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.
Browsing: Ain’t That A VHIT
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.
Picture a Sunday pot roast in the crockpot, seasoned just right, slow cooking for hours. By the time it’s done, it’s tender, rich, and full of flavor. Every ingredient has settled in. Nothing is rushed, and you can taste the difference.
I once heard a quote on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show that stayed with me longer than I expected: “Sometimes your light is too bright in a dark room.” At first, it felt like a clever saying, something you hear, nod to, and keep moving. But the more I reflected on it, the more I realized it wasn’t just clever, it was clarifying.
Every day it feels like something shifts, economically, socially, professionally, even personally. One moment you think you have clarity, and the next, something changes that makes you question everything you thought you understood. Plans pivot. Expectations collapse. Stability feels uncertain.
A Different World did both. It gave us one of our first real glimpses into life at an HBCU, where Black excellence, growth, struggle, and purpose all lived in the same space. It wasn’t just entertainment; it was a vision. It showed us that college wasn’t just possible, it was ours.