Thank God I don't look like what I've been through, because I'm sure it would be hard to look at. Despite the mistakes I've made and the obstacles that I've overcome, I'm grateful that today I have an opportunity to start over and do things differently if I choose to without remorse of the past or regret for having stumbled. Celebrities aren't offered this same grace.
When a star finds themselves in the middle of a messy situation, they're forced to relive their trauma again and again via tabloid and social media. This daunting fact leaves stars to face a tragic end that is as highly publicized as the pain that they suffered. High profile figures will forever be associated with the wrongs of their past, because somewhere along the line, we forgot that a person's mistakes do not define them.
Whitney Houston is arguably one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th Century, and now, the only thing associated with her name is drug use. When you think of the lives of artists like The Beatles, or even Elton John, who were reportedly avid drug users, you don't automatically associate their music with their struggle, but Whitney's case, despite her immense talent and influence, is quite different.
In the past, networks like Showtime have sought to retell her narrative in a way that does her legendary career justice, but July 6, we will get a look at Whitney's life in a way that critics say will reframe everything we think we know about the singer.
Singer Whitney Houston photographed in February 1982 when she was a senior in high school.Jack Mitchell/Getty Images
Anyone who has dealt with or known someone struggling with substance abuse understands that the drug isn't really the source of the addiction. There is usually an underlying source or trigger that causes a person to use drugs as a bandaid, but until deep-seated issues are confronted, the wound never really heals and the addiction can never come to an end. The movie explores the pressure that weighed on the iconic singer, that originally stemmed from her broken childhood, riddled with infidelity and mistrust that was later reflected in her own family life as an adult.
The movie reveals the story behind the legend's rise to fame, and promises to answer many of the questions that we've had since her tragic death in 2012. The movie promises to answer many of the questions that all of us have had since that day. Whitney features commentary from the people that were closest to her during her lifetime, including her sister, who admits to giving the singer drugs at an early age, her brothers, who were stealing from her, and Bobby Brown, who is often blamed for her downfall.
The singer struggled with many of the same issues that burden many other women of color, including insecurity, infidelity, and molestation, except Whitney's battle was on a displayed on a public platform.
Throughout the movie, we will see the disintegration of both the voice and the identity of a woman who brought the world so much magic. It is my hope that the film will humanize the singer and allow people to understand that Whitney was no different from you, me, or our sisters and mothers.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Whitney Houston was a woman of color who carried the weight of the world to no avail, and then one day it got too heavy. Giving an intimate account of the trials and trauma that Whitney endured should help us keep in mind that her missteps do not take away from the gift of love that she once had to offer this world through her incomparable talent.
Her former publicist agreed, and said:
"I hope after watching this, people are going to have more empathy toward Whitney, and not think she was this foolish girl who squandered her life. I hope they know there was something going on in her, behind everything, that explains it all."
In our hearts, you will forever be our fairy godmother in the sky. Whitney will debut in theatres July 6. If you haven't already, watch the trailer below:
- Lifetime's Whitney Houston Biopic: What the Critics Are Saying ... ›
- Will The New 'Authorized' Whitney Houston Documentary Be Better ... ›
- Whitney Houston Documentary Gets Release Date – Variety ›
- Whitney Houston's Family Slams Lifetime Over Biopic - Rolling Stone ›
- Whitney Houston film trailer: Biopic reveals all in HEARTBREAKING ... ›
- Whitney (2018) - IMDb ›
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Again, the answer never changes because, if there is one thing that Shellie Reneé Warren is gonna get, it’s 6-8 (sometimes nine) hours of sleep. However, since my chronotype (check out “Ever Wonder What Personality Traits Make Someone A 'Morning Person'?”) means that I like/prefer to write in the wee hours of the morning, sometimes I will sleep for the night for five hours and take a nap in the day. And y’all, that is just fine with me because I am well aware of the fact that napping does everything from give me more energy, heighten my alertness and even make me more creative to decrease stress levels, strengthen immunity, and reduce my chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
My problem is I will oftentimes go “overboard” with my daytime zzz’s. What I mean by that is, in order to get the most out of a nap, they say thatyou shouldn’t sleep for longer than 25 minutes or so; otherwise, you could wake up feeling sluggish (I don’t but…). Also, it can make resting, soundly, at night a bit of a struggle.
So, what are you saying, Shellie? We should get quickies in? Yeah. And it’s funny that the word “quickie” would come up because just like a sex quickie can do wonders for you (and it can — check out “12 Super Solid Reasons To Have A Quickie Every Single Day”), it’s a full-circle moment when I say that something that can improve the quality of your sex life is to have a power nap (a nap that lasts between 10-30 minutes).
