This piece is inspired by my little brother and his 23rd birthday, it’s about perspective and perseverance. I remember this time as one where I really felt like I need to get my stuff together, I was filled with anxiety and excitement about the future, while my friends and peers were advancing their lives, I felt stuck in a rut haphazardly trying to find my way out. It wasn’t until I finally gathered the courage to sit down and talk with those individuals who’s lives I had envied, that I discovered they were just as lost.

I was stuck in the rat race unhappy with my current status and hungry for a new one, more worried about what I had than who I was.

Fall down twice get up thrice, just in case you were wondering, most people don’t have it all figure out, and that’s okay. There is a sense of solace you expect when you make a plan, a sense of security, in truth its just a prayer in different form. I too am a planner, I pontificate every extrapolation of every scenario I can possibly think of, for a long time, this wonderful skill gave me the worst anxiety.

Now it fills me with a sense of excitement for all the possibilities, waiting to be taken a hold of. Get lost in the possibilities but find yourself in the present. As Gucci man said so eloquently, “If a man does not have sauce, then he is lost. But the same man can get lost in the sauce”. This sauce is your perspective, this sauce is the possibilities, this sauce is your desire for greatness, this sauce is your successes, and it is also your failures. As we grow, life gradually gives us more of these sauces, while giving us more to eat, and we either consume, digest, and move on from it, or become inundated by it. I implore you to do the former, and don’t beat yourself up when the latter happens, we are all human after all.

Our minds are legendary battlefields, others may not know of their renown, but regardless we must suit up and prepare for this battle daily, hoping to one day win our own personal wars. My battle for a long time was a battle of attrition, I was slowly trying to weaken my mind, doing things I had no business doing, thinking that I would overcome its torment by handicapping it, but that only seemed to make it stronger. The plasticity of the mind is something that I am awed by and ever thankful for. No matter the battle that lies before it, the mind never gives up the fight, even when the body might really want to.

We are builders, we are breakers, we are survivors! Build up your perspective so that you may see the world and yourself for what they are, beautiful. Break down the barriers that are preventing you from pursing whatever passion you have, the perspective is key, but you must break your spirit of doubt so that perseverance can prevail even when all seems lost. Survive the battles of life and never give up, even though some of them you will have to face alone, you can come out victorious if you believe, and work hard too, belief is half the battle the other part is blood sweat and tear-jerking hard work.

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now” -Goethe

To all who read this, and especially to my brother, I believe in you! My journey thus far has given me confidence and has shown me just how many people all over the world are trying to create a better life for themselves. This journey has allowed me to see that even though we must work hard, really hard, we must also take the time to enjoy our life and our loved ones, because tomorrow is never promised, and the present is a gift that we all must take the time to enjoy.

Let today be the start of something amazing, let the choice be your own, and let the results of that hard work be your gift. Whether other people notice your growth or not is insignificant, their acknowledgement does not make your progress any more or less beautiful.

“It’s not how things appear, but what effort, activity, and choices they are the result of.”

Happy Birthday Jordan, Love you Bro!