That's one of the things that I say to myself as far as a ritual that I have every day: "What can I do today to make it better than it was yesterday?"

I'm a creature of habit and I like to stay in my own little comfort zone, but you have to reach out of that sometimes. And when you do that, you grow.

I would love to have a rapper on one of my songs, like Ludacris, or the 'it's so hot in here' guy, Nelly.

I can't say it's not painful being estranged from most of my family. I wish it could be otherwise.

I think the deepest problem is between my parents and me. I just don't know if it will ever be the same.

When I wake up, I always thank God. I'm grateful for another day, and he's allowed me this tiny thing that we should be appreciative of. As long as you know who you are, everything else will be OK. No one else can intervene or interfere or affect you, because you control your destiny, you control your tone, you control everything in your life.

The end of the trial and the 'not guilty' verdicts on all counts, clearing Michael of all charges, mean that he can now concentrate on the future and his art.