say bye bye to the old me.
a few thoughts on letting go of old versions of you + reads & vibes for your weekend.
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let’s jump in.
thoughts at large.
Have you ever held on to something longer than you should have? Maybe an old pair of jeans, shoes, or some item that holds sentimental value? You can’t fit it anymore, or it’s out of style, or it’s literally falling apart - yet, you won’t let it go because of the memory you hold dear?
What if I said you could probably say the same about older versions of yourself? You know we all grow and change. The person you are today is not the person you were last year. I mean honestly, I’m not the same person I was yesterday! With every new experience and the daily opportunity to learn new things and gain new perspectives, we should come to grips with the fact that we’re constantly changing, as we should.
For some of us, it’s easier than others, and honestly, it could be circumstantial. If you’re happy with your progression in life at the moment, it’s easy to let go of the past version, because you’ve upgraded. But what if it feels like you’re not doing as well as you once were? That’s a valid feeling too. Whether you’re feeling high or low right now, I’m here to encourage you to gently release the past versions of yourself that now only live in your mind.
Transparently, I’ve been the kind of person to reminisce on days past, and about older versions of myself that are no longer relevant to the space I’m walking in now. I’ve often thought about the woman I was in undergrad, and how I felt infinitely fearless. I literally felt like I could do any and everything that I wanted to do and that there was nothing that could stop me from achieving my goals. For a while after school, I was discouraged, and the unstoppable girl let her mind/circumstances drive her to shrink.
I now embrace the fact that the undergrad version of me is no longer here. I’m not in that space, I’m not in that location and I’m not even in that body. What I need now, is to take the lessons that undergrad me can teach me, and leverage them to make nearly 35-year-old, successful professional me even better. (And we’re not shrinking anymore.)
What I’ve learned is that it’s absolutely okay to mourn and release who we used to be. In fact, it’s probably necessary for us to do so to walk in the fullness of who we are today. It’s a mindset shift. Instead of desiring to go back, think about what’s at the root of that desire. Are you feeling unfulfilled? Are you feeling unproductive? Are you feeling lonely? Unsuccessful? If so, you don’t have to go back to an older version of yourself to get your needs met. You just have to get your needs met.
In reality, we only have what we know right now. At this moment, as you’re reading this - are you well? You’re alive. You have internet. You’ve also got good taste because this newsletter is high quality. Those are all things to be proud of. This version of you at this moment is doing just fine. Embrace that.
Love you, mean it.
need you to know.
Trump’s mug shot made public by Fulton County Jail after arrest
Conservative activist sues 2 major law firms over diversity fellowships
Nobody 'thought this was an accident': Prigozhin crash sends a signal to Russia's elite
reads + vibes.
The Met Announces Harlem Renaissance Exhibition for 2024 (If you want to come to NYC with me next year, let me know.)
Record-Breaking Sha’Carri Richardson Wins 100-Meter Championship: ‘She Is the Best in the World’
Stephen A. Smith announces Shannon Sharpe will join ESPN's 'First Take' Sept. 4
Zendaya Holds Court (very dope profile.)
Clickbait conquered rap journalism — Megan Thee Stallion paid the price
We regret to inform you that Fyre Festival II tickets are officially on sale
Lauryn Hill Unveils ‘Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ 25th Anniversary Tour Dates — Fugees to Open U.S. Shows (I thought Pras was going to prison???)
The many faces of Scooter Braun (Scooter is apparently getting out of the management business but this week a huge chunk of his A-List talent roster announced they were parting ways with him.)
Charity Lawson and Dotun Olubeko made history this week on The Bachelorette when they became the very first Black monoracial couple in the show’s history. Here’s to #BlackLove!
The Ultimatum Season 2 is back now on Netflix. I don’t know about y’all but I love the mess this show brings. You can watch the trailer below:
Speaking of mess on Netflix, Love is Blind After the Altar will premiere next Friday, September 1st.
There is a lot of new music this week! Here are a few links:
The most highly anticipated release for me is Victoria Monet’s Jaguar II. Top tracks for me thus far are “Alright” produced by Kaytranada and “How Does It Make You Feel”. Listen: Spotify | Apple Music
Terrace Martin and James Fauntleroy released a new EP called Nova. If you’re into jazz vibes like I am you’ll love this. Tracks to get into: “Witchcraft” with Robert “Glasper and Chocolate For Dinner” with Chief Adujah. Listen here: Spotify | Apple Music
Ariana Grande re-released her album “Yours Truly” on its 10th anniversary with live versions of several of the biggest tracks. “Honeymoon Afternoon” is still a jam til this day! Listen: Spotify | Apple
We’re still waiting for Drake to drop his new album “For All The Dogs” - it’s allegedly supposed to be released today. I’ll keep my eye out for you.
There are some loosies I’m going to be adding to The Update Weekly Playlist over the next few hours. Tune in for a couple of J. Cole features and lots of new R&B. Save the playlist: Spotify | Apple (pro-tip: put it on shuffle)
That’s all for this week! Friends, my birthday is next Saturday - and if you’d like to celebrate with me, I’m asking you to share this newsletter. I love doing this weekly, and you sharing the goodness and encouraging your friends to subscribe will only help. Hit the button below.