Welcome back to Black Grad Life, where I speak on all things music, the Black experience, lifestyle, and life after college. Today’s post will cover the importance of doing the things we often neglect. Whether that be sticking to our routines, maintaining discipline, and/or establishing boundaries with ourselves and others. I’m not afraid to admit I struggle in these areas. I spent the past month in an intense chess match with myself while writing this. I know we all have our days, but here’s to hoping that these words may fill your cup as they have mine.

Recharging Myself As Often As My Phone

It is a hard thing to do. Getting back into the swing of things even when you feel like you’ve been in the swing of things. Juggling what matters with what does not. Trying to show up for yourself…for others. Remembering to be present. Remembering to practice gratitude. Thankful for all things even with a low battery. It could always be a lot worse. For the past month and a half I’ve just been on auto pilot. Banged my feet up a bit jumping back into tennis too fast. A sideline in one area of my life that relaxed me in others. Things could have fallen apart in the past month and I would not have even blinked. Somber I guess is the word to describe that. I’m always thinking about the ways of the world and if any of this really matters. At some point I realized I needed to recharge instead of pretending to give a fuck. That looks different for everyone, but I know I’m someone who must isolate to recharge. It is a bit of a double-edged sword though because I can become obsessed with isolation. I’m learning though that in taking the time to recharge myself as often as I do my phone, I’m more prone to wanting to connect with others. I’m more prone to maintaining discipline, my routines don’t fall apart, and connecting with others is easier. Here’s to no longer settling into low power mode for days.

Recentering What Matters Most

I ran from writing this. While there is nothing wrong with recentering the things that matter most and locking back in to focus…it is a bit embarrassing falling off track. You see I’m a man of routine. I love my routine and I love being in a routine. I can be honest though when I say should something distract me from my routine it is very hard for me to get back into it. A day of distraction can quickly lead to weeks. This misalignment turns into an internal war. It causes brain fog. Things no longer seem as important to me as they once were. The tragedies of the world paint the walls of my mind a little longer.

Disconnecting helps me to recenter and reconnect. Not being in a creative flow saddens me. I feel incomplete at times if I’m not actively creating. That is me centering my worth on productivity. If you take nothing else from this, I’m hoping that if you also find yourself in a rut that you know it won’t last forever. Remember that beating yourself up for being unproductive still leads to you being beat up. Rest so that you can recenter, recover, respond, and reflect.

Refocusing As Many Times As I Need

I sit here on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Doing my best to process my thoughts. Actually writing in the time I allotted for. Early private tennis lesson for the morning booked. Maybe I’ll call a loved one today. Or go out by the pool and people watch. I’m always thinking about time and how much of it is left. Or how I can’t go back to any of the lives I’ve lived before. On a day like today though I’m for once actually not thinking about the time. I’m just grateful to have a day. A day to parse through my thoughts and reflect. A day to feel and give love. A day just to be. Trying not to forget to focus on the bigger picture. While also not pressuring myself to have it all together at this exact moment. 

I’ve been coming to grips with time and how we decorate it. This piece in itself is a decorator of time that I can’t wait to look back on. None of this is possible without refocusing. Refocusing as many times as I need. Being okay when things come to an end. Bouncing back. Moving on in what ever way I see fit always. Reinforcing the elements that shape me and ditching those that don’t.

My track record has proven the beauty of refocusing. The fruit that a fresh restart bears. Plenty of fear about “starting over”, but that’s the thing recentering yourself and refocusing on your vision isn’t about starting over. It’s about beginning anew with a fresh mindset while also utilizing the tools you’ve garnered thus far. A better version of you gets to tackle it this time. Begin again and again. This time with a renewed mindset sparking creative energy. Being happy at the end of the day with things to look forward to.

“I’m hoping that if you also find yourself in a rut that you know it won’t last forever.”

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If you made it this far, thank you for reading. Getting this piece out has been therapeutic for me. Appreciate all the support and sending love your way. As always, playlist for this drop is below. Accompanying video for this drop is also available below for Members Only.

I hope you had a great holiday weekend, and we will talk soon!

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/blackgradlife-recharging-recentering-refocusing/pl.u-WGZGTRxjA10

BLACK GRAD LIFE

Music, the Black experience, and life after college lifestyle blog by Joe©️