The thing about growth spurts is that you never know when they are going to come, but they are always a pleasant surprise.
The thing about growth spurts is that you never have to stop having them.
You might eventually stop growing height-wise, but with the right actions and intentions, you can keep growing in other ways throughout life.
Sometimes it’s just about who can be the most consistent for the longest.
Throughout my entire life, whether it was in sports, school, or just life in general, I always knew that my longevity of success would result from consistency.
In sports, I knew I could make every practice, consistently maintain the right attitude, keep good grades, and consistently make the right choices off the field. I knew that if I could do that, I would be ahead of those who could not. I knew that if it came down to natural ability, I’d always have a shot; I just had to be consistent for the opportunities to present themselves and for the compound effect to work.
If you’re passionate about something and can consistently do what needs to be done to find success or see results, keep going. You’ve already beaten those who’ve stopped.
I’ve been consistently stretching every morning for about two weeks now.
I love to stretch because, besides all the benefits that come along with stretching, I also love to see (or feel) the tangible results from consistently stretching. I might only improve in centimeter increments, but any results are exciting and encouraging.
This is the mindset that I must have towards other things in life also. If I’m consistent at something for a long period of time, I’m guaranteed to see results.
There’s something invigorating about being unapologetically yourself.
Many times, we mask who we truly are out of fear of judgment, not fitting in, or some other negative feeling.
The fact is, real happiness occurs when you’re completely yourself. Often, success accompanies it too.
As long as you’re a good person with good character and intentions, you should never be afraid to be yourself, speak your mind, and sometimes even stand up for yourself.
Today, I observed an older couple using their iPhones. They were using a feature on the phone that I had never seen or used before.
Being much younger than them and somewhat tech-savvy myself, I assumed I knew more than them when it comes to iPhones and their features. I checked my phone to see if it was capable of doing what they were doing on their phones, and sure enough, it was. That was a new discovery for me.
It’s good to have different perspectives around you to learn new things, and it’s good to be aware that you may not know everything, and that you can learn from anyone. Also, just like the iPhone, we all may possess features and beneficial traits that we may not be using yet.
They say that sometimes the only hand you can depend on is the one at the end of your sleeve.
Self-reliance and independence are crucial because ultimately, you must depend on yourself for support and assistance.
Even then, we often let ourselves down. That’s why we should lean on the Lord. Relying on the Lord provides strength, guidance, and support beyond what we can achieve on our own.
They say that the road to success and the road to failure are two different paths. Our actions can indicate which specific path we are on.
This insight helps me because even during times of uncertainty, I know I can still make choices to stay on the road to success. I might not always know the estimated time of arrival, but I always know I’m en route and will get there.
Becoming a parent made me realize how much mutualism there is between a parent and a child. We both need each other.
Growing up without a parent definitely affects a child, but if the parent is still living, it negatively affects that parent to not be in the child’s life also.
Having a child has changed me in many ways and taught me many lessons, and has allowed me to feel feelings that I didn’t even know I had. None of these things I would have experienced if I wasn’t a present dad.
As a kid, you don’t realize the impact you have on your parents. So, if there’s a kid out there that has a living parent that’s not around, you’re right to feel like you need and want that parent around, but just know they need you just as much and are missing out on some of their biggest blessings, which is you.
Shakespeare once said, “Expectation is the root of all heartache.” No expectations, no disappointments.
It’s much more precarious to have expectations for things that are out of your control. Because of that, I try not to. I always have a positive, optimistic look on things, but try not to expect things from people or certain situations. Much of our disappointment and pain stem from the difference between our expectations and reality. When they don’t align, it can lead to disappointment or even emotional pain.
I have expectations for myself because I’m the one making the moves, so I have more control over things, but there are still many things out of my control when expecting things for myself.
So really, all I can do is always focus on the next right move. Even when things don’t go as expected, I can still make the right adjustments and decisions for what’s next to come.
Having a baby is a constant reminder to me to continue to learn and grow. It’s a reminder to never give up, have an open mind, and be willing to learn and grow.
My daughter learns new things every day. She gets closer to her developmental milestones every day as well. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. If I expect all of these things from my daughter, I should also expect them for myself.
There’s always something new to learn, there’s always room for improvement. I have to lead by example and make sure I know enough to be able to teach.
So if there’s ever something that you want someone to do or suggest that they do for their benefit, make sure you are practicing what you preach. It helps you and it will be the catalyst to positively influence them as well.
FLY, BLACK BOY 