Life is a gift and it offers us the privilege opportunity and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.

These are people who haven't gone through the legal means to becoming citizens like our forefathers did. They want all the benefits but none of the responsibilities.

I have a book coming out in September for example where the plot concerns counterfeiting and I had to do a lot of research on that. Or on any legal matters for example I have to do a lot of research online.

I'm coming out with my line of shoes and my very first shoe is called 'The Nethia.' How we came up with the name is that my legal name is Linnethia and we shortened it.

Coming to understand a painting or a symphony in an unfamiliar style to recognize the work of an artist or school to see or hear in new ways is as cognitive an achievement as learning to read or write or add.

Learning how to get in tune with your field of energy and understand how to create your energy expand that energy and move that energy through your body. Coming back to your center and approaching life from that center-to-line place... That to me gave me strength and understanding and hopefully wisdom to solve life's problems and challenges.

It's interesting when you've been a partner with someone for so long. So now to sing solo and starting all over again I am learning that I am more bodacious than I thought. I don't know where it's coming from but I am glad.

Think about how much it costs to incarcerate someone. Do we want them just sitting in prison lifting weights becoming violent and thinking about the next crime? Or do we want them having a little purpose in life and learning a skill?

I make personal appearances around the country. I'm starting a book tour now and I may be coming to Toronto with the Learning Annex which I'm doing all through the United States so that may come up just before Christmas.

I grew up listening to Jay-Z and I think the first time I really became obsessed with learning and thinking about lyrics was when I started listening to rap I was 11 12 and started becoming aware of music beyond the familiar.

The lopsided attitudes of college professors pose a serious challenge to learning because students are so susceptible to becoming lopsided sheep.

For me 'Rent' was all about coming out of myself finding out who I was learning the power I could have as a performer.

The country remains dependent on oil. But as we are now learning oil is becoming increasingly scarce.

As I was coming up it always seemed like I was learning. If it wasn't from school it was the 'hood. The influences of the 'hood are very powerful.

Being steeped in the process of learning and exploring keeps me from becoming too nervous. Partly it's about not getting bored.

I'm getting to a point where everything is becoming streamlined in my life. I'm learning how to stand onstage for two hours and play in front of thousands of people as if I am completely in the moment every moment.

Taking charge of your own learning is a part of taking charge of your life which is the sine qua non in becoming an integrated person.