The message I got from watching Pinky and the Brain cartoons

One thing I have to say about the Brain is that he NEVER gave up on trying to take over the world. No matter how many times he failed, the very next episode he forgot about his past mishaps and tried a new way of accomplishing the goal. I must say, the Brain was a very optimistic little dude and I respect him for that. That is the same thing I want people to live by. Not necessarily saying that I want people to fail at every attempt they make to do great things, but just NEVER giving up and knowing that one day soon, all that hard work will pay off. I don't think my generation really knows about hard work, they just want the outcome of it. You have to lay down a foundation in order to build a house, you can't just build a house on uneven land because it will eventually fall over.

Pinky was that friend, you know that one friend that kept a person from reaching their goals. He was the friend that you keep at a distance because he messed up too much. He never took anything seriously. Every time the Brain was close, here comes Pinky dumb ass messing ish up! He never listened, if you're a part of a team, you must work together, not do your own thing. You stay away from people that posses those qualities . It's going to be friends and family that you love to pieces and think that because you knew them for years and years that they have to be there on your "come up", and that is not the case. Those people are blocking your blessings and will enable you from doing you. That's why you have to watch the company you keep and not all people are good people. You never truly know a person until you lived with them, have a baby by them or some ish goes down and their behinds is no where to be found. You want to have people in your corner with the same ambitions. I once read this, if you want to be a CEO, you attach yourself to a person or people that is already living that dream because that is where you want to be. If all you do is hang around a friend that doesn't work and is lazy, then you will become that over time. Remain motivated and with people that push you to do your best! 

Fat Girl Slim

I've been a big girl for more than HALF my life. I would say about 16 years. Being fat and in school was the worst experience of my life, especially during my junior high school years. My peers used to tease me everyday, talk about how my legs where shaped funny (i'm knocked kneed), every time I would eat, it was a joke coming from somebodies mouth, I just felt like the target in my classroom everyday and I hated going to school. I remember telling my mother "I'm fat and ugly" and her saying "No you're not, who told you that? you're beautiful" and I just didn't believe her. Yea I would laugh and I would even joke on myself but deep down inside I was hurting and very embarrassed  just thinking about it has me tearing up, it stuck with me for years. It held me back from a lot of things, I settled for the jerks because I thought they were the only ones that wanted me, I used to feel like I wasn't worthy of true love, always thinking if someone is judging me, walk into a room with people laughing and thinking "are they laughing at me?". This is where my anti-social, afraid to be who I am, very insecure and lack of self love developed. I must admit I grew up with these things programmed in my head and I didn't start loving me for me and knowing my worth until I turned 25. 

My high school days wasn't as bad. I became what I call "The Fat Funny Friend", hey I had to find my niche so it was be funny or bully ppl so they wouldn't fuck with you cause they're scared you might sit on them. And since I wasn't about that life, I chose the funny shit. Fast forward 5 years, age 18. I was losing weight that summer, working, nobody could tell me my shit stink lol. Met my daughter's father and let's just say, I blew UP and not in a good way. Before I got pregnant I was eating always eating. He was skinny so he never gained the weight, but I did! At one point of time we lived together and everyday he brought home Popeyes, chinese, heroes, whatever I wanted I got. I also got something else I didn't want, an EXTRA 50 plus pounds!! Chile I blew up like the marshmallow man. ( I think that mofo got me fatter on purpose). Then I found out he was cheating on me and I am an emotional eater, I kept eating to drown my sorrows. October 2007, found out I was pregnant and I was so scared because how could I love somebody else when I didn't even love myself. I lost myself during my whole pregnancy, I was a total different person, I didn't go out, stayed in bed all day, didn't do my hair, separated from my friends, they would call weeks on end and I wouldn't answer. He kept cheating and I kept eating digging myself in a deep depression, in a maze and I had no clue how to get out. June 6th 2008, the best day of my life, giving birth to my Kimorah!!!! :) once she got here it was all about her. 

