What is most exciting about the fresh morning dew of 2024 comes with the ability to reflect on the wins from 2023. Because of those experiences and learning opportunities, this year can be bigger, better, and bolder. 

Looking back at the past year helps me explore where I want to go this year. Reflecting on the 23 affirmations (for 2023) I wrote and pinned at the top of my Facebook page, I noticed that I honored them all. But beyond that, there was a central theme that stood out. I missed this theme when I initially wrote the affirmations. 

2023 was rooted in setting healthy boundaries while selectively reconnecting with post-pandemic Antorris through exploring my newfound wholeness. Unconscious intentionality was a recurring behavior. It became natural for me to navigate life through the lens of what brings me joy, protects my peace, reduces harm, and keeps me on my God-given path. Owning the innate right to choose, or protective yet aggressive calendaring, and guarding my beliefs against unjust influence–allowed me to dive deep into this theme for my life. 

Summarizing what the past year meant helped me to define the vision for 2024. There are things that I know are already in play.

• For example, I am finishing my master’s at Eastern Washington University (EWU). Working to maintain my 4.0 GPA while graduating debt-free will be as easy as I claim it to be. And, of course, there is researching and praying for the best Ph.D. in Communications program that meets my needs. Because I have had bad past experiences with two private student loan-funded programs, I am grateful for the work-related scholarship and the capacity to pay out of pocket without missing a beat in my everyday life. God reigns down your grace and favor on this humble tither! 
• Forgetting the brand, the hustle, the bustle, and the just-got-to-make-it side of me would be improper. A part of that 2023 reconnection was not sleeping on myself any longer. Wake up, Antorris. Remind them real quick! I took some photos and updated my website. I know that my creative gifts and influence are God’s natural way of giving me a brand image. It’s time to show it off, humbly partnered with strategic intent.
  

With everything I’ll have going in 2024,  the deeply rooted foundational teachings I carry from church and family life are influential. “Antorris,” the being and creative, does not solely belong to Antorris. I firmly believe we are here, blessed and gifted for the upbuilding of God’s kingdom. Developmentally, I realize the need to continue aligning my creativity and leadership with being as Christ-like as possible. Yes, little ole sinning me falls short of the Glory of God, but like fine wine, I am getting better with time. 

The unconscious intentionality I spoke of was my implementing mindfulness practices. In writing this, I realize there is an overarching need to explore and practice Christ-like leadership and behavior patterns in my goals for 2024. I am claiming that this is the start of furthering my discipleship.

By acknowledging the areas of opportunity, the need for discipline comes to mind for me. I am about as disciplined as I was in high school or college. Which was little to none. Naturally smart with a great memory. Testing was easy until it got hard! And that means I was selectively disciplined. Considering mindfulness and intentionality, discipline is something that I am focusing on building more into my life. Throughout this year, discipline is the challenge I am striving to endure. So many areas can be categorized with discipline, such as time management, saying “no”, saving, prioritizing, and more.  Day by day, the work has to be done. And no – the gym is not a part of that discipline. But who knows, maybe I’ll try losing this gut and doing some cardio.

This year, I want to continue liberating myself from fears, angst, annoyances, and anything that does not push me forward into becoming, doing, being, and ultimately winning. People who mean you no well should become the easiest thing to transition away from. This means those leeches and succubi y’all! Energy vampires are real out here. Lean into your spiritual eye, catch those undertones, and consider their implicit language. It’s really simple: don’t interpret it for what you assume or want it to be. Take it all at face value without the addition of clarity that the person did not give you. Don’t say I did not give you a gem for mastering your New Year’s resolution and life journeys. 

Of course, there is still work in progress that’ll stay not public. Other things will remain on the prayer list. Shielding your intimacy and going within is a good thing. Find your triggers and your expressions to get it out. However, regarding the points discussed above, I needed to speak life to each so I could revisit them all as wins. 

I want to own the six resolutions or buckets I shared this year. At age 34, acknowledge well-being, identity, growth, and everything else life progressively has for me matters.

The clock is also ticking for me to become The Academia Society, Inc.’s next National President and CEO. This is the most exciting news as today is my soft and phased rollout. As of today, I am President-Elect, which means more travel, more connecting, more planning, more execution, more standard bearing, more gatekeeping, and most of all, more love. This same-gender-loving (SGL) network of educated Black men has changed my life! It’s time to sew back into fertile ground. This is not possible without my forerunners and close mentors that keep me modest and love me through the rough patches. But most of all, the people who allow me to showcase servant and transformational leadership.

For now, all you all need to know is that from 2024-2026 – to TAS I pledge my best. Stay tuned for more details on how to be a part of htis journey and join my Booster Club.

Cheers to 2024!

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