now or never

"Patience" might be one of my guiding words for ‘25, but I can’t help but feel the lyrics of this Kendrick Lamar song; I randomly chose it to be the background music to a video I posted yesterday of two bald eagles I saw on my way home from getting a hair cut—the Universe decided to show me loudly that this year was going to be a great one and that I’m heading in the right direction… “keep pursuing” the Universe said.

The song “Now or Never” is off of Kendrick’s Good Kid Mad City album and is one of the few songs I might skip when listening to the album, but for some reason, yesterday I listened to it, and the lyrics spoke to me (bold is my emphasis)…

Kendrick Lamar:

“We on?

A'ight

One, two, three, go!

Waking up in a dream

Sleepwalking on another big stage

You never heard peace 'til you hear people scream

Your name in unison, I'm so far away

From the place I used to be, struggling usually

Look at the newer me, fate pursuing me

I can feel the energy in the air

It feel like I'm supposed to be here

Mary J. Blige:

Everywhere I go, I'm getting so much love

Fans, the stars, everyone

Sayin' how they can't wait for the LP

And I'm gonna blow, they believe in me

Feel so good in what you do

Helps somebody else get through

That's why I do the best I can

Because I know how blessed I am

I'm so high, I can touch the sky

I know it's my time, and it's now or never

Shine so bright, I light the night

And it feels so right, ain't nothing better

Kendrick Lamar:

A fool if I take it all for granted

A smart man if I keep my feet planted

To the earth, 'cause the people that hurt can understand it

You speakin' outlandish, I'ma show you how to make it all work

Another planet, it's a short-term goal for me

A record sold for me, it's just more of me in your ear

For you to hear Kendrick persevere, defenses I feel relentless

Ambition with a clear vision

Takin' off, I ain't takin' off these Pistons

I'm takin' off on the inner me, you're distance

Came across me, how much it'll cost me

To get you out my business

I said a planet is a short-term goal, no sky is the limit

I'm past that, now pass that award

Not one but four times two plus yours

Mary J. Blige:

I see myself performing there (K.dot)

Sold out shows where the room is packed

Sitting at the Grammy's winning five awards

See myself on big billboards

Traveling around the world with endorsement deals

Can't imagine how it feels

That's why I'm smiling everyday

Because my dream ain't far away

I'm so high, I can touch the sky

I know it's my time, and it's now or never

Shine so bright, I light the night

And it feels so right, ain't nothing better

Kendrick Lamar:

You looking at me, and you tell me I'm blessed

Calculated my steps, my heart, my breath

Breathe in lungs of a victory and vividly

You see me when at my best, my worst

This verse dedicated to the days that I slept

With a curse research my paid dues, I'm reimbursed

I burst in the crowd with a voice and a crown

I'm a King on the prowl and I see mama smile

And I vow on the tape that I'll never break

You can break bread with me now

We can all take a bow on the edge of the pedestal

Then scream out loud that we made it off the avenue

And walked that mile

In the darkness I often sit back and get lost in the rap that I wrote

When you told me that it spoke to your soul

I was talking to you, I was walking it through every ghetto

Tell success "Hello"

We here

Mary J. Blige:

And I'm so happy I cry 'cause I can't believe

All the things I ever wanted are finally happening for me

And it's so surreal that I almost feel

That any minute I can wake up from this fantasy

When you pray so hard, and you've come so far

And you know that it's the time for you to lift your bar

And I'm gonna do it, watch me

I'm so high, I can touch the sky

I know it's my time, and it's now or never

Shine so bright, I light the night

And it feels so right, ain't nothing better

I'm so high, I can touch the sky

I know it's my time, and it's now or never

Shine so bright, I light the night

And it feels so right, ain't nothing better.”

I expect to see this song in my year-end Spotify Wrap with how much I’ll listen to it in the coming year.

I wanted to revisit one line quickly,

“I see myself performing there (K.dot)
Sold out shows where the room is packed”

I see my Self performing on big stages in the future, and one of the ways I am working towards this vision is by bringing back the Keep Pursuing Series of talks; this year, I’ll be hosting a monthly talk, and last night, I released the dates and Eventbrite to secure tickets for each of the talks.

You can see the titles of each of the talks below and grab your tickets here.

See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

connect spirit, mind, body, and money w/ Justin Castelli

now or never

you get what you give

the Weekly Note Vol. 46

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