I am thankful for a lot of things in 2022 – especially when it comes to the Chicago Stepping community. This journey skyrocketed this year, much to my surprise! I am grateful for everyone that reads and supports the blog livingthe8count.com. Your support helps to sustain my joy in writing. It’s hard work, and the thank yous and comments on how an article can help any stepper are the best ways that readers show me their appreciation for what I do. More and more people have stopped and introduced themselves at events and sets. I am glad to connect names to faces as best as possible to remember each of you.
Collaboration and Adventure Thank You
2022 was a year of collaboration for me. Thank you to everyone that believes in what I am about, the quality of my work, and my credibility to finish whatever I start. I had opportunities to partner with or support several people in the Stepping community on special projects to do something new with my writing. There are many ways to tell the stories of our community and showcase what steppers do. I hold steadfast in my efforts to write because it is important to me to promote literacy and to give people something to read despite where the technology may lead us. However, I understand that sometimes impactful stories need more than words.
Collaborative efforts spanned from TV, Chicago Stepping showcases, spoken word, and documentary projects to interview respected legends and honorees. These opportunities helped me grow and spread my wings. This work confirmed that I am nowhere close to my limits. New work has attracted more new work. Everyone I have worked with knows who you are. Thank you. The Lord continues to clear my path to put me with the right people at the right time for the right things.
Seeing the Good in Everything Thank You
I promised myself not to end 2022 without confronting the hardships I faced in the Stepping community. Jamaicans say life is not a bed of roses, and it is true. I know I don’t have everyone’s support, and that is okay. Even those who don’t support me and despite your contrary efforts, I still grow and develop for the bigger fights ahead. Thank you.
Moreover, you’ve helped me remember who I am and my strength, diligence, and influence despite the odds. I can’t stop, won’t stop, and will continue to grow and show. Thank you mostly to friends, fans, and supporters who see the nonsense and encourage me to laugh in those moments and keep it moving. No worries – I shall continue to do so. Most likely, I will not acknowledge or mention this controversy on livingthe8count.com again. We have different work to do!
A Special Kind of Love and Support Thank You
Considering the fight, steppers, you have been my army. When someone stops me to ask, “When will you be writing again? I miss your posts,” or when you say, “You’re doing a great job with that blog.” Thank you. When a stepper mentions a topic, they want to hear thank you. Thank you when you ask me to expound on something I have written that you have read. I appreciate you when any reader disagrees and comments or calls me to share an opinion or different point of view. I write to start a conversation, not to always be right.
Thank you when you contribute and grant me the honor of writing and sharing your story or point of view. Some mentors and elders in the community involved in my life challenge me to think differently and focus on new things. Thank you. The conversation means so much to me; it inspires, corrects, motivates, and connects me. And, of course, your social media likes, comments, and shares help spread the words and work of livingthe8count.com. To the steppers on the set who hollar “livingthe8count” when they see me and the DJs who say my name on the mic, I love you.
Thank you for all of it. Readers and supporters, I wish you all the best for Thanksgiving, and I hope you and your family enjoy love and feel appreciated every day of the year. Be kind to each other, my Good People.
New Music From Black Cool
Black Cool’s new album drops this week. New Jack City + Black Cool = New Jack Cool. He credits Sharvin Whitted’s creativity for a beautiful cover. Black Cool has never done an album project without Sharvin. “I wanted to do a ME project with me on the cover for the first time. The vibe took me to include soul samples, some classics, and music remixes of new songs on the radio now. I wanted to create something that doesn’t alienate anybody. This one is for me.”
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Welcome! I am the writer Sonji Stewart. These are my travel stories about my Chicago Stepping experiences, traveling from city to city to dance. I hope my stories encourage you to join me in the adventure.
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Lynette Butler
Thank you for putting words to a beautiful steppin community. Btw my niece read my article and she said “ TeTe I’m so proud of you I remember when.” One of my proudest moments.
Darkim
Thank you Sonji ….Thankful for this steppers community we come to love …we may not agree with all that takes place in the community, one thing for sure we gonna get our step on whatever level one is on .