I Woke Up Early on My Born Day…

Birthday Reflections

“Hov on that new shit, ni**as like, ‘How come?’ / Ni**as want my old shit, buy my old album.” — JAY-Z

I woke up early on my born day, and the first thing I felt was gratitude. Another year, another chance to move with intention, to live on my own terms, to keep becoming.

This past year taught me a lot. Some lessons were soft reminders, and others felt like a slap to the face. But either way, I listened. I learned. And I let go. Growth means shedding old versions of myself—versions that worried too much about what people thought, that gave too much to the wrong places, that second-guessed her own power. That woman got me here, but she’s not coming with me into 38.

“Legacy, legacy, legacy, Black excellence, baby, you gon’ let ’em see.” — JAY-Z

My father’s absence still lingers, especially today. His voice, his presence, the way he always made my birthday feel like something to celebrate. Losing him has made me even more intentional about the legacy I carry—his, mine, the one I am actively shaping every day. Blackness is legacy. It’s preservation, remembrance, and choosing to honor those who came before me by living fully, by standing firm in who I am.

“People will love you and support you when it’s beneficial.” — Nicki Minaj (but let’s be real, it fits)

I’ve learned that time is my most valuable currency, and I will not let people waste it. I will not pour into spaces that take and take but never give.

People will smile in your face and still move funny behind your back. Don’t let people fool you. Sometimes the ones you think you’re cool with are just wolves in sheep’s clothing. And I’ve made peace with that. The mask always slips eventually.

“I’m in the zone like the 4th quarter / Back in the zone like I’m war-ready.” — Nas

So, as I step into 38, I’m walking lighter. I’m moving with clarity. I’m choosing me—not in the performative, self-care-as-aesthetic way, but in the real, I-will-not-betray-myself way.

Here’s to another year of standing firm, protecting my peace, and preserving a legacy that will outlive me.