Wanna know how the two things correlate? Honestly, it’s no secret that sleep and sex work together to optimize both (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”). Today, though, we’re going to tap into how a nap, specifically, can have you partaking in some of the best sex that you’ve experienced in a minute. I’ll explain.
Naps Reduce Stress
GiphyIf you’re feeling super stressed out right now, you are not alone. There is plenty of data out here that says that most of us are stressed for at least a couple of reasons at a time — and that can impact your sexual health on a few levels. For one thing, it can bring about feelings of depression and/or anxiety. Stress can also throw your hormone levels off (including your cycle) which can weaken your libido. Stress can make you want to put distance between you and your partner (yes, literally).
Stress can also make it challenging to get aroused or to have an orgasm. And just what can help to decrease stress? Taking a nap. Since sleep has a way of helping you to “get off of the clock” and relax a bit, that can lower your stress levels and “reset” your body so that you are calmer — and that, in turn, can do wonders for your sex drive and ultimately your sex life.
Naps Improve Your Mood
GiphyThere is one person in my life, and fairly 80 percent of the time, she’s in a super good mood. Oh, but let that girl go without sleep, and…who is this woman? LOL. There’s research behind why this happens. When a person is sleep-deprived, it messes with their brain chemicals, and that can amplify emotions like anger, restlessness and sadness. In fact, one study revealed that people who had their sleep disrupted throughout the night, they ended up having their positive outlook on life reduced by about 30 percent.
And geeze, who wants to have sex when they’re not feeling very good? Anyway, since serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate your moods, your sleep patterns, and your libido and sleep is what helps to keep it in balance — by taking a nap, not only can it help you to feel better, it can also increase your desire for sex (it can also build up your endurance which is also…sexually beneficial).
Naps Increase Your Focus and Concentration
GiphySomething that some of my clients bring up is how, when it comes to having sex, sometimes the flesh is willing while the spirit is weak because, although the desire for intimacy is there, so much is going on that they aren’t able to get still enough to focus on experiencing copulation with their partner. This also tracks because, when you don’t have enough rest, your brain finds itself not working in harmony and that can make it hard to do everything from approaching life with a sense of flexibility to making necessary decisions.
Certain data also reveal that a lack of rest can cause you to have a really poor attention span and not process things in context (the more you know). So, if you really want to get some yet it’s hard for you to focus long enough to make it happen, ask your bae to lie down with you and take a nap. Between the sleep and the snuggling (check out “Fall's Coming: 8 Wonderful Health Benefits Of Cuddling”) — you may wake up with your mind and body totally on the same page. #wink
Naps Can Make You Feel Better About Your Body
GiphyEven if, overall, you feel really good about your body, I think that we all have moments when we feel less attractive than others — and who wants to have sex when they don’t really feel…very sexy? Well, something else that sleep, in general, can do is increase your confidence in your body.
For one thing, if you want to lose a few pounds, sleep can actually make that happen by helping your body metabolize the glucose (sugar) that’s in it so that you can better manage your appetite. Other studies go on to share that since sleep deprivation can impact one’s mental health and emotional stability in a negative way, of course, getting enough rest would increase body positivity.
Shoot, science even goes so far as to say that insomnia can cause people to have an elevated level of dissatisfaction when it comes to their body image. Don’t take their word for it, though. Look in the mirror before a nap. Then look in a mirror after waking up from me. Do you feel better? I’d be surprised if you don’t.
Makes Your Brain Bigger…Which Could Make Your Orgasms Better
GiphyI saved the best for last by design. Now if you’re wondering how in the world a nap can improve (and possibly increase) your orgasms — oh, there is a method to the madness…trust. For starters, the saying that your biggest sex organ is your brain? That isn’t a myth. Long story less long, the brain is what houses your central nervous system and that is what controls how men and women sexually function (yes, literally).
And since the brain also releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin during sex and brain activity significantly increases in women during sexual activity (especially right before she orgasms) — well, would it trip you out to know that when you take a nap, your brain actually expands? A bigger brain (that’s healthy) can potentially intensify your sexual experiences (and your climaxes) — and who doesn’t want that to go down?
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Like I said earlier, I never have to be convinced to get a nap in. However, if your sex life has been a bit stagnant lately, you’ve been feeling a little sluggish and you’re not sure what to do — I’m hoping that a nap can get you right.
There’s enough science to prove that it can. All you need to do is give it a shot.
Now where’s your pillow and sleep mask, chile?
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