you will age gracefully if you release urgency from your body, talk to a higher power, stretch every day, keep your circle small, nourish yourself with hydrating food, release anything that weighs on your heart, have a carefree heart and a clear conscience, keep your whimsy alive
"Being black is a creative act. You have to create your world every single day because the world wasn't built for you. That makes us the ultimate architects."- Andre 3000.
Barack: You told me all those years ago that you couldn’t promise me the world, but you could promise me an interesting life. Of course, you outdid yourself and managed to give me both.
Eight years in the crucible, and not once did you melt from the heat. Not once did you let it harden you. Instead, you used it to reveal your truest essence: your stubborn optimism and unflinching courage, your dazzling brilliance and unpretentious decency, your ferocious work ethic and absolutely unshakable moral fiber.
More than 40 years ago, I arrived in Chicago in search of an idea. I was a young man looking for purpose, who believed deeply in America, was inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, and wanted to be a part of something larger. The America I believed in was one where everyone has opportunity, everyone is seen, everyone belongs—because that was an America that had a place for me, too.
They make it an effort to minimize & erase our history, as if our ancestors didn't endure slavery, segregation, discrimination, disenfranchisement, & barriers. Our ancestors fought for the right to read, to vote, to own property, to receive an education, to build businesses, & to be treated equally in a country they helped build. Their resilience laid the foundation for generations that followed. Knowing our history is not about dwelling on pain. It'ss about understanding sacrifice, recognizing progress, & appreciating the strength that carried us here. Understanding history is understanding our value. When we understand our value, we won't allow our history to be erased.
May you be protected from eyes that secretly ache at the sight of your growth. May your path stay covered from hidden resentment, silent competition, and disguised ill intentions. May every blessing meant for you arrive untouched, and every victory multiply in peace.