victory lap

 This powerful line is going to stick with me for a very long time, more than likely forever. It saddens me that Nipsey’s life was taken at such a young age and unfortunately we’re unable to see the full potential of all his work. As the good book says, “you will know them by their fruits”, it was inspiring to see how extremely fruitful Nipsey was while he was on this earth. I’ll assume I’m in the majority in stating that I’m still processing certain emotions that have come from this tragedy. But one thing I know for sure is, as a black man living in America, our lives are in danger every single day. Whether it’s by the hands of police, the criminal justice system or our own people, it’s not guaranteed we’re going to make it back home once we've left the house. I lost my father to gun violence over 30 years ago (I was only 3 y/o) and to this day it still has effects on my life. My sincere condolences are with Nipsey’s loved ones, his family and friends.

 One of the silver linings has been the importance of creating and having your own. Whether you’re just beginning your marathon or are on lap number 24, it can be such a rewarding and life-changing experience once you make the decision to start your race. You are your own competition and you are the only thing that can get in the way of reaching your goals. Like Nipsey, hopefully your victory lap will be about the people you helped and inspired along the way, the legacy you left behind and making sure you fulfilled your life’s purpose. With my wrighteous baton in my hand, I’ll be running until it’s time for my victory lap. Only God knows all of what I will encounter during my race but while I’m here I can only hope and pray that my journey continues to uplift and inspires others.

 The Marathon Continues…