"I woke up early on my born day.."
After I made my morning prayer and fixed my first cup of coffee for the day, I turned on the TV to finish watching the movie "One Night In Miami" and by the end of the movie I was in tears...
Without spoiling the end of the movie for those who haven't seen it yet, on one of the last scenes, Sam Cooke is singing "A Change Gonna Come", one of my favorite songs of all time. Hearing the words "I was born by the river in a little tent, and just like the river I've been running ever since" on the morning of my birthday just hit different. I started raising my arms up like I had just won a championship or a boxing match. With my face full of tears and my voice cracking as I went from lip singing to trying to get the words out myself, I felt like I was Muhammad Ali or Jim Brown.. and I've always felt closely connected to Malcolm X.
As the movie was ending, I started thinking about how much I could see myself in each of the characters. I am an entertainer and song writer like Sam Cooke and trying to find balance between writing commercial songs for the masses and songs with substance from the other side of our reality. I am a coach in the midst of a pandemic basketball season with a strong competitive urge to want to win a championship like Jim Brown. I have the boastfulness of a Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) and feel doubted even after proving myself. And again, Malcolm X is one of my personal heroes that I feel closer to than almost any other historical figure.
At this point.. the movie ended, but life for me continues. Even though I have goals and a clear plan for the next 365 days, I have no idea what the next year has in store for me. But I feel overwhelmingly driven towards more success than I've seen in my life to this point. As Sam Cooke sung, "Its been a long time coming, but I know, a change gonna come". I know something big is coming for me and my life.
For now I'll celebrate this birthday with my family. Thank you GOD for another trip around the sun. I pray I have as many as Jim Brown & Muhammad Ali had plus some.. But if it's in the cards for me to be closer to Malcolm & Sam Cooke, I hope to make the most of whatever time I have left.
I could've summed this all up by finishing the quote from Nas that started this blog.. "I woke up early on my born date.. It's a blessing, the essence of adolescence leaves my body, now I'm fresh and.. My physical frame is celebrated cause I made it"