In July 2011, I met one of my really good friends John, I think he was sent in my life for a reason. We grew closer over the next 2 years. I found out he was into fitness, body banging all that so I kind of joked around at 1st just because it was an interest of his and I just wanted an excuse to see him lol. He worked out with me, he took time to tell me what exercises to do for what area I was having the most trouble with, he looked up a diet plan for me and everything. He was the one who said go get that gym membership to Lucille Roberts what do you have to lose?. Yea he's saying all this and I just wasn't focused at that moment. I think I wasn't fully ready for the change and for the hard work. I was only doing it for attention BUT as I started the gym, I grew to love it and the motive to impress him turned to impressing ME! I loved what I was seeing in the mirror, exercising felt like great sex and a major stress release. I started noticing my double chin going up, my thighs going down, stomach going in, and my back rolls going from 6 to 4 lol. I really thank John because when I had doubts, he talked to me and was there through the whole process. He even went food shopping with me that is a true friend and supporter and I will always cherish him for that. I don't think he knows how much of an impact he had on my life. That's all it takes, one person to have your back when you're afraid to fall to say I got you, don't worry.  

I became obsessed with clean eating, don't ask me how I found out about it but I started my research and I just had to do it. I don't know how I came across Sexy Shred on twitter, and I take that as a sign! Plus it was based on clean eating, the same thing I was so curious to try, yea it was meant for me to end up doing this challenge. I sent an e-mail thinking, "I won't get sponsored" and guess what, I got it. Sexy Shred is a lifestyle change consisting of multiple challenges, support group of 500 plus people, and clean eating. Who know I, Shaniqua L Hargett, would love to cook every damn day lol. 

Moral of my blog is that I been struggling with my weight, so every pound I lose, I celebrate them! I'm loving me more each day and I love looking in the mirror, I love feeling good and light, I lost almost 50lbs and counting. Me being able to jog 4 laps straight without stopping was something I never thought I would be able to do. Also, I wanted to tell my story for those going through the weight struggle just keep going, don't let people discourage you and tell you that you can't do it. I had a few people say you sure you want to clean eat, you going to cook? You go all the way downtown Brooklyn to Trader Joe's to shop with all those bags? YUP YUP YUP I sure do and if i'm not complaining why should you? You just have to do what makes you happy. If you can't make the gym, workout at home, it's getting nice outside, go for a jog around the block. Love yourself, be yourself, believe in yourself cause I do and you can do IT! DON'T PLAY THE VICTIM, BE THE VICTOR! NO MORE EXCUSES!!

Diary of the Young and Single...

I been looking for love in all the wrong places.... The biggest problem is that I've been LOOKING... how can you look for something you never really had? never really knew? thought you've experienced but in reality it was just lust, it was just you being comfortable with that person because you didn't want to start over, let's be serious starting over is blaaah, it's like "Do I really want to tell this person this?, did I tell them too much?" etc that whole process can be stressful, and redundant ... Yes, I was that girl that settled because I just wanted to feel a fraction of what I thought love was, I wanted the kisses and the hugs..The affection, feeling like I was his one and only knowing deep down inside that I wasn't. Loving the attention that I got at that moment... and when he was done he was done and when he was ready to come back, I let his ass back... I felt like I was special because he came back, maybe I had that good good that no other women had, thinking he was fond of me... I didn't understand back then that we was together because it was convenient for him. I wasn't a priority but an option because I allowed him to treat me as such... We're so stuck on what we want "love" to be, that we let and allow somebody that doesn't deserve us to treat us like we don't even matter, this thing here goes both ways and it should never hurt... but infatuation is a big bitch and will make you blind to the things that are wrong, once denial starts to play a major part in a relationship, it is time to evaluate yourself and GET YO LIFE *Tamar Braxton voice*


I am proud to say that I learned my self worth... I know who I am and what I want... I LOVE MYSELF first before any man and it will forever stay that way. We can't love others and not ourselves because a person won't adore you or respect you if you don't even do that for yourself...we become so obsessed with pleasing them and making them happy that we lose us in the process... WE starts to be HE/SHE.. that is not a good feeling at all... to be in love all by yourself... I am scared tho, to open myself up and trusting a man, the first thing I do is think negatively before it even really starts, I'm going into my 2nd year of singlehood, I am so used to just being by myself, i'm content with being alone and I don't think that is a good thing especially since I am so young, I should be at least dating. But i'm not, I don't want to waste my time cause I can't get it back ...Slowly but surely I am going to take that chance and roll the dice... It's like a gamble, you win some and you lose some... not only relationship wise but in general...


