LIFE IS A VAPOUR

“They shot Nipsey 6 times”.

I will never forget reading those words in the early hours of Monday morning. My friend shared the news in our group chat and I instantly got on twitter to get an update. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before my worst fears had been confirmed. Nipsey Hussle shot dead at the age of 33, outside his own store. As I got ready for work that morning my heart was heavy, my mind was racing. I downloaded Victory Lap and Crenshaw on Spotify so I could listen on my commute and kept it stepping. Like many of you the rest of my day was spent reading and scrolling the TL as the story unfolded. Like all hip-hop fans I knew of Nipsey, I respected him and his music. But I confess I didn’t know the depths of what he was doing for his community. As I read and watched the wave of information that came out about him I dropped into a deeper sadness. The news had touched my mind and spirit in a way I could not comprehend.

No celebrity death has ever affected me, save Muhammad Ali’s who was once my childhood hero. Yet Nipsey’s passing began to mean something to me I never expected. What plagued my mind as I went through my morning routine was something one of my elders always says to me, “life is a vapour.” Like many old sayings I’d never given it too much thought. I went to look it up and found the bible verse “…you do not know what your life will be tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Sobering stuff. Just days ago in our group chat we had been discussing Nipsey’s Dr Sebi documentary and his GQ interview with Lauren London. Today we were discussing his death. Life is a mist, vapour, a fog. What have I been doing with this short time I have? Not enough.

As I watched and listened to the man outside of his music I began to be convicted. Just 8 years older than me, Nipsey was already what I’d hope to be and he was still striving for more. A father, partner, friend, businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, activist and teacher. To surmise, a pillar in his community. How was I going to get there? When I look back at where I was 8 years ago I realised life comes at you fast. Time really does fly. We need to make sure we are giving everything we have.

In a pursuit to find my life’s mission, I have recently made a concerted effort to attend more networking events and put myself out there more. I have realised that so many of my peers are making strides to better themselves and our community. I believed I had a destiny to fulfil, but had no idea on how to pursue it. I have no doubt many of you feel the same. We get so easily caught in this hamster wheel. I had begun to fall into the trap, a 5hr round trip commute on top of 8–9 hour working days. I was beginning to lose touch and resign myself to a monotonous life.

Nipsey’s death was a snap back to reality. We say things like “life is short” and “live your best life” but they often become cliches or just good bits of banter. How many of us are really living life to the fullest? Most of us just let life’s natural ebb and flow carry us along. We don’t truly dictate our own direction. How often are we really in pursuit of what is best? It is a gruelling task to balance it all and yet there is a way to do it. I have seen it done. Finding your purpose, gaining knowledge, and having the discipline to apply it is the way.

Nipsey said in an interview “if they kill me you need to ride out.” I realised I wouldn’t even know what to ride out for. If I wanted to continue what he started I’d need to find my calling. We very rarely stop and reflect on our life goals, we seldom have the opportunity to truly pursue our dreams. I decided that day that I needed to take time out to reflect, I needed to really think about what my life meant. I implore you to do the same. As the sports adage goes “father time remains undefeated.” When it is your time there is nothing you can do about it. So think about what legacy you are going to leave. For Nipsey it was the ownership of his masters, owning businesses that prop up his community, helping school children overcome the hardship they were born into, and so much more.

I have known for a long time that I have a gift for teaching and helping uplift others, but the logistics had evaded me. Or more accurately, I had avoided planning and actioning his to use my gifts for futile pursuits and due to procrastination. I know now I need to go above and beyond to relay my message of self-educating. Not relying on a school system that so often isn’t designed for us. I plan to remove the stigma and constraints of rigid academia in a pursuit of holistic well rounded knowledge.

I compel you to take that time out for yourself, to go out in the world, meet people actively chasing their dreams, put yourself in an environment of hard workers and go getters. I encourage you to pick up a book about something you know you need to learn more about and open your mind. It will only push you to be better. It takes soul searching, it takes honesty, it comes with delayed gratification. But once you establish your purpose a new sense of clarity and energy will overcome you.

I am only at the beginning of my journey. My dream is that we all leave a lasting legacy. We need to grow together, build each other up so that we might become wiser and more disciplined. While you’re at it go get some The Marathon Clothing and listen to some Nipsey. His family deserve some support he has earned the right to be remembered, he championed a movement and left a lasting legacy. Don’t let your life go by without doing the same.

Related posts:

Acordo com um comichão mental me pinicando. Um pensamento repetitivo se expressando na tela em branco da mente, geralmente todo pensamento se manifesta e se esvai dissolvendo-se com o tempo, mas…

How to build confidence. Thoughts on promises, successful behavior, and intentions. Do what you promise yourself to do — even in moments of fear.

When you read about all the famous writers out there today, they all have one thing in common: They all have an original idea that led them to success. When they wrote, many people have an idea in…