Music has always meant a lot to me. Music spoke to my heart, eased my fears and helped me to relax. Music helped me to define myself, what meant a lot to me and what did not. Music is the soundtrack to my life.

Many artists come and go. Some get a hit here and there and some have hits for years. Every once in awhile an artist comes along so revolutionary, so different, like a breath of fresh air, and they transform you as an individual. They push you beyond your limits and expand your landscape.

Prince was that artist for me. His bold style, epic voice, his fearless demeanor drew me in and never let me go. Here are five things that Prince taught me.

1. Be who you are and who you want to be.

One of the hardest lessons someone has to learn in life is to be unapologetically themselves! No matter what people say or think, or may say or may think, just continue to be who you are and who you want to be.

In a world where people are judged constantly, whether in real life or online, it is hard to be different or go against what is considered to be the norm. Prince however, he did it unashamedly. Prince dressed like a woman or a man all while still being surrounded by some of the most beautiful women in the world. He did not care. He was who he wanted to be, when he wanted to be it. He was an original. He challenged status quo by simply standing up and being himself. That is true power. Knowing and understanding yourself enough to stand up and be yourself, even if you have to stand alone, is very powerful. One quote from Prince that I love is, “I don’t really care so much what people say about me because it usually is a reflection of who they are.” In other words, people will talk about you, but what they say shows more of who they are then who you are. So just keep on being who you are.

2. Stand up for yourself.

Who can forget when Prince changed his name to, The Artist Formally Known As Prince? Many poked fun at him and what appeared to be confusion on his part. How wrong we all were. Instead, Prince was in the midst of a battle with his record label where he wanted control over his music and ownership of that same music. He took a bold stance and made an even bolder statement, appearing with the word 'slave' written on his cheek. What Prince was saying to the world, was that he was no more than a slave for Warner Bros. Prince himself famously stated, "If I can’t do what I want to do, what am I? When you stop a man from dreaming, he becomes a slave.” He is right. If a person cannot follow their dreams or stand up for themselves, they are a slave. Prince refused to be a slave to anyone. No matter the repercussions, even if it destroyed his career. He stood up for what he believed in. Having control over his gift was important to him and it is important to me. Prince taught me that it is ok to stand up for myself and to let my voice be heard—it is my gift.

3. You do not need everyone’s applause.

In life, there will be some people who applaud your accomplishments and cheer you on to accomplish more. There will also be people who ride the fence, cheering one minute until it appears you have been defeated, then they get their popcorn and wait for the downfall. Prince made it very clear that he did not need everyone’s applause or accolades.

Prince turned down getting his own star on the famous Hollywood walk of fame, not once, but twice. He said it was not the right time. Literally, the opportunity that many celebrities cannot wait for…having a star immortalized in their image on the Hollywood walk of fame. Not Prince, he did not need it or want it. He was far more concerned with reaching and touching his fans rather than a silly star on a sidewalk. How many people can do that? Just walk away from that and say no thank you and keep moving on?

Prince taught me that as long as your audience loves and supports you, no one else matters. So to those who support you one minute than hate you the next, they do not matter. Stick by the people who have supported you from the beginning.

4. Be unapologetically black.

Prince shocked the world in 2015, when he said at the Grammy’s that A=albums still matter just like books and black lives. I was not shocked. Knowing Prince’s history of giving back, caring for and stepping up for the black community, I was not shocked. He gave money to Trayvon Martin’s family privately, but word of the donations still got out to the public. Prince also criticized people who would say that he plays white rock and roll music. He was quick to school people about the origin of rock n roll, blues, jazz, even classical music. He once stated that it is all soul music and he (Prince) played from his soul.

I can relate to a lot of what Prince went through. Being told what you can and cannot do, say, wear, etc.—that either you are acting too black or not black enough. Those are all ignorant statements made by people who do not understand history and historical facts. Prince, cool as he was, knew who he was and was proud of that fact. He made it clear that he defined his blackness and loved his self.

5. Walk into a room like you know you are the stuff, because baby you are.

Confidence is one thing that everyone needs. Getting the right job, the right relationships, opportunities, etc., all require confidence. Who is more confident than the purple one himself? Just the way he entered a room, or graced the stage…that walk! His strut, his swag, his presence, it exuded confidence. Whether he had long hair, sequence or a low cut in a suit, he still owned it and he owned the room from the time he walked in.

He will be missed. Blouses with the Win!