I come from a time when kids had the freedom to play outside — to ride bikes, run through sprinklers, make up games, and hang out on porches until the streetlights came on. But with that freedom came something sacred: structure.

We knew the rules.

Not just our parents’ rules — but each other’s parents’ rules too.

We knew where we could go.

When we had to be home.

What chores had to be done before we could even think of going out.

Boys mostly mowed the lawn and took out the trash.

Girls cleared the table, washed the dishes, and put them away.

We weren’t asked — we just did it. It was our part of making the family home work.

It taught us responsibility, rhythm, and respect.

⛪ Faith and Respect Were Non-Negotiable

Almost everyone I knew grew up with, went to church.

In my case, being the daughter of a Baptist minister meant I lived under a special kind of watchful eye — but not once do I remember being teased for it.

That was just who we were.

Church, community, family — it was woven into the rhythm of our lives.

We respected our parents’ rules.

We didn’t question them out loud.

And yet, somehow… we never felt restricted.

We had just enough freedom to feel seen, safe, and trusted — and that balance made all the difference.

🌻 I’m Not Trying to Be Younger — I’m Trying to Be Whole

There’s something I’ve come to realize more and more as I move through this season of life:

I’m not here to chase youth.

I’m here to honor my wholeness.

I’m not trying to fit into a younger generation’s rhythm —

their mindset, their metrics, or their expectations.

Because truthfully? The way they move through the world feels foreign to me.

I was raised in a time when we honored our elders.

You didn’t speak over them — you listened.

You soaked in their stories, their prayers, their kitchen-table wisdom.

Maybe you didn’t fully understand at the time…

But later, as life unfolded, you’d hear their voice echo and think,

“That’s what they meant.”

We didn’t dismiss older people — we learned from them.

We respected their pace.

We valued their presence.

🏡 I Was Raised by a Village

I grew up in a neighborhood that truly was a village.

Parents knew each other.

Kids played together and looked out for one another.

And we all knew better than to act out in front of someone else’s parent or a neighborhood elder.

There was accountability.

There was reverence.

There was community.

Now? I often find myself in spaces where age is seen as inconvenience.

Where lived experience is dismissed as “outdated thinking.”

Where young people feel entitled to correct your every word — without ever asking where it came from.

💫 What I Want You to Know

I’m not bitter. I’m not clinging to the past.

But I do miss a time when people didn’t rush you to keep up with trends before they even asked if you were okay.

I’m not here to prove anything.

I’m here to reclaim my power in a way that feels peaceful, wise, and whole.

And if you’re someone aging through health challenges, personal transitions, or emotional weight — hear me:

You are not behind.

You are not broken.

You are becoming.

And you are not alone.

🌿 I Choose Wholeness Over Approval

This season of my life is not about chasing relevance —

it’s about living in alignment.

It’s about taking care of my body, honoring my emotions, and living at a rhythm that serves my peace.

So no, I’m not trying to be younger.

I’m trying to be well.

I’m trying to be centered.

I’m trying to be free.

And that, to me, is more than enough.

Lady Flava aka Susan K