Peace,
Moving forward with sharing my thoughts here over other platforms as they simply no longer serve my mission. I want to connect with real human beings who want to build community, not just simple onlookers, spies, bots, and a handful of people I actually know, but think a red dot and a heart emoji is support. As Chuck D says “Scrolling ain't reading and Textin' ain't writing.” So I'll come here to share my thoughts, spread some news about things I think is important, and keep it brief and keep it moving.
I'm shifting. Age is a beautiful thing. It's truly the path to wisdom, and now that I've acquired some through real life experiences and study, so much makes sense now. And I'm about to see the nonsense so much clearer. I told my little sister the other day, the biggest job of being an adult is unlearning. We don't realize how much foolishness is going on in our minds, behavior, and being fed to us until we live some life, and start being able to discern. I'm grateful to have arrived at this place and space.
It's shifting everything, just as the water shifts the sand when the moon controls the tides. Part of that shift is also re-situating what I've done in life and deepening the purpose. I never want or wanted limelight, spotlight, or notoriety. I was never about fame either. I do believe in being compensated for my art, but without a capitalistic mindset. I know I am value. More than anything, and even more now, it's about making an impact and inspiring. That's why I write books sharing my experiences. It's not a “look at me moment.” It's a reminder of what's possible. I come from a small town called East Cleveland, Ohio. I come from parents who were working class and struggled with poverty their whole lives. I share of myself to remind the ones that get marginalized, ostracized, and judged bases on material gain, money, and consumer accumulation or lack thereof that there's still a life to be lived.
I surely didn't do it alone and the idea of any man or woman being self made makes no sense. We all have been helped by someone in this life, including the ancestors and protecting angels on the other side along with Jah, Allah, God, whatever name you decide. And now, what I'm doing more than ever, is protecting the most important real estate we have in life. My mind, my heart, my spirit, and what I intake food wise and media wise.
I left IG today. I said to myself I can learn more from reading books than a scroll. And, I realize, it's not even a place for commerce as I once thought. I heard LaRussell (I do not care what you feel about him or his Heaven sent controversy) say that he had 2 million followers on Instagram, but couldnt get 1% of his highly active fanbase to buy his album. That's all I needed to know. I thought IG would be a place where people would show support, but in truth its simply onlookers to me. So, I will continue to maintain one space, my website, which will always have something for you. Ok. Now, my new way of closing blog posts is reminding you of 5 things that matter.
- Rest is a superpower. You are not lazy. You are not non productive, and you are not wasting time when you rest. Take the time. Turn off the phone, get off all screens and BE.
- Laughter matters. I often times can get hard on myself. When I do, I turn to comedy because in truth life requires you to laugh at it sometimes. Take the time to find something to laugh about. Life ain't always so deep.
- Ask yourself, what can I shift in my life to make my life better. The definition of the word shift is “move or cause to move from one place to another, especially over a small distance.”
- Engage in play. Have some fun. Get a coloring book, do a puzzle, play some scrabble, make a scrapbook, go to a park and swing on a swing. I guarantee you it won't hurt.
- Love on someone. Give someone who deserves it your love and time without wanting anything in return.
Peace,
Jahi