No Fear, Just Readiness
MAY 30, 2023
During the height of the pandemic, some influential mother figures in my life initiated the thought and advised me to share it with my closest circles. They believed it should be our focus, considering the challenging times we were facing. It's remarkable how many times I've discussed this with my friends and family, yet it seems that, from my perspective, not everyone has fully embraced the lesson. That's alright, as I also fall short at times. I continue to learn and strive to conduct myself better every day.
For years, I deluded myself into thinking that I was organized. However, upon reflection, it's laughable how disorganized I have been throughout the years. One only needs to look at my music folders or external hard drive files to see the extent of my disorganization. Countless hours have been wasted searching for files, dates, movies, shows, songs, and more. I recall a running joke with my friend Poet, who constantly asks me for the files related to a great show we did with Keith Murray in Brooklyn. I performed that night, captured the images, and I know I have them somewhere. I even stumbled upon them a few months ago while searching for something else, and I promised myself I'd organize them for Poet's sake. Unfortunately, I didn't copy, rename, or remember the file folder, making it harder to locate. It made me question my organizational skills overall. If I were running a true LLC and had to manage files, tax information, receipts, and client details, I'd be doing a poor job of it. I had to be honest with myself and acknowledge that I had never been properly taught how to organize effectively. Was it due to a lack of good teachers? No, they genuinely tried. They often emphasized the potential devastation and wastefulness of an unorganized life. However, I must admit that I wasn't the best listener and didn't fully consider their teachings.
Recently, I've come to truly understand the emphasis placed on organization during my middle school, high school, and college years. Multiple sources stressed its importance and how it can positively impact one's health, goals, and productivity. From organizing computer files, medical records, mortgage documents, living wills, insurance policies, business plans, music and art content, school work, kids' records, and more, it is essential and beneficial. Meticulous organization eases the burden in life and provides a sense of control. It helps meet deadlines and ensures you don't hold others back. Wasting people's time is one of the biggest complaints in any interaction. By organizing your life, you strive to minimize compromising others' time. Organizational skills cultivate character, coolness, insight, planning, future projections, and leadership.
Over the past three years, I've likely organized myself more than in the previous two decades. I am almost certain of it. In the process, I have eliminated many unnecessary things and unfortunately, some people as well. Organizing your life is essential to nurturing your plans and propelling yourself forward. Without organization, I dare say you're not truly directing your own life script. You would be walking through life with spontaneity, which is great, but without a clear sense of direction. I recently spoke with an elder who shared her approach of starting every business plan with the end goal in mind. By employing backward design, she bridges gaps and connections, as the end result dictates what steps need to be pursued and filled in to manifest that goal. Being organized facilitates this process and serves as the initial step in reaching your desired destination in life.
Organizing your life is about more than just tidying up physical spaces or arranging files. It encompasses a holistic approach to managing your time, priorities, and resources. It involves setting clear goals, breaking them down into actionable steps, and creating systems that support your progress. When your life is organized, you gain clarity and focus, enabling you to make better decisions and maximize your potential. I think everyone can use a little bit of this.
Furthermore, being organized has a profound impact on your overall well-being. It reduces stress, as you no longer have to scramble to find important documents or meet deadlines at the last minute. It instills a sense of confidence and self-discipline, allowing you to take charge of your life and accomplish tasks efficiently. By staying organized, you free up mental space to pursue meaningful endeavors, cultivate healthy habits, and nurture relationships. I've been doing my best to consciously stay on task, which helps to foster a more organized way of approaching life and challenges.
Preparation, as defined by Bing, refers to the action or process of making ready or being made ready for use or consideration. Throughout the pandemic period, much like countless others, I devoted a significant amount of time to preparing myself for various eventualities. This involved avidly following educational YouTube channels such as LeadFarmer and CanadianPrepper, among others. With an uncertain future in mind, I immersed myself in acquiring a wide range of skills, from mastering the use of tourniquets and canning/pickling foods to acquiring self-defense techniques and knowledge of solar power utilization, hydroponics, law, and boxing, to name just a few.
