Welcome back to Say Something Black Girl with Dr. J. And yes, I'm Dr. J, and I am super excited to be here again because guess what? It's your girl's birthday. It's my birthday. It's my birthday. It's my birthday. Yes. I am the big five nine. And yes, I'm not afraid and ashamed to say it because you know what? I feel highly blessed and also favored, so I'm so excited to be here. You guys. Thank you for spending this time with me. Say something black girl. Has been on my mind for a long time. And you know what? In 2026 I said I was going to elevate, elevate, elevate my life in 2026 with the grace of God and I, and I'm just so excited to be here like I said, in my trailer, like I said in episode one, I am not going to do everything perfectly. In fact, as I progress, you will see how my whole surrounding will change because I tried to put my studio together, but baby, that is not my gift, so I'm going to have to hire somebody to help you, girl, because I could not get it together. So I said. I was going to get these videos out and I know that most people say you shouldn't do it unless it's all the way set up. I said, I'm following my dreams in 2026 and nothing is going to stop me. All right, so let's go. So you know what, in 2026, we're at the beginning of the year. It is time to elevate yourself. It's time for you to follow your dreams. It is time for you to put whatever it is you want to do into action. So I wrote down around 59 reasons why you should elevate Now if you choose to stop at your age. It could be 12, it could be 15. 18, 20, 25, 35, 55, 58, 59, or even beyond. Just start the list over. I'm telling you all this is the time for you to elevate your life in 2026. So let's go. I'm going to take a look at my notes and I'm gonna make sure that I cover all 59 reasons. Let's go number one, because you survived. What once tried to break you? Now feel that already. Number two, because your wisdom is now hard won and priceless. Number three, because peace is no longer an option. And if you have been through anything, you know that your peace is priceless. So number four, because you've earned the right to choose yourself, that is critical. Choosing yourself above everything else is critical. Number five, because your no is just as sacred as your yes. You know, sometimes we get so busy in our lives we don't want to say no, or we don't know how to say no, or we're scared to say no, or we feel like we're obligated to do something when we really wanted to say no. So I'm telling you say no, because that's just as sacred as your yes. Number six, because rest is revolutionary. For us as black women, we try to stay up all night, all day, all night and day, and I'm guilty of doing it as well. It's not good for your mental health, your physical health, or your spiritual health. Get your rest sis. All right. Number seven, because you no longer need permission to shine, say that again For the people in the choir. All right, number eight, because joy is an act of resistance, celebrate your joy. Number nine, because you know the cost of settling. Okay, we don't even have to go there. Number 10, because your body deserves gentleness and care, take care of yourself, you deserve it. What if you're not unmotivated? What if you're depressed? Depression isn't just sadness, it's emotional heaviness, exhaustion, loss of interest, and feeling disconnected from yourself or others. And pushing harder often makes it worse, not better. Healing depression isn't about quick fixes. It's about addressing brain chemistry, thought patterns, and emotional load sometimes with the support of medication alongside therapy. Therapeutic Alliance and Testing Center provides psychological testing and therapy supported by careful medication management when treating depression, advanced mental health therapy, counseling, psychological testing, and medication management services all under one roof. I am glad we had that brief commercial break, and now we are back. Number 11, because you've outgrown old versions of yourself, your differences, you've grown in every kind of way. No need to go backwards, number 12, because your time is more valuable than ever. You can waste money, you can always get that back. You can waste. I don't know anything, but what you can't waste is time because you can't get that back. Number 13, because you are no longer explaining your worth, you know your worth. Number 14, because healing is a lifelong luxury you deserve, you deserve to heal, sis, you deserve it. Number 15, because boundaries protect your spirit. Create healthy boundaries in everything you do in your life. Number 16, because your voice carries legacy, remember what you were taught. By your mother or your grandmother, your sister, maybe your aunt, maybe the first lady of your church, any woman that has ever poured life into you. Remember that legacy. Number 17 because you've learned discernment the hard way. You learned discernment the hard way. You had to get a few knocks. On that nogging to know where you are today, that you will never go back to those same mistakes. Number 18, because Elevation honors your ancestors Prayers. Honors your ancestors' prayers. It's because of them. You are where you are. Now you are in a position to even decide to elevate. Do it. Number 19, because you deserve relationships that are mutual. It should be give and take it. You should be pouring into each other, not being drained. Number 20, because you are done shrinking to make others comfortable. You are done shrinking to make others comfortable, be your magnificent, outgoing self. You don't have to shrink number 21 because confidence looks beautiful on you now because confidence looks beautiful on you now. Remember that 22 because you know the difference between love and attachment. You know the difference between love and attachment number 23, because you've allowed yourself to reinvent yourself again and again, and you're not afraid to do