I'm not going to lie I HATE being single but then again, I really don't want to rush some shit I might regret... I do want to get married one day, settle down build a family, career and all that together as one. It's not just about a title you have to put in that hard work and dedication. At the same time, I like not having to worry about if my man is cheating, or the lies, I don't have to explain to anybody where I am going and why... Shit, it's none of your got damn business!!!!!! I don't have to worry about none of that... And then when I do get lonely, I be wanting some want company, I miss those nights being laid up and cuddling.. But I refuse to be with somebody just to say that i'm in a relationship. I don't want a pointless person in my life that has nothing else to offer but that one thing and like Trey Songz said, "Sex ain't better than love". I want it to be some official shit that is not sold in stores... Love that is so ripe that you get chills at the thought of em, you wake up with them on your mind, go to sleep with them in your dreams, when their number pops up on your phone you get butterflies and the only cheese face lol... it gives you that glow that is brighter than the sun, and when he goes deep the sweat on the sheets can overfill any ocean. Somebody that has your back and supports everything that you do and vice versa... I can go on and on but I don't feel like it

Gender Roles in Today's Society

When I studied sociology, we learned about a woman named Margaret Mead. She was a cultural anthropologist. She was very well known for her book called "Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies". In this book, she compared the gender roles from three different cultures in New Guinea. The first tribe was The Arapesh, and both men and women were peaceful, they didn't like conflict or anything hard and aggressive. The next tribe was the Mundugumor, they were the complete opposite. Both men and women were very aggressive, hard and had warlike tempers. The last tribe was completely opposite from them both. They were the Tchambuli. The men were the feminine ones, they gossiped, and was very much focused on their appearance. The women were masculine ones, not focused on beauty or gossip, just working hard to provide for their family. 


I know you're probably reading this like "what's good with this mini lecture?", lol but I promise you that I do have a point. I'm going to be real honest, what made me think about this specific topic was because some men that I know, don't know and heard about act like some bi**h a$$ dudes in the uno dos. For some reason, that topic made me think about what we learned in sociology. From there, I just thought about the similarities between the two. It was interesting to me because I never looked at it from this point of view before. 

I know that we're used to seeing the gender roles being male = masculine, the providers and the head of the household. Female = feminine, the ones that takes care of the family. But times has really changed. I'm not even talking about sexuality, but gender roles period. I know we all watched movies where the men saves the women. Now, it's looking like it's the women that saves the men lol. How I see it is that a man should be strong, not even physically but you know, they have that man thing going on lol. A woman should be delicate, have that soft touch that draws a man in. What man wants a female to be a "thug"?. None that I know of!

One thing that I observed over time is that a lot of men gossip. Let me type that again GOSSIP!!! Not ALL but some do, and I have to give them that -____- look. Oh trust and believe that it's not cute when women do it,but you expect that from them. When a man does it, for me it takes away from their manhood. Some are very focused on beauty and fashion. It's nothing at all wrong with that, you have to maintain yourself and when you look good, you feel amazing. BUT there is a BUT... If you take longer than me to get ready, we have some technical difficulties. I'm just saying though! 


A lot of men are domestic, being the house husband, as the women go to work and become the bread winners. That is so similar to the Tchambuli tribe. I kind of like this arrangement because it gives a chance for the females to have that life outside of being a mother/housewife. Also, it allows the men to spend more time with their children and have them create that bond that is rarely seen these days.

Don't think I forgot about the females, because I didn't. I'm getting to them right now. There are plenty of females that are so hard and aggressive that they walk around looking like pitt bulls. *Not saying they look like a dog, but they look so mean and angry like they are ready to fight anybody that breathes in their direction* Just relax your face ma and smile a little bit, it doesn't hurt. Maybe they think that is cute, I have no idea. 


Another thing that I see, is an increase in single parent households, forcing a woman to play a man's part. Meaning they have to possibly work more hours, or doing more of something just to compensate for the absent parent. That makes a woman less dependent on a man and more independent. But the negative thing about that is, when they ever do find a partner, their mindset is changed and they wouldn't know how to let that man be a man because they was so used to "acting" that. At least that is what I think, I swear that i'm a therapist :)

The Amazing Diane Warren

My very first blog should have been on this topic!! I don't know what I was thinking.


