Last week I picked up a copy of the June issue of Ebony Magazine.  There was a short, but interesting article about the vice president of production for Columbia Pictures, DeVon Franklin.  What sparked my interest in DeVon wasn't that he is also a Christian minister and motivational speaker, but the fact that once a week, for 24 hours, he disconnects from the insanity of the virtual world by turning off his Blackberry and not going online.  Instead he uses this time to focus on relaxing, reflecting, resting and renewing himself as an individual. 

I could relate to DeVon on so many levels.  Being in the spotlight 24/7 is a challenge and can take a toll on you emotionally.  Over the last two weeks I've been hearing myself say "I need to take a break and focus on myself, my family and my close friends." At first members of my team didn't understand.  They replied "You can't stop tweeting, you can't stop posting on Facebook, simply put...CJ you can't stop!"  Well after the death of a good friend over the Memorial Day weekend, I dug in my stilettos. 

1st went my Twitter account.  It had gotten hacked, which was a blessing in disguise from God because it had become toxic!  A battle ground formed of clicks and circles of "who's, who" pretending to be people that the weren't in real life, the social networking aspect had become lost in a mist of gossip, lies and wanna be's.  My next step is starting to say no.  This summer I'm not speaking to any groups or signing one single book. The iPhone is next in line.  I've already conditioned myself to stop responding to text, emails and phone calls after a certain time, but I want to get to a point where this little black piece of technology isn't running my life.  Yes, I want to relax, reflect, rest and renew myself as an individual just like DeVon. 

I realized early on that my talents are a gift from God and that He has a plan for me, but sometimes the spotlight can blind you and some how you end up taking a wrong turn.  It's time that I get back on the right road and for me that means taking a step back from the virtual insanity.  No, I haven't gotten to DeVon's level of turning off my iPhone for 24 hours, but believe me...it's coming:)