During this personal development journey, I had the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who offered valuable insights, guidance, and tactics, ultimately becoming integral to my daily routines. I consider this process a form of leveling up, recognizing that the acquisition of such skills is invaluable and may prove essential at any point in life. While the pandemic acted as a catalyst for my intensified pursuit of these capabilities, I firmly believe that all individuals, particularly young Black men, should prioritize cultivating these aptitudes.
Storing and learning how to preserve food is an essential survival skill. Without this knowledge, we would be unable to indulge in the luxuries and comforts we currently enjoy. The importance of fresh water and sustenance cannot be overstated, as they form the foundation upon which our lives rest. These thoughts consumed my mind during the pandemic, prompting me to contemplate the possibilities. What if I were unable to provide my family with water from the stores? How could I procure and effectively purify water to ensure their well-being, free from contamination, bacteria, and harmful chemicals? Questions like these pervaded my thinking, spurring me to explore water storage, rainwater collection methods, and the legalities surrounding such practices in various states.
Surprisingly, collecting water and setting up 55-gallon water barrels is prohibited in certain states. Therefore, it is crucial to research local laws and regulations to ascertain what is permissible. Fortunately, in New Jersey, such practices are not only permitted but actively encouraged, as they contribute to pollution control and the prevention of city sewer system overflows. Recognizing that my family and neighbors would be the individuals I would rely on in an emergency, I understood the importance of sharing my preparedness knowledge with them. By empowering everyone with this information, we could enhance our collective ability to withstand and endure any crisis that may arise.
For me, preparation evolved into a way of life. Full Spectrum Survival, a YouTuber I follow, introduced me to an axiom that has become a constant refrain in my conversations with family and friends: "2 is 1 and 1 is none!" This simple yet profound concept underscores the significance of redundancy and backup plans. If you rely solely on a single item and it fails or is lost, you are left with nothing. However, having a backup plan in place provides a sense of security and the means to overcome unexpected challenges. The bugout bag, for instance, embodies this mindset. Strategies and preparedness like it assists in offering a practical strategy to alleviate anxiety, financial burdens, and the impact of medical emergencies. By embracing preparedness, I have come to realize that it aligns seamlessly with organization. Understanding what resources one possesses is essential to discerning what still needs to be acquired. Both organization and preparation are life skills that can genuinely save lives.
I once read that living without fear is nearly impossible. There's truth in this statement since fear can activate our innate survival instincts when faced with potential calamities. However, it's not the natural fear we should be truly afraid of, but rather the paralyzing fear that renders us stagnant, complacent, and inactive—the "deer in the headlights" mentality. Such fear inhibits growth and development, making it difficult to truly experience life.
For years, I allowed this fear to influence my actions and dictate my life. What's intriguing is that I wasn't even aware of its powerful grip on me—how it shaped my thinking and hindered my progress. My fear stemmed not only from the unknown, but also from concerns about how others perceived me. It was as if I projected their judgment onto myself. Even now, I catch myself pondering why I'm overly concerned about others' opinions. Shouldn't my own view of myself matter more, free from the judgmental gaze of others?
If allowed, fear will invade our thoughts and interactions, collapsing our forward momentum and leaving us immobilized. Overcoming self-inflicted damage caused by this fear is an arduous task. It was emphasized to me the importance of addressing this type of thinking and inaction due to its volatile nature. Gradually, I've learned to draw strength from my internal reservoir of energy and determination, facing challenges head-on.
Now, my fear is motivated by the thought of what I might miss out on if I fail to achieve my goals. The fear of failure propels me to do more, striving to ensure that I do not falter. Failure can no longer be an option in my mind because my success is intertwined with my children's future and my legacy. Some may consider this ambitious, but who else will encourage me if not myself? I'm becoming my own competition, constantly pushing to outperform yesterday and the day before. I refuse to let fear dictate my future.
To succeed, I need to be calculated and cautious. These qualities are the tools I must sharpen and enhance, forming the trio of principles by which I live. They will help me build a future for myself and my family, a future I fear not having the opportunity to leave them with. Perhaps my perspective is flawed, but it has brought me to this present moment. Until I can cultivate new, profound viewpoints and stories that align with my journey, I will continue using this mindset as my motivating force, striving for achievement and responsibility as an artist, thinker, and spirit in human form.
I am grateful for the blessings I have received. Thank you, Yeye! Modupe!
