2016: THE YEAR OF PREPARATION
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Favorite Song: Work - Rihanna Featuring Drake (January 2016)
Favorite Album: Views, Drake (April 2016)
Favorite Movie Watched: High Fidelity (2000) / Serendipity (2001)
Favorite Television Series Watched: The Cosby Show (1984-1992)
Favorite Destination: Darien, Panama (March 2016)
Favorite Purchase: A plaid duvet cover (December 2016)
Notable Projects I Released This Year: Summer 2015 (Photo book, June 2016), Talking Over Songs Pt1 (Storytelling Album, October 2016), August 2016 (Song, August 2016)
IN 2016
2016. I’m still learning things I should’ve known, but I guess that’s life, right? I stopped going to school this year, and I’m still getting used to things post-college. Conversations were held that I wish I could hold on to forever, but I can’t. I traveled out the country for the first time this year with people who I consider family, and it could not have been more humbling. I turned 23 this year and I stopped running away from the things I want because I feel I’m running out of time now more than ever. I used to attempt to label the years as they pass to better understand and give meaning to them through underlying themes and events. 2008, Pre-love. 2009, Love. 2010, Liberation. 2011, Transition. 2012, Adapting. 2013, Mental Redemption. 2014, Cuff. 2015, Rebuilding. 2016, Preparation.
This year felt a bit stagnant, to be honest. I watched more friends graduate. There were more engagements and marriages from people I personally knew. Everything seemed surreal. There were moments throughout the year where I thought I had things figured out, only to figure out, I never had it figured out in the first place. Spending New Year’s alone in the gym. Kissing the girl who I shared my first New Year’s kiss with at 12am on the dot in 2015 later that day in 2016. Almost sliding off the side of a bridge by the fire station in the snow. Holding this girl’s foot while falling asleep with her to a fan simulator app she had on her phone only to wake up a few hours later because she had an 8am. Being reminded of home through romance. Watching Kobe’s last game in Cleveland on our first date. Laying in bunk beds beneath mosquito-nets speaking to King and Obeezy about attractive women and mathematical strokes under the Panama sky. Eating starfruit straight from the tree. Observing actual Basquiat works with my father and my mother at the High Art. Hanging with Alex in downtown Athens after not seeing him since he threw my going away party 13 years ago in Warwick. Arguing why women should pay for their own meals with my brother’s roommate’s girlfriend at Kanki at my birthday dinner. Talking autonomous cars and politics with Meezy in Ms. Sam’s living room. Bringing A$ and King to Apex. Getting closer to them bwoys. Summer without romance. Getting talked into spending the night at the apartment of a girl who broke my heart a year and a half prior. Talking life with an ex turned best friend during Hurricane Matthew. Being heartbroken as I began to notice Bagel growing grey hairs. Finding out Bagel has clone. Watching Sebastian win medals on medals at his competition at the same spot I used to help foster dogs. Getting online published for the first time. Facetime calls with Laura outside her dorm. Running around my house with pizza in my mouth and tears in my eyes as I watched Kobe’s last game. Seeing my favorite football player for the first time live in Atlanta. Speaking to Emilio about music and women, just like it’s 2008 again.
Though I’ll never be completely ready, I have faith that all these moments are somehow connected to each other, intertwined, slowly preparing me for the things I’ve been waiting my whole life for.
2016, thank you.
-RDL4EVER
IN 2017
I want better skin. Better health. Stupid defined six-pack. Someone for the holidays. More courage. Peace of mind.
I want to be a better son. A better brother. A better friend. A better writer. A better rapper. A better singer. A better dog-owner. A better cook.
I want to fix my sleeping schedule. I want to eat a healthy breakfast daily. I want to travel back to New York City. I want to find a pen-pal. I want to meet Kanye West. I want to do a song with Gucci Mane. I want to find someone I can be intimately vulnerable with. I want to recycle more. I want get over 10,000 Instagram followers because I want people to finally take notice of how great I am. I want to let go and live more.