Whitney Jones

Sometimes we are faced with challenges. These challenges in life may bring us to our knees. It may feel like the situation will break us and if we cry, then we've lost. The truth is, it's okay to not be okay. It's okay to cry. Crying does not mean you've failed. Crying means that you are releasing the energy in your body that needs to escape in order for newness to come, all while clearing out those old dusty cobwebs of emotions and being free. Crying is a healthy release. Crying allows us to feel. Masking pain or discomfort is an unhealthy practice.

I write this today because I cried yesterday. I cried a lot. Not everyday is a skip and a hop in the poppy fields. Sometimes I step in mud and become upset because the mud hole hurt. My grandmother used to tell me, "Pigs wallow in the mud. Pick yourself up and clean yourself off, girl." She did not discourage the act of falling in the mud, but instead made a point to not stay there. Thus, as I encountered some challenges yesterday, I cried. I shed what felt like gallons of tears. Yesterday, I felt embarrassed for crying about the situation I was dealing with. However, a peace came over me late last night. I said to myself, "Sis, it's okay to not be okay." Today, I looked in the mirror as I was getting dressed for the day, I stopped and smiled. I could smile today because I cried yesterday. I made it through.

The conception took place. The morning sickness occurred. The back pains, tears, and sleepless nights gave way for the growth that was transpiring inside. As I grew, so did my belly. Thus, I decided to write. I created music and channeled negative energy into something positive. I edited, changed my mind, scratched it, and started over. No matter how many times I stopped (9), I knew that this baby that I was carrying had to be delivered. Out of my belly, shall flow rivers of living waters...

There is something significant about nine (9). Nine is a sacred number and means completion and fulfillment. This month, number nine, is the month that I decided to birth to my EP, Higher. I've carried it long enough. I've nurtured it long enough, pouring my heart and soul into this project. Many hours and lots of money (as an independent artist) have been spent on this project. I've fought to make this happen. I gave up a few times; 9, to be exact. But the Light within told me to go forth and let the music do what it is designed to do. Sing the people up!

Today, on the 30th day of the ninth month, I am proud to say that my debut EP, Higher, has been birthed into this world and is available for your listening pleasure.

Have you ever felt like you have been running so long and cannot seem to find the finish line? You might think: Did somebody move the finish line? I could have sworn I started this race with a bunch of people, now it seems like I am the only one still running. My running shoes are starting to tear at the seam of the soles. What happened? Where is the end? How much longer do I need to keep running? 

The truth is, there is no finish line. This is not a race and the end is not near. However, this is only the beginning. 

When I started this project (officially in 2012), I figured that it would be a wham, bam, CD in hand in 1 year’s timing. Little did I know that the concepts for my first EP, which I would later decide to entitle Higher, were within my heart, but the songs had not actually been written yet. The songs had to be born. Life had to allow me to miscarriage some ideas, while giving birth to brand new ones. Life would have it that I would experience grief & loss, depression, anxiety, newness, joy, relief, setbacks, and then some breakthroughs before even completing Higher in totality.

I thought this was going to be a quick run. Little did I know that I was just embarking upon a journey that would challenge the very “Strength of (the) Woman” that was deep within. At times, life even felt like I was “Riding the Waves” and all I wanted to do was go home. I have cried some tears during this project. Now, I am "Feelin' So Good," but I had to find security and comfort in my piano, which is where I write 95% of my music. Thus, I began to write. I chose to be vulnerable. I wrote about my feelings. I wrote about my loved ones. I wrote about the challenges that I was facing and how it made me feel inadequate. But something within, something bigger than me was calling me to rise Higher! And here I am, no longer looking for the finished line, but determined to keep running.