Toshia Chere Humphries

The Sky Was All Purple Toshia Chere Humphries

Prince connected and still connects with so many of us - the lost children, the misfits, weirdos and freaks - and gave us permission to unapologetically be ourselves. He led by example and taught us to live authentic lives, seek and speak Truth and to honor ourselves and God, who uniquely designed us. In some ways, he raised us; seeing us through challenging childhoods and awkward stages of adolescence and literally lifting our spirits and raising our vibrations. As such, he became that mother, father, brother and sister he (according to his lyrics) wanted to be. But, for a handful of us, Prince was more than family. To many of us who never truly had an Earth-bound familial connection with biological parents, siblings or extended members, he was an intimate connection to something deep within ourselves; that which normally ignites with the initial imprinting and bond of mother and child. He was that realization that we belong. That handful of individuals is certainly represented within the pages of this book. Though not every story of every person who felt that deep connection, love and sense of loss is shared here, the words of those who did submit their stories likely resonate with those in that category who did not. These stories were submitted voluntarily and were the answer to a call for submissions which was prompted after a successful and unexpectedly overwhelming response to an article I wrote in the days following the news of Prince's departure. The article - When Doves Cry: Why the Lost Child Deeply Grieves the Loss of Prince - was published by Sober Recovery and detailed my personal experience with losing his physical presence on this planet. It attempted to explain that deep sense of loss that I and others felt; something not unlike that which must have been experienced by those emotionally and physically closest to him. It is included in this book, as it was the beginning of this process - the inspiration, conceptualization, call for submissions, writing and publication of this book - and an unprecedented spiritual journey which I have been on ever since.