I think we have all studied history at some point in our lives. Whether by reading a chapter about the industrial revolution in a textbook, or hearing stories about the ancient civilizations of lands far away, we are all aware of some notion of history. Events that occurred in previous years that have become a substantial part of the story of the world – a collection of moments throughout the human journey in time.

I have to say, history classes are among my least favorite, but I strongly believe there are many reasons to study/understand history. There is always a lesson to be learned from things that have already happened in our past – reflection. Whether on a personal level or at the scale of the planet, understanding why things occurred the way they did, and what consequences arose from particular decisions society has made, can help us better understand the world we live in today, both in regards to its victories, but also in regards to its problems. That being said, we also must remember that history as we know it is not necessarily complete. We know the things we know because they have made their ways to the history books and the lecture material that we study – but what we view as history, was once a present day reality to those who lived through it. For them it was not history, it was history in the making, and whether or not they knew that as they lived through it I could not tell you. In a unique way everybody on this earth is part of its history. But if I told you that we could all make history I think you’d call me crazy…. so I guess I’ll have to be okay with that. Let me explain…

Whether you know it or not one day it will not be the story of the industrial revolution alone that will be taught in classrooms, but also the age of the cell phone, the age of social media, the generation of the millennials, TikTok will probably be talked about as well. My point here is that everything we take for granted now is in the process of adding to the human legacy on this planet – history. Some of us will be named in those classes – people you went to school with may one day be talked about as having left a lasting legacy and taught to young students as an example of human contribution, but this is not the kind of history I am talking about. What I’m talking about, is your history. The book you will read to yourself as you get older. The story that will get told by those who are close to you to those that are close to them. What I mean to say by this is that every day you are alive on this earth you are contributing to a story of who you are. Every sunrise is a new opportunity to change your life. Every challenge is a new opportunity to grow. Every success is a new opportunity to celebrate. You are writing history every day – YOURstory we could say.

The thing I want you to take away from this article is the fact that you are in control of what your history book will say. Don’t be afraid to create the legacy you desire. Stand out. Be brave. Take risks. Write a history you can be proud of not because other people will read it, but because you will enjoy reading it. Understand the power you have to truly develop for yourself a timeline of events that are uniquely your own. I remember when I was young I had a history teacher who asked us if we wanted to one day make history. At the time, we all said yes – thinking that somewhere along the road we would all invent the next space ship (with WIFI ofcourse). What I didn’t know then that I know now, is that we are making history every day.

The unique thing about building your own history is that when you are conscious of the story you are leaving behind, your actions will begin to align to add up to the person you want to become. That is a truly special thing as you begin to take ownership of your life and put back out into the world a bit of what makes you your own. Seize the opportunity to add each day to your history and build up a book you can be proud of one day. One of the biggest reasons that I keep ALL my old articles on this website is because it is a collection of historic moments in the development of ZULUECHO Initiative. They serve as reminders and lessons of how far ZULUECHO has come, but also what ZULUECHO lacked in the past. It is the history of what ZULUECHO has become. And thanks to you all, it has become something I am truly proud of.

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On a different note – 2019 is about to end, and so is this decade. I think every year around this time I try to reflect on the previous 12 months so that I can truly be grateful for everything I have experienced both the good, and the bad. I try to reflect holistically, looking for the larger lessons. This year I learned a lot. Not only about things related to ZULUECHO Initiative but also about myself. I learned the value of networking. I was reminded of the value of being authentic. I learned to respect my need to step back and breathe when I am overwhelmed. I learned how to engage with all of you in new and exciting ways. I had the incredible opportunity to work with so many talented artists and hear so many incredible stories about their individual journeys. I also learned the importance and value of consistency. Weekly articles is a practice that I introduced this year, and the results have been truly humbling. This will be my last post for 2019, and of the decade, and with it I want to thank you ALL for the consistent support, feedback, care, and genuine response that you have given me and ZULUECHO Initiative over the last year. 2019 was a big year for ZULUECHO Initiative, and I owe that to you. The map below is a visual representation of how far this message has reached in 2019 alone – all thanks to YOU. I am constantly reminded of the importance of this movement and the message for which it stands. I want to take a moment to thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.

I wish you all a happy holiday season, and see you in 2020!

Believe in the power of your dreams… #zuluechoinitiative