LL Cool J is on the cover of the March issue of Essence! What a pleasant surprise. Following last week's Next Chapter interview with Oprah, it was a treat to see the Grammy-winning, trail-blazing rapper and actor on the cover. Whether you love him for his classic hits, or multi-lingual, secret agent moves on NCIS Los Angeles, it's true...the talented actor opens up to Essence about his life as a family man and his love and support for his wife. “I think, at the end of the day, as a man, you should support the woman you’re with. If she’s got a dream, you need to help make that a reality. I’m doing the best I can to do that.” His wife, Simone, describes their marriage in one word—"awesome."

Just when you thought "stop hatin'" was the most over-used phrase, there's another contender for the title. Is it me or does it seem like whenever someone mentions the possibility of something potentially positive, exciting, inviting, satisfying or a glimmer of hope some naysayer says, "yeah, but"...does that mean that you have to scratch your goals, relinquish your determination, abandon courage and defer your dreams? You had better not!