Hip Hop Wisdom Lesson #10: Train Yourself for Longevity

In the hit song ‘You Can Do It’, Ice Cube has a lyric that says, “Life ain’t a track meet, it’s a marathon.” I mostly agree with that because there are times when pertinent issues arise and survival decisions must be made now; however, much of your life should be managed for the long term. For example, a simple strategy for long term planning would be to make decisions, at the apex of your ability, that produce the best possible outcomes for your life. Think about what your future self needs/wants before taking action for today’s you.

The first outcome you want to focus on is your income. Eliminate financial instability and always keep some money in rotation. As a Hip Hop Culturist, you are creative, artistic, bold, and hungry. You will be constantly seeking new ways to improve yourself, improve your craft. Therefore, having the funds to pay for those things, as well as your basic necessities, is second to none. Also, you should save a minimum of 10% of your earnings and invest an amount that’s comfortable for you, all while keeping your expenses as low as possible.

Next, mental health is important to protect. Ensuring good mental health isn't easy. Give yourself time to craft a strategy that will strengthen your mind to take on the toughest battles. The first item, I would recommend, to lay the foundation for a stress free mindstate, is a creative space. Whether it's yours exclusively or a co-op, have somewhere you can go to express yourself. It could be a second room in the home, a garage, an office space, a co-working space, or a hotel room. As long as you can enter that space alone and acknowledge your one true blessing, the power of creative storytelling. Be true to yourself and speak to those that are similar to you when creating.

Nutrition and exercise are also two self care activities to incorporate into your daily life. This combination, when practiced consistently, is a boost to your long term prospects. If you want to be around into your 70’s and beyond, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, drinking water, getting proper rest, and a minimum 30 minute daily workout is a baseline recommendation.

As you begin to get more knowledge in what foods work best for you, you’ll then be able to craft a phenomenal menu that’ll keep you looking good and feeling good. As Muhammad Ali taught us, looking good while doing something is a sure-fire way to increase and maintain your audience. You are your most valuable asset; act like it. Invest in yourself as you would a blossoming start-up with constant financial growth.

Eliminate bad habits and outdated thoughts. Bad habits cost more money and time than you can afford. And outdated thoughts will keep you from moving up in life. You will be stuck on certain levels until you find new ways to solve old problems. Relax, create the box to think outside of, and get with the times. The old school started yesterday, today is a new day.

In retrospect, deciding to be here long term requires the following: a stable income, good mental health, proper nutrition, a daily workout >30 minutes, and eliminating bad habits and outdated thoughts. Remember, increasing the frequency of positive decision making in your life brings joy and joy makes stress easily manageable or nonexistent. Define what the future you looks like, craft a plan, and carry out the mission to achieve it.

The following can also be helpful when training for longevity. Recall, craft a strategy that’s most beneficial for the future you:

• Be generous, give back

• Learn the art of public speaking

• Consistently practice conflict resolution skills

• Provide yourself time to make decisions

• See things from the perspective of others

• Align with others that share the same values as you

• Get training and further your education

• Be an example with your actions, then with words