What is noteworthy about today's Tuesday Tune is that I owned Mary J. Blige's album, "No More Drama," almost as soon as it was released in 2001. It was right at the same time I was going through a divorce with my first husband. We'd been married for 5 years, and had a daughter together. I was 22 years old, (and he was 37,) when this album came out.

At the time, I had no education, no significant income, and no money.
I had just started cleaning laundry rooms for a condominium complex, bringing home $600 a month, when I left.

The whole world was still ahead of me.

Little did I know how early in the journey I was to my world being free from the drama.
Becoming free is not always as easy as it seems it would be.

I've been showing up on this journey years upon years. It's just taken a long time for any of the work I've put into my life to become visible. The seed of my young soul took many hits on the way to where I am now. It's a miracle I finally found somewhere to grow, but I did.

You can't give up, even when it seems to make the most sense,
if you want anything to get better.

Sometimes you can be so focussed on logic, you lose it all.
When things are bad for a very long time, it logically seems like the story can never change, and there is no hope.

I am here to tell you, nothing could be further from the truth.
The truth is, you are more capable than you can believe, and the light will see you through.

I never will give up.
I know I am capable, and meant to live in the light.
Focus is mine.

If you don't believe you have it, keep your eyes open and watch for it everywhere you look, especially inside you. You will see it there.

If you don't like what you're seeing, or what you're believing, it is changeable.
It might not come easy, but you are worth the effort of getting back up after every encounter with drama. Keep showing up for your winning story.

Now, I can say with determination, focus, and strength of heart, "No More Drama."
I can't be guaranteed to never hurt again. This is real life, and the only way to guarantee not getting hurt is to not really be putting yourself out there, to live in the beautiful unknown.
But I can, and am, saying, no more abuse. From anyone.
I'm wiping the tears from the eyes of the young woman in me who worked to the bone to get here.

Sing it, Mary!
Let's make this one a sing-along!

"No More Drama" Lyrics

Wanna speak my mind, wanna speak my mind

Uh, it feel so good
When you let go
Of all the drama in your life
Now you're free from all the pain
Free from all the game
Free from all the stress
So find your happiness
I don't know
Only God knows where the story ends for me
But I know where the story begins
It's up to us to choose
Whether we win or loose
And I choose to win

About the week's Tuesday Tunes Pick:

Mary J. Blige is a person who has not stopped growing and evolving personally, and artistically.
Mary J. Blige Website
"No More Drama" (Song) on Wiki
"No More Drama" (Album) on Wiki

Rolling Stones Review of "No More Drama"

My favorite part of this review:
" What hasn't changed is her lack of artifice: This is a sick-and-tired of being sick-and-tired kind of album, full of proclamations, commandments and warnings to herself and anyone who would dare tread on her feelings."