO A BOOK OR TRANSFORM IT INTO A BOOK.

I HAD HER INITIAL EMAIL, SO IT WAS LIKE TEN YEARS PRIOR TO ACTUALLY WRITING THE BOOK THAT SHE TOLD ME THAT.

AND THEN DURING THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, WE HAD ALL THIS DOWN TIME.

WE HAD TIME TO REFLECT.

YOU KNOW, I WAS GOING THROUGH MY PERSONAL JOURNEY, YOU KNOW, BEING IN THE 33rd LEGISLATURE, AND JUST COMING TO TERMS WITH CERTAIN REALITIES FOR MYSELF, AND I REACHED OUT TO INGRID AND ASKED, HEY, AND SHE WAS LIKE, I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS CALL FOR TEN YEARS.

AND SO WE JUST STARTED A JOURNEY MARCH 20th, BUT IT WAS NOT THAT DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE HAD SO MUCH MATERIAL.

AND I JUST ALSO HAD SOMETHING BUBBLING UP ON THE INSIDE OF ME TO JUST REALLY ONCE AND FOR ALL GET IT PUBLISHED.

SO THAT PART WASN´T VERY -- THAT PART WAS ACTUALLY THE EASY PART.

>> SO IN YOUR BOOK, AND IN ENCOURAGING THE READER, AGAIN, WITH A BIAS TOWARD WOMEN, TO BE AUTHENTIC, ARE YOU SAYING TO THAT READER, IT´S OKAY TO NOT ALWAYS BE STRONG, IT´S OKAY TO NOT ALWAYS BE RESILIENT?

IT´S OKAY?

>> YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD SAY, IT´S ALWAYS OKAY TO BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.

IN THAT MOMENT.

AND TO DO WHAT YOU KNOW IS THE RIGHT THING FOR YOU TO DO THAT IS ALIGNED WITH YOUR PURPOSE AND YOUR CALLING.

NOT WITHSTANDING WHAT JOHN Q.

PUBLIC MAY SAY, BUT EVEN TO MAKE IT MORE PERSONAL.

OFTENTIMES IT´S NOT JOHN Q.

PUBLIC.

IT´S THOSE CLOSEST TO YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS THAT MAY HAVE AN EXPECTATION.

AND THEY MEAN WELL.

AND IT´S WELL INTENTIONED, BUT IF IT´S NOT ALIGNED WITH WHAT YOU KNOW INTERNALLY YOU SHOULD BE DOING, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION TO BE STRONG FOR YOURSELF.

AND THAT MAY APPEAR WEAK TO OTHERS.

>> AND IN GIVING YOURSELF GRIEF FOR GROWTH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHICH IS SOMETHING WE DON´T ALWAYS DO.

>> GRACE FOR GROWTH, AND ALSO THE GRACE TO QUOTE/UNQUOTE DISAPPOINT AND BE OKAY WITH THAT.

YOU HAVE TO BE OKAY WITH THAT BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WELL INTENTIONED EXPECTATIONS AREN´T IN YOUR BEST INTEREST.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE OKAY WITH SETTING THOSE BOUNDARIES AND RECOGNIZE THAT NO IS A COMPLETE SENTENCE.

>> THIS BOOK, WOULD YOU DEFINE IT AS SELF-HELP, INSPIRATIONAL?

HOW WOULD YOU CATEGORIZE NUGGETS?

>> I WOULD CHARACTERIZE IT AS SELF-HELP IN SOME INSTANCES.

INSPIRATIONAL IN OTHERS.

AND A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

BUT IT´S REALLY DESIGNED TO REALLY HELP THE INDIVIDUAL GET, IF THEY KNEW THEMSELVES AND THEY LOST THEMSELVES, TO GET BACK.

OR IF THEY NEVER TOOK THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW THEMSELVES, TO DO THAT.

SO THAT´S THE SELF-HELP PART.

THE INSPIRATIONAL PART FOR ME IS I´M HOPING THAT AS THEY READ THE WORDS AND I HAVE EVEN SPOKEN ABOUT MY PERSONAL JOURNEY, THAT PERSONS WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS A JOURNEY.

AND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE MOMENTS OF FAILURE, DISAPPOINTMENT.

YOU´RE GOING TO LOSE YOUR SHINE.

BUT THAT´S NOT THE END OF THE ROAD.

THAT´S JUST ALONG THE ROAD.

JUST TAKE OUT YOUR POLISHING CLOTH, POLISH.

>> GIVE YOURSELF A BUFF.

GOOD GIVE YOURSELF A PASS.

GIVE YOURSELF THE OPPORTUNITY TO MESS UP.

YOU KNOW, AND BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE JOURNEY.

SO THAT´S THE INSPIRATIONAL PART.

>> WOULD THAT BE YOUR ADVICE TO OTHER STORYTELLERS?

OTHER WOULD-BE WRITERS OUT THERE, TO GIVE THEMSELVES A CHANCE?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE´RE TOO HARD ON OURSELVES, AS YOU GUYS SAID.

WE´RE OFTEN OUR BIGGEST, OUR HARDEST CRITICS.

WE PRESSURE OURSELVES UNNECESSARILY.

I THINK SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO RELAX.

YOU KNOW, I THINK OF THE STORY OF THE SPARROWS, YOU KNOW, THEY´RE LOOKING AT HUMAN BEINGS SCURRYING AROUND ON EARTH.

AND THEY´RE LIKE, WHAT´S GOING ON WITH THEM?

AND THE SPARROW WAS LIKE, WELL, THEY MUST NOT HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER LIKE OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.

SOMETIMES WE JUST SIMPLY NEED TO JUST CUT OURSELVES SOME SLACK.

>> SO NOW THAT YOU HAVE NUGGETS OF AUTHENTICITY PUBLISHED, UNDER YOUR BELT, WHAT´S NEXT?

>> I´M ACTUALLY WORKING ON A DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN DOING NOW FOR MAYBE 30 YEARS, YOU KNOW, I START MY DAY READING MY BIBLE, A CUP OF COFFEE AND A JOURNAL.

AND A DEVOTIONAL.

AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH SO MANY DEVOTIONAL JOURNALS, 365 DAYS WITH GOD, 365 DAYS FOR WOMEN.

SO I´M WRITING, YOU KNOW, 365 DAYS OF AUTHENTICITY.

SO A NUGGET PER DAY IS WHAT I´M WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> AND I HOPE THAT WHEN THAT HITS THE SHELVES WE´LL HAVE YOU BACK ON "THE BOOKCASE" TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> GREAT.

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL TALENT ALICIA BARNES AND OUR BOOK "NUGGETS OF AUTHENTICITY."

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS BOOK OR ANY OF THE TITLES FEATURED ON THIS PROGRAM, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.WTJX.ORG.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORS AND WE´LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN WE TAKE ANOTHER BOOK FROM "THE BOOKCASE."

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THE ONE THING YOU FEEL MOST STRONGLY IS FEAR.

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