the queen with the nappy hair (raising her fist)

Sometimes when the Universe has something to say to you, it says it in a whisper.
Other times, a shout.
Tonight, it was the voice of Jill Scott.
I saw her speak at the Union Square Barnes & Noble, there to promote her new book of poetry.
Now, I've been a fan of Sister Girl's since her first album. I saw the video for "Long Walk" on some late-night video show, and it absolutely knocked the breath out of me. I knew then this chick was going to be a star. Songs from her recent album consistently show up in the Most Played list in my iTunes. But I never knew that Ms. Scott considers herself a poet first, a singer second.
She started her talk tonight with that confession, and said that publishing a book of poetry has long been on her list of things to do before she dies. Other items on that list: Star in a Broadway play, win a Grammy (which she did this year), play Storm in an "X-Men" flick (she had some choice words for Halle Berry), and be a ballerina (good luck with that one, Big J).
Keeping a list like that, she said, helps keep you going. When you're having a crappy day, you can look at the list and say, "Shit -- I still got 75 more things to do."
Amen. That's exactly what I needed to hear today.