[CLAPPING]
Right, so we have investigation, the internal investigation.
How do we work through this whole world that we're in?
Then we have the reclamation of joy
because they try to take you from yourselves constantly,
and now I would like to end with the meditation.
So however you are seated, wherever
you are, go ahead and place both feet firmly on the ground.
Heels and toes.
Want you to feel the pulse of your toes.
All right, close your eyes, hands open, on your knees.
Deep breath in through your nose.
Exhale through your mouth.
One more deep breath in.
Think of the way in which you prepare yourself to go outside,
especially now the way we arm ourselves to make sure
we stay safe.
Exhale.
To make sure we return home to ourselves, to our families.
And I hope this helps.
Today you will.
Today you choose.
Today is yours.
Today is only today.
Tomorrow ain't here yet, so slow down.
Slow down.
Breathe softly.
Breathe slowly.
Breathe for the homies that ain't here.
Breathe for the homies that is.
Breathe for your own good skin.
Your skin.
Your smile.
Your you, you, you.
Come back.
Come back to yourself.
Look at your cheekbones.
Look at the loft of your eyebrows, you so worthy.
You so heavy in your weight of yes, you're so necessary,
you so fly.
You wet the water.
You cool the brow.
You heat the skillet.
You the sun set and the sustenance.
You keep them chasing the sparks you leave.
Today you will.
And today you choose.
And today is yours, yes, today is only today.
Because tomorrow ain't here yet, so slow down.
Slow down.
Breathe softly, slowly.
Breathe for the homies that ain't here.
Breathe for the kin that is, breathe
for your own good skin, your skin, your smile, your you,
you, you.
Come back.
Come back to yourself.
Miraculous stargaze.
Most fortunate sky beam.
Beyond brilliant.
Be your resilience.
But you knew that already.
Who told you any different?
You tell them today you will, and today you choose,
and today is yours.
Yes, today is only today, because tomorrow ain't here
yet, so slow down, slow down.
Breathe softly, slowly.
Breathe for the homies that ain't here.
Breathe for the kin that is.
Breathe for your own good skin.
Your skin.
Smile.
Tribe.
You, you, you.
Come back.
Come back to yourself.
Anything that don't heighten your stride, leave it today.
Anything that don't propel your wingspan forward,
leave it today.
Whoever told you, you wasn't strong, whoever told you,
you wasn't fly, whoever told you, you wasn't brilliant,
whoever told you, you wasn't beautiful is a lie.
Deep breath in through your nose.
Exhale doubt.
Thank you so much.
[CLAPPING]
Thank you for having me, and meditating with me.
Appreciate it.
I love poets so much.
Please come buy all these books, they're for sale over here.
Come meet Mahogany, and she'll be signing right up
here behind me at this station.
Come up and introduce yourself to Paola, she's new,
she'd love to meet you.
Thanks, everybody, for being here.
We'll see you again November 4th for Laurie Ann Guerrero
and Carl Marcum, and thanks for being here tonight.
Thank you.
[CLAPPING]