Reppin'

The best way to support a friend's endeavors is to rep' the brand. Yes, buying a book or a t-shirt from a friend is appreciated, but if you believe in what your friend is doing, there's much more you can do to show your support. You can help spread the word. 

   When I started packing for the anniversary trip (which I'm enjoying to the fullest), I was calculating and thorough. I knew I'd be seeing new spaces and new faces, and I wanted to spark dialogues which would be helpful to those whom I support as well as myself.

    The shoes determine the outfits, and I packed three pair; a pair of black and green patent leather Adidas, a pair of flip-flops, and green shell-toed Adidas. My outfits had to match the shoes.

    Whenever I enter the airport, I'm wearing a Traveljunkees t-shirt, representing my cousin Craig Henry. It's a movement, they have a website and an interactive Facebook page promoting travel and life experiences. I also use the hashtag on my posts when I'm travelling. People ask questions about the t-shirt and a conversation ensues. Reppin' the brand. 

    Yesterday's adventures spanned four states, and included a trip to the basketball Hall of Fame. What was I wearing? I was rocking a "Dopeness" t-shirt, reppin' my wife Traci's brand and her movement Daddy's Gyrl. Her goal is to empower teen-aged girls and women to be confident in themselves, to push forward, and to be the best version of themselves. She also donates a percentage of the proceeds to Hurricane Harvey Relief efforts. Giving back. Good stuff.

    Today I'm wearing a green 'Life is a Banquet' t-shirt, reppin' my own brand and movement. Life is a banquet, and I want people to stop starving themselves. Dieting on bitterness, broken dreams, and hopelessness is a social disease which I'm fighting. Get out, sing, laugh, adventure, move out of the box, and enjoy life. I'll start pushing my t-shirts this weekend, donating a percentage of the proceeds to adult literacy, Alzheimer's research, and all of the programs I believe in. Yup.

   Tomorrow I'll be wearing my green 'Hooducated' t-shirt, reppin' my friend/brother Michael Scott, and his movement. 'Life Branded Apparel' is geared to raise consciousness, confidence, and to inspire. Yeah, I'm reppin'. "Leading Individuals Fearlessly Everday" acronym LIFE, a movement Mike started twenty years ago, which is finally rolling the way he envisioned.

   On the plane, the book I was reading was 'Behind the Lens' by friend Kari Holloway. It is part of a series, and I told the lady next to me about this book, plus all of the other stuff Kari has published. Reppin'.

     I don't do these things for kudos or a piece of the action. No, I do these things because I'm supposed to. A couple of months ago, my friend Nikki Tate bought books from me, and has been putting my name and endeavors into conversations with other people. The reason? Because she's my friend and believes in me. Her quote to me has stayed in my mind, becoming a standard to live by; "If my friend is selling hair, then I'm selling hair."

    Reppin'...