Diane Warren is somebody that I was encouraged to research about in my music electronics class two semesters ago. When I looked her up, I was in AWE. She has her own music publishing company named REALSONGS, which was one of the top five. How many females do you hear about in the music industry that has their OWN SUCCESSFUL business?? Hmmmmmm i'll wait......... Diane has won countless amounts of awards and wrote for various people, in a variety of genres. She wrote Toni Braxton's "Unbreak my Heart", Reba McEntire "What If?", Xscape "The Arms of the one who loves You". She has written for Beyonce, Akon, Celine Dion, etc. Everything from writing #1 hits for movies, such as "Rhythm of the Night" For "The Last Dragon", to Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna miss a thing". Just to name a few. I can't even type out EVERYTHING she has produced because she has done A LOT!! When I type A LOT I mean A LOT!!! You don't believe me, then just GOGGLE her :p


Point blank, I want to be like Diane Warren when I grow up!! *Not exactly like her, I want to be MusicniQ* lol She is truly amazing, incredible, creative and very versatile in her craft, which is what I aspire to be. She has written many songs that are CLASSICS!!!! She wasn't just a here today, people forget about you tomorrow type of person. Her lyrics live forever. I want to have that kind of an impact with my songs one day. I also look up to her because she is a woman that has established herself in the music industry. Like Diane, I want to open my own publishing company. She didn't  have that support from her mother on her "come up", but she did from her father. That is kind of like the same situation I was in when I first explained to my mother my choice of career. Reading her success story and her musical accomplishments just gave me that drive, like I can do anything I want to do by taking a RISK. By working hard, staying dedicated and keep pushing forward no matter what, even if people don't agree with some of your decisions. As long as you have faith in yourself and that hunger, it will happen. 


Thank You Diane Warren for everything you accomplished, being who you are and just having so much passion for music. Words can't even express how awesome you are!!! 




                                             MUSICNIQ xoxo


                                      

My Community thru My Eyes

I've spoke on this topic many times before, but never how I wanted to. The black community is the only one that I know that does NOT support each other as much as they should. And if people do, it's because they want to benefit from it some kind of way. We are not winning!! It's so much hate toward each other and it's crazy that there is racism within our own community. Yes, skin color does matter to some people. If you're light you're RIGHT, if you're dark you're in the wrong skin. I've heard and read it all. We already have a disadvantage and the fact that our own race is not making it no better at all is just crazy as hell.


 Lack of support. I don't see enough unity, enough love and support. When people do good, look good or whatever, a person is quick to say what's wrong with it instead of just giving props when props is due. I say use all that energy to get your stuff right. Let that be the fuel to the fire. Another thing that plucks a nerve is when people say that person "ain't shit" cause of what he/she is wearing. Why is fashion such an important thing? Why do I have to spend $1,000 on a pair of shoes just for a person to think i'm "cool". I say if you want to impress somebody that bad, use that money to do some shit. Buy a house, buy a car, travel, get some things that is worth it. If you have it fine, do what you do but a lot of people is not living that life so why does that make them less of a person? Shit if you don't like me, you just don't like me and that shouldn't be based on what I wear, but by my character.  And instead of buying all that and going broke and making that designer wealthy, why don't you make your own clothing and BE WEALTHY yourself. Spending all that money on that when people can just invest in themselves and their future. 

A lot of people don't think that music is the cause of certain things happening. I totally disagree. If a person is listening to nothing but shoot em up songs 10, 20 times per day, you are indeed getting BRAINWASHED my friend. IDC, some of these guys rapping about that is not living that life. They are business men making a profit. Some people look up to them so much and think its iight. NA!! And i'm not saying all because a lot of people listen to that kind of stuff on a regular and don't take those words serious, but a lot of people do. I'm not trying to blame certain music for other peoples actions, but that's how it seems in some situations. On the positive side, there are A LOT of artists that give back. Whether it's charities or they're own communities. And many artists makes positive music and use their platform for the better. 


Arabs, Chinese, Spanish, etc people have family owned businesses and they look out for each other. That's why you see them all in one company. They were raised to look out for each other and passed that down to their children and so fourth. I respect that and I've always admired that unity that other cultures have. In most black communities like the one I live in, we are not taught to go for your dreams, make your own business, get a career. We are taught to work hard for somebody else. We are taught to work hard at a JOB *Just over broke*. Or people encourage their children to go hard in sports so they can go pro. What about being a doctor and owning your own clinic or being a lawyer and owning your own law firm. Yea that's hard work too but at the end of the day you know you're going to be successful and do something you love. You won't be working hard just to stay in the same spot. That's like trying to walk down an escalator that goes up. You're not moving!!!


