Rule 10: The Discipline of One True Thing
In a world addicted to noise, real clarity moves like a whisper—but it lands like truth. Rule 10 explores the difference between making noise and making a statement, and how peace born from integrity will always speak louder than performance born from insecurity.
Rule No. 9: BE TRUE TO YOURSELF
Blending is not becoming. And survival is not living. At some point, if you keep betraying your truest self, the fracture always shows.
The Edge of Becoming
Still, I’m here, and not just here, but standing in purpose. I ended March with a commitment to continuing to build legacy. Continuing to move forward, regardless of everything going on around me. And that simple truth—breathing, writing, bearing witness, stimulating young minds through my poetry, and commanding the spaces younger me dreamed of—reminds me that unyielding faith is also a form of courage.
Hold Fast, Stay True: Endurance & Conviction in Life’s Storms
Standing on the J train platform at Broadway Junction, the wind cut sharp, carving fresh lines into my face where old stress had once settled.
"Why am I out in this cold?"
It was the first thought that surfaced, followed quickly by another.
Mountain Tops Are Small. And The Air Is Thin: Rule No.6
Success is rented space, and the rent is due every day. The mistake isn’t in the climb—it’s in believing you can stay at the top without effort. In this piece, we explore the nature of success and failure, how to redefine growth, and why champions never stop climbing.
The Cost of Victory: Why Champions Keep Moving Forward: Rule #5
The arena is never empty. The crowd never quiets. Whether I am alone in my room or standing at the precipice of a challenge, I hear them—those voices, spectral and unrelenting. Some belong to those I have known: mentors, friends, skeptics, family. Others are strangers whose words have carved themselves into the marrow of my self-perception, echoing in the chamber of my mind.
They whisper caution. They roar doubt. They ask, again and again, Are you sure?
The Privilege of Pressure: Rule #4
Billie Jean King, the tennis legend and Medal of Freedom recipient, once said: “Pressure is a privilege.”
The first time I heard it, I recoiled. Could pressure really be a privilege? Or was this just another polished mantra designed to reframe hardship as something noble?
But now, I see it clearly.
Ubuntu and the Miracle of Sacrifice: Rule #3
On that January morning eight years ago, I didn’t fully grasp the sacrifices ahead. My focus was singular—a visa, an opportunity, a chance to start anew. I had 24 hours to reach the U.S., 24 hours to arrive in New York, 24 hours to begin my journey at St. John’s University.
Blind Spots and Breakthroughs: Embracing Rule #2
It’s fair to say that at some point, we’ve all been victims. I think it’s also fair to say that we’ve all felt like a victim—whether a victim of circumstance, the patriarchy, the system, or someone else’s actions.
When I first revisited this rule, my knee-jerk reaction was to internalize it and start hastily crafting my defenses. I heard myself say, “Well, Daniel, you’re not a victim. You don’t make yourself a victim. You’re a survivor, a fighter, and resilient. You’re all these things you’ve said about yourself and heard others say about you.”
But instead of leaning into that deceptive comfort, I did what the teacher in me would advise my scholars to do:
Grab the dictionary and define the word.
Read it a few times to fully understand it.
Process it with clarity and intention.
If I Could Speak to My Younger Self
Dear Daniel,
I’m writing to you as you stand at the airport at the age of five, trying to understand what’s happening around you. You’re watching someone else leave, someone you love, someone who promised not to leave, and you’re wondering—‘Why do people always leave? What’s wrong with me?’ You don’t realize it yet, but that curious mind of yours is already leaping to places it doesn’t need to go, trying to piece together a world that feels broken.
Twenty-three years later, I’m here to tell you this: You’ll be okay. You’ll endure, you’ll thrive, and you’ll find a strength you didn’t know you had
Thoughts on Christmas Morning—8 Years of Christmas
Experience eight transformative Christmases through this heartfelt journey of resilience, cultural connection, and personal growth. From Guyanese traditions like pepper pot and black cake to navigating survival mode in the U.S., this reflective memoir captures the essence of identity, ambition, and gratitude. Discover how the holidays shape our stories and offer moments of clarity amidst life's challenges