A (0:02)

I saw somebody post on X yesterday hating on people who are like 35 years old, saying that they're gonna get their life together or that they're gonna go get it. And they're like, bruh, your life is already over. And I'm like, no, it's not. Most people don't even come into their wealth, into their 40s and 50s. Most people don't even come into, like, a real good knowledge of themselves later in life. Like, this mind, that mindset is so poisonous. Like, you have to be excited for who you're about to come, even in your 50s. I was actually watching a podcast yesterday with two different people, and both of them are about in their 50s and 60s. Probably one is like 50, the other one's probably like 63. There's two men, and they're talking about different things. And I was looking at them and I'm like, yo, these two individuals are strong. Like, they're talking about their work ethic and, like, all the things they're doing. And also, like, they just had, like, this courageous spirit. And I was like, there is something in these dudes that I haven't yet been able to cultivate because it's just going to take more time. Maturity. It actually made me excited to be 50 years old or 60 years old one day and be wiser, be more courageous, be stronger, go through the storms that life has to offer. One of them said that. He was like, how do you go through everything that you have to go through in your career because it's a very difficult industry with a lot of criticism. And he's like, yo, to be honest, it's changed me. It was very difficult, you know, like, days almost feel like you can't get up. But, like, it changed me to where I feel resilient, I feel stronger. I feel like I have this armor on my skin and. And I could be a testament of that. I think back to some of the hardest things I went through and how I felt free after. You know, I was talking to one of my friends who went through a cancellation one time about, like, five years ago online, and he said, man, to be honest, it was like the most freeing thing that could ever happen when, like, so many people just out of nowhere decide to hate you over misinformation or a false idea or whatever it may be. He's like, it frees you in so many ways when people call you the worst things. Cuz after that, you truly realize you don't. You're not really seeking everyone's validation, you know, you're seeking your validation from the things that truly matter, from the most high, from the ones who truly love you. You know, your actual community, your actual people, right? Finding it within your craft, like placing your effort into your crafts. And I'm excited for that growth. As we get over older, I think, like, we over romanticize being young, which is great too. Like, all stages are great. But I think, like, you know, we get afraid as we get older. I remember when I was 20, like, or 18, I thought like 30 or you were like, old as hell. You know, I think in hip hop culture, if you grew up in hip hop culture, like, we really romanticize being young. By the time you're 30, like, you old, get out of here. I used to be like that at 20 years old. Like, the people, like, since I was producing, I would look at the producers who were like 10 years older than me, and I'm like, you old, I'm gonna eat your food. But really the mentality I should have had was, oh, man, you're older than me. You have more knowledge than me. Maybe I can learn from you. But my attitude was like, listen, old man, get out of here. I'm gonna eat your food. I'm hotter and nicer. I was a little ignorant. Little ignorant, hinds going off, you know, crazy. But it's going to be a good year, yo. We're going to be growing, right? Don't worry about the opinions of others. It's going to be all right. That's a daily practice. Being ourself is the best repellent. I'm telling you, just be yourself. Undeniably, we often seek approval from others first, but your dreams, your ideas, and your goals start with you. Nobody can see what is stored within the mind and heart. I've actually never really been offended growing up when people didn't believe in the things I said I would do because I was like, how do you explain something that hasn't been done before? Or how do you explain something that somebody hasn't seen before? Like, if you come from a family that has always lived in poverty or has had like a lot of generational curses to say, and you tell your family, like, I'm going to be wealthy, I'm going to live a life like this. I'm going to do this. In their mind, they're like, they can't even imagine that. They may be like, we're not those type of people. Right? I've never been offended by that resistance. Instead, I've been inspired. Because you may be the very testament Just the way you live your life, improve. I don't want to say prove other people wrong, but you just fulfill your dreams. You will be a walking inspiration for others. People will be like, wow, you don't even have to preach to them. You don't have to tell them nothing. They're just going to see what you do with your life. You will have a natural positive ripple effect just from being you, just from following through. And then people will be like, damn, maybe it is possible. Think about social media. Even five years ago, there wasn't nearly as many people on social media before the pandemic. And then people started seeing more people do it, and then people they know do it and they're like, oh, maybe. Maybe I can learn video too. And, you know, maybe I have a story to tell. There was a time where most people didn't think they could really do. Now it's just like everyone's like, oh, like everyone's. Everyone's doing it. I could do it too, right? You become a walking inspiration and testament. I really think that's one of the best ways to inspire, right, is by transforming your life. Change your life, change your inner world, you know, then you can change the world. Then you can change the world. I love that. You know, one of my favorite books in this season has been Dear Artist by Jaya John. Beautiful book. He says, loved one. When it comes to your creative life, you can claim ownership or you can ride the slave ship. What grace that you get to choose? What grace that you get to choose? You can claim ownership over your life or you can claim slave ship, right? You can live life on your accord, on your rhythm, or you can follow what they tell you you're supposed to do, even though you know it doesn't align for you. That's really the courage and the resilience we're going to be drafting and crafting in 2025 is living our life. And it's not like, who. Who can really tell you how to live your life? Nobody can tell you how to live your life. It's your life. Nobody knows what's in your heart and in your mind. You know, you have to have that belief in yourself become so unrecognizable because your transformation was that beautiful where they don't even recognize you anymore. They say you changed, and you're like, of course I changed. I transformed. I grew. How about you grow with me? That would be beautiful.