Moving From Survival to Uplift and Love
Browsing: Ain’t That A VHIT
When The Math is Mathing: The Power of You Plus Two
I have learned that some of the hardest moments in life are not the moments when we do not know what to do. They are the moments when we know exactly what we want to do, but wisdom tells us to wait.
From baby, to child, to teenager, to young adult, to grown man, to senior elder, there is something sacred about the journey of a Black male. Every version of us deserves protection, correction, guidance, accountability, and love.
It happens when a community leader, entrepreneur, pastor, nonprofit, or resident has a good idea, only to be asked, “Did you run it by so-and-so first?” Suddenly, the focus shifts from solving the problem to seeking approval from individuals who are perceived to hold influence.
As I continue to grow, I realize that many of the ways I try to pour into others come from places within myself that long for the same things: reassurance, consistency, encouragement, understanding, and simply feeling emotionally seen.
Life has shown me that growth is rarely loud or glamorous. Sometimes growth looks like taking one small step when life has drained your energy. Other times it looks like trying again after disappointment, rejection, heartbreak, or failure. Challenging yourself is much like exercising a muscle. If you never stretch it, never work it, and never place resistance against it, it will eventually weaken. The same applies to our minds, faith, discipline, goals, and personal development.
At 46 years old, I am learning that one of the hardest realities to accept in life is that
Because when you begin to see your scars as trophies, you shift from surviving your story to owning it. And in that ownership, there is power.
I’ve been doing quite a bit of traveling lately, and this thought came to me shortly after takeoff. There’s always that moment of excitement, the plane lifts, you ascend into higher heights, and your focus shifts to the destination. But even in that excitement, there’s a quiet awareness… you’re still going to have to land. And you don’t always know if that landing will be smooth, a little bumpy, or, in the worst case, unsettling.