it. Never being afraid to reinvent yourself. If you want to cut your hair off, cut your hair off. If you wanna wear long weave, wear long weave. If you wanna wear your hair long, grow your hair out. If you wanna wear braids, wear braids. If you wanna wear locks, wear locks. If you wanna be bald, be bald. Whatever it is you want to do to reinvent yourself. Do it. Number 24, because your mental health matters. This is what it means, black girl. Your mental health matters number 25, because you choose. You choose intention over chaos. You choose intention. Over chaos number 26, because abundance is not just financial, it's emotional. Abundance is not just financial. It's emotional. Number 27, because your intuition has proven itself, because your intuition has proven itself. Number 28, because you're no longer afraid of solitude. I like me. Do you like you? Number 29, because comparison has lost its grip on you. I need not compare myself to anyone, just myself. Number 30, because your story still has chapters left to right. Ha. Write what you want people to know about you. Number 31, because you deserve softness after decades of strength. It's okay to be soft. You don't have to be hard all the time. Number 32, because you can curate your life. Not just endure it. You can actually enjoy it. Create it the way you want it to be. Hmm. Number 33, because your laughter is Madison Girl, you better laugh at yourself sometimes and laugh at people around you. Sometimes it's okay to laugh. It'll keep you alive. Number 34. Because you finally trust yourself. If you can't trust yourself, sis, how can you trust other people? Number 35, because legacy is lived, not just remembered. What are you doing to make a difference in your life? Right now in the here and now, number 36, because you are allowed to want more without guilt. Elevate 2026. It's okay to want more. Without guilt or feeling guilty. Number 37, because aging is power. Ha ha, not declined. Aging is power and not decline. All right, number 38, because you learn who deserves access to you. Everybody can't have a front seat to your life. Some of 'em deserve to be in the bleachers. Some of 'em deserve to be outside. Some of 'em don't even deserve to be around you. Number 39, because your spirit is still curious. Never be afraid to learn. Number 40, because elevation attracts alignment. If I'm elevating, then I should be attracting others who are elevating with me. Number 41, because you refuse to carry what isn't yours anymore. Stay tuned after our commercial break. All right. Thank you for that great commercial break number 42. Because your happiness is not selfish. Your happiness is not selfish. Put yourself first, sis, make yourself happy. No one else can make you happy. Number 43, because wisdom paired with self-love is unstoppable. Number 44, because you've mastered survival. Now it's time to thrive. You've mastered survival. Now it's time to thrive. Come on, 2026, you're thriving. Number 45, because your inner child deserves joy. You know that little girl inside the one who's gone through all the trials and tribulations. She deserves joy and love. Number 46, because you can define success on your terms. You can define success on your terms. Number 47, because you're calm, your calm is sacred ground. To remain calm and to maintain that sense of peace and that sense of stability is your sacred ground. Number 48, because you no longer negotiate your values. Know who you are, know your core values, and know that they are non-negotiable. Number 49, because you know how precious life is. You don't take risks that's gonna risk your life. You don't expose yourself to dangerous things or people, you know how precious your life is number 50 because, you are becoming not fading. Come on girl. You are not to fade out. You are to become number 51 because you deserve beauty in your everyday life. You deserve beauty in your everyday life. Everything you do should be beautiful. It doesn't have to be extravagant. It can be the smallest of things, but it's beautiful. Number 52, because growth doesn't have an expiration date. You should continue to grow in everything you do, everything you learn, every experience you experience, you should use it as an opportunity to grow. Number 53, because your presence alone is powerful. Your presence alone is powerful. Keep that in mind. Number 54, because elevation is a form of self respect. Elevation is a form of self-respect. Number 55, because you've earned ease, honey, you don't have to go the hard way. By the time you've reached your fifties, hopefully you have learned a thing or two about how to make things work for you. You don't have to learn the hard way. Number 56, because your dreams didn't expire. They matured. Your dreams didn't expire. Let me tell you something. You are not too old to dream. You're not too old to dream. In fact, when you stop dreaming, you stop living Number 57, because your life can feel lighter now. You are making decisions about your life now. You're not scared to take risk. You don't care what other people think. You're just doing your thing. Your life should be light number 58 because you are still choosing yourself. Choose you. Choose your dreams. Choose to take that leap. Of faith. Choose to do whatever it is you wanna do, choose to learn. Whatever it is you want to learn, it's up to you. And last but not least, with number 59, because for me, 59 is not the end. It's a crown that I get to wear. And 59 for me is an opportunity to grow as much as I can and never turning around. And never turning back. I'm so grateful that I have my family to support me, good friends, good colleagues I work with. Just everybody that I love so dearly have been so supportive and I want to tell you, sis from this black girl who has something to say now I know you do too. So thank you for staying with me and if you stay with me, I'm gonna stay with you. Say something black girl with Dr. J. Thank you.