There is a Trinidadian soca song called Mind My Business. The beat is catchy cause its soca but the words, “I gon’ drink water and mind my business (mind my business)” have become a mantra in the Caribbean community. Patrice Roberts, the artist, is singing about thriving. She is letting her haters know she doesn’t have the time to, or interest in, minding anybody else’s business. She is busy doing what is best for her (drinking water) and focusing on achieving her goals (mind my business). And I’m riding with her. I am drinking water and minding my business too.
Drinking water and minding my business is not the same as grinding. In my opinion, grinding is not thriving. Thriving for me means having balance, pursuing goals and happiness, not one over the other. I know the side hustle mentality is popular now but I think its overrated. I like a life of purpose, and to be purposeful I need an adequate amount of rest. I do pursue goals, but I will not push myself to tiredness and exhaustion.
Drinking water and minding my business has changed my view of myself, my view of others, they way I talk and think, who I spend my time with, what I spend time doing, and how I handle myself. It’s been great.
At work I am focused, in my personal life I am focused, in my relationships I am focused, I am focused on being my best me 95% of the time. The other 5% of the time I am probably being shady or messy, but hey I’m human.
I am also able to shake off feedback that isn’t valuable a lot easier and tune into the feedback that will help me grow. I have increased my focus, and I spend less time worrying about what other people think. Don’t get too excited, it’s not like I stopped caring about what every single other person thought of me, I’m human, of course I care. But please believe me when I tell you, my list dwindled dramatically. This blog is proof. Two years ago I wouldn’t have put myself out there like this. But drinking water and minding my business increased my courage.
Maybe it was living through a pandemic, but I am at the point in my life where I believe life is short, and I am determined to make the most of every day. I like peace, and genuine joy and harmony. And I am focused on having ok more of that in my life. So I am out here drinking water and minding my business. It is very healing to wake up every day knowing that you are living the life you want. I want that kind of joy for everyone I touch.
