“Something is going to break, what will it be?”
I was chatting with a friend of mine, Brittany King, better known as the Neighborhood Hope Dealer, about her plans for 2025. She mentioned her goal was to not go into the new year exhausted, to which I asked, “What is your strategy to make this happen?”. I shared a philosophy I live and teach by with her, which is “Something is going to break, what will it be?”. In this context, I let Brittany unequivocally know that that thing which breaks absolutely cannot be her, I care for her too much to see that happen.
Something will break. It is inevitable in a world where we (especially Black women) are constantly juggling conflicting priorities between life, career, family, friends, self-care, self-help, self-sleep, self - always something! As such, it is important to acknowledge and accept that simply by virtue of being human, one of these priorities will fall short and break. The good news, however, is that we are in control and wield the power to choose what we intentionally smash on the floor to break into pieces, what we gingerly set down in the grandma-esque china cabinet to be picked up at a later date, and what we prioritize and continue to juggle with intention.
For me, in 2025, I am actively smashing my currently held definitions of success. In its wake, I am evaluating how those definitions were formed to begin with, whether or not they are mine, and reflecting on all the other aspects of my life that I allowed to break in pursuit of said “success”.
Subsequently, I am shelving activities that prevent proper rest. Unsubscribing from Team Doing the Most. And taking a pause from making “Sure, I’ll do it” from being my default response to things asked of me.
Finally, I am prioritizing rejuvenation. Making time for all the things I told myself I would love to do, like take swimming lessons. Visit friends more often. Engage in arts and cultural activities, just because, and not because I am attending a fundraising gala or the other. In 2025, I am prioritizing more “Just Because” in my life and I am thrilled to see and feel all the good it does to me.