I want to make a change and that's the reason for this blog. But talk is cheap, why complain about something you are not willing to change?  But for now i'm starting with this and in the way I raise my daughter. It always starts in the home! Have to install morals, values, self worth and self esteem in your children or they have no chance. 


I'm missing some more examples I can go on for days. This is just one of those topics that I am passionate about. Some of these examples I heard from other people, I just wanted to add more to what they said because I totally agree. Once again thank you for taking the time out to read this, agree or disagree either way I have #muchLOVE for you :) 




                                   MS.NIQUA xoxoxoxo

Who is........MusicniQ?

Who is MusicniQ?? Well, MusicniQ is fearless. She writes songs that has a lot of meaning and some that might not mean nothing at all. Either way the wind blows, she takes time with all her writings and has so much passion for the art of music.  She wants to be diverse and write for any and every genre of music that is out there. She is far from a one dimensional song writer. MusicniQ is a woman that dreams big and isn't afraid to go after what she believes. She doesn't care about the fame, she just wanna be, she just wanna be successful in anything she puts her hands on. Besides that she is a mother, a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a friend, an aunt and most importantly, MusicniQ is ME!! 

What started the MusicniQ movement? I remember having an interest in writing at the age of 13. I would write short stories and poems. I always wanted to publish a poem book *still am one day*, that was a major goal of mines. Writing was just that escape of reality for me. I realized that I could be who I truly wanted to be, I could express myself without feeling like people was judging me. Especially during that time because my classmates would always make fun of me. I had thee worst acne, I didn't wear name brand clothes so I wasn't what children considered to be cool. I never was the one to fit in with the "IN" crowd. So a pen and a pad was always  my best friend. When I entered High School, I used to freestyle little rhymes in my away status' when AIM was popular. Some of my friends would say yo, I wouldn't be shocked if I heard that shit on the radio. *ding* yup that light bulb turned the hell on so quick I tell ya lol. I appreciate my friends that gave me that idea cause I don't even think they know that they were the ones that helped create MusicniQ! 

What Inspired/inspires me? Of course my daughter inspires me to continue doing what i'm doing. It was plenty of times I wanted to give up, I was impatient and was just going to settle for a 9 to 5 life. But then I looked at her and she's so full of joy and energy, just so carefree that reminded me of how I was when I was younger. How I had so many dreams and goals, and I never let any situation stop Niqua from doing Niqua!!  So, I put my game face on and was like it's time to rock out. I made a promise to myself to work hard NOW so my daughter doesn't have to work hard LATER!! Also, when I was going to Queensborough Community College for music, that was one of the best decisions I made. Before, I was like yea I like music and just knew things on the surface. But when I went there, all that changed!! I was introduced to all types of music, a lot of things I thought I wouldn't like, started to become things I couldn't stop listening to. One of my Prof. was interested in me and put me in a concert. Hearing my song, sung for the first time, oh man....It breathed new air into me. I know, I know that shit was SO cheesy but it is what it is! 

What did I accomplish? I accomplished getting over my fear of succeeding and being shy. Now I have no problem with singing my verses and hooks, even if I sound like garbage lol... SO WHAT!!??!! The whole purpose is that things has to get done and I have to take charge. Thinking positive really does go alooooooooong way and being around positive ppl that's DOING the damn thing is key. The company you keep does show a lot about who you are. Your friends are a reflection of you. So if you hang out with nothing but birds, welp you know the rest. I'm learning that you have to dress the part, so you can attract people's eyes. You have to talk the part, so you can keep their attention and you have to BE the part so that you can earn people's respect. 


Where I am now?? I am still in the learning process, grooming my abilities and skills as a writer. I notice myself getting better and better and now certain things just come to me so easy. Been networking with a few ppl and building a team because I know that having a strong team standing next to you will maintain success all around. No matter what some people might say, you can't do it all on your own. 


THE MAIN OBJECTIVES: spread my word through the mouths of other people. I was never the type to want to be in the spotlight, I like being behind the scenes, being in control of a product and having it come out the way I want it. I want to use this as a platform for other things, but that is another topic :) I feel like I am a rose bud just waiting to blossom and spread my sweet smelly goodness around the world. Even though I think roses stink, but still ya'll get what i'm saying : D 




              MusicniQ xoxo