A Day In "The Life Of Riley"

WELCOME to "The Life of Riley" which will include periodic chronicles of pop culture and possibilities that flow out of Patrick L. Riley's day. That's me!!! Through blogging (and soon some other technological features on which I'll keep you posted as they launch), I will pull experiences from my busy life to entertain and inspire all of you. Through this site, I will share my observations and insights.

Some features to look forward to:

1.) "PATRICK'S POP UP(DATES)" will feature stories from pop culture, music, theater, fashion, and the entertainment industry at large.

2.) "The Life of Riley" will also introduce a "take-a-look-at-your-life" section (READ: sort of an advice column), where I will help readers come up with their own questions and answers around what "ways of being" are working (or not working) to have them acheive their respective goals and live their best lives. This section is called "WHO YOU BE?".

3.) Additonally, there will be a free-flowing, organic section called "TESTIFY" from which I will pull from my own life's journey to share and hopefully inspire. Some of the fare may be new musings and experiences. Other times, I may pull from my journals and past sharings to shed light on some uncomfortable truths that I've experienced and that may perhaps play a role in healing someone else's wounds as the real-life experience did for me. From my experience of covering 9/11 as a freelance journalist to courageously coming out (as gay) to my family, "TESTIFY" promises to move those who choose to read it.

4.) And a section titled "PR" (like my initials, but also like "public relations") will include press clips from any coverage I get.

5.) And anytime pictures or video can support an entry (in the blog, and perhaps in the subsequent podcasts, my space, and website), those visuals will keep things aesthetically enrolling. That section will be called "MY TUBE".

PLAYING TO THE POP IN POSSIBILITIES!

Patrick L. Riley

Entries in "Never Would Have Made It" (1)

MARVIN SAPP CONCERT THIS FRIDAY JANUARY 18 AT NJPAC

MARVIN SAPP

MARVIN SAPP is in town THIS WEEK! His “Never Would Have Made It” anoints ME every time! It gets me back to CHERISHED MEMORIES; ETERNAL GRATITUDE; and GOD’s LOVE! Plus, it’s just a SLAMMING SONG! Well, the marketing folks with NJPAC have asked me to let all of my GOSPEL MUSIC FANS and FANS OF GOOD MUSIC know that this is an experience you don’t want to miss. This Friday 1/18 at NJPAC! You can BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY! http://bit.ly/njpacLOR #NJPAC #MARVINSAPP

...AND TELL THEM “…THE LIFE OF RILEY…” SENT YOU!

2013 off to a busy start! Lots of client calls and booked gigs! A little travel! Taking meetings on new business! And amidst it all, remembering what’s important: MY LOVED ONES; GIVING BACK; SAYING THANK YOU!

In other church bulletin news (LOL!):

YOU MATTER: 7 Practices of Living a Life of Purpose

I’m always singing the praises of MOMENTUM EDUCATION (www.momentumeducation.com) – an awesome series of classes I experienced in 2004 that keeps me GOING FOR THE GOLD in my life and career (and teaches me how to get up POWERFULLY when I may not meet the mark, but just need a little RE-BOOT): http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2006/10/25/love-is-in-the-air.html. Since then, I’ve been tapping into that POWER SOURCE and blessed to share the gift with so many of my friends…and to see – in addition to MY WORLD – THE WORLD CHANGE (for the better!). Was really excited to see many of my Momentum family members – old and new – at the first course, THE BASIC’s celebration last night when another friend graduated the life-changing work. Congrats, Jamar! MOMENTUM continues to inspire me to BE THE DIFFERENCE in my personal and professional life! I call it a tool that I use alongside many other supports that keep me aligned with those ways of being that work best to achieve my goals. Another tool I’ll be using comes from two dear Momentum friends Melvin Miller and Federica Baldan. It’s an Ebook and Audio book: “YOU MATTER: 7 Practices of Living a Life of Purpose” and you must order it now: www.audiogo.com/us/youmatter. Thanks to Melvin and Federica for all they do to CHANGE the WORLD – one person at a time!

“YOU ARE NOT ALONE”

A casual invitation for pasta from my girlfriend Sidra Smith turned into a beautiful night of cinema: an intimate screening of documentary “You Are Not Alone” – a collaboration between friends - triple NAACP Image Award winner Stanley Bennett Clay and Guyanese-born double NYABJ Award winner, journalist and national gay mental health activist Antoine B.Craigwell – both in attendance. The film pushes the envelope, shines a light in a dark, unspoken area in the Black community, to bring healing. Through the courageous sharing of personal stories, “You Are Not Alone” explores many of the underlying social factors which contribute to high rates of depression among Black gay men. “You Are Not Alone” also opens up discussions on the critical issues affecting many Black men and Black gay men who go through life hiding their depression, which can contribute to unsafe sexual activity because they are unconcerned about the consequences, elevated drug use, and even death by suicide. The documentary is a combination of powerful, heart wrenching and poignant interviews and is balanced with professional opinions provided by mental health professionals, academics and religious leaders (Christian and Islam) as well as some beautifully-woven docu-dramatized iconography. For more information on “You Are Not Alone”, visit www.dbgm.org and to see a trailer of the film www.yana-thefilm.com. BEAUTIFUL WORK!

LEWIS JOHNSON

I told you a few months back about my friend Kelly J. Welborn and how she was doing big things via her idreamSpeakers, LLC: TWITTER: @idreamspeakers.com. Well, Kelly’s client, seven-time NBC Olympic Commentator and ESPN reporter Lewis Johnson (Twitter: @LewisJohnsonMG) is coming to the Boys & Girls Club in NY and NJ on Wednesday, January 23, and Thursday, January 24 to distribute 400 coats, hats, scarves, gloves, clothing and winter wear collected over the holiday during his WORLD-CLASS COAT DRIVE organized in Dallas, TX. World-Class athletes, Olympians, Super Bowl champs and his generous Dallas/Fort Worth community donated to his charitable effort to help families in need that were impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Lewis was in New York days after Hurricane Sandy devasted the northeast and was compelled to help families in hard-hit areas stay warm for the winter. Lewis will be joined by Olympians to present “A View from the Olympic Broadcast Booth,” his Olympic-themed inspirational speech to over 200 youth at Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County in Jersey City and Educational Alliance Boys & Girls Club at P.S. 188 about goal setting, overcoming obstacles and pursuing your dreams. After the presentation, all the young attendees will receive a coat or winter wear donated during his two-week World-Class Coat Drive. There are so many stories of graciousness from his community that have emerged from this charitable effort. To find out more (and what you can do), click here: www.idreamspeakers.com.

MARVIN SAPP

REMINDER: MARVIN SAPP is in town THIS WEEK! His “Never Would Have Made It” anoints ME every time! It gets me back to CHERISHED MEMORIES; ETERNAL GRATITUDE; and GOD’s LOVE! Plus, it’s just a SLAMMING SONG! Well, the marketing folks with NJPAC have asked me to let all of my GOSPEL MUSIC FANS and FANS OF GOOD MUSIC know that this is an experience you don’t want to miss. This Friday 1/18 at NJPAC! You can BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY! http://bit.ly/njpacLOR #NJPAC #MARVINSAPP

...AND TELL THEM “…THE LIFE OF RILEY…” SENT YOU!