10 Seeds to Plant for Your Future

10 Seeds i’m Planting for my future & Why:

As many college students, I've spent most of my younger years hoping and planning towards a future seeking a higher education. For countless hours and many many years I laboured away practicing in soundproof rooms, in my bedroom and at rehearsals. For many weekends I stayed in and read pages from textbooks and practice books to get me to the point I've found myself at the ripe age of 21. When I first began my life's adventure as an artist many of the  visions of my future were – maybe a little bit bizarre. But in pursuit of these childhood ambitions with wholeheartedness and grit, looking back I am able to stand proud of my successes despite my many adversities.

Now, as a college sophomore approaching my junior season, I am once again reaching a fork in my road. except this time I know so much more about the world, the power of my mind and what I need to do to achieve the next set of goals I have in this life. This shift of mindset is a key driving factor to writing this post.

So here are the 10 seeds I am planting in my everyday present life to reap in the garden of my future self.

1. Perseverance

   
   

   Despite the ever present chaos rumbling and erupting on all corners of the world, it is my sole duty alone to ensure that I give my all as much as possible. No longer are the days where I can sit back and place the blame on adults who governed over what I could and couldn't do. No longer are the days of being pushed around by administrators in schools. And no longer can I cling on to the notion that “I am a product of my environment.” I have truly and wholly reached a point where I am in full control of my life. I dictate who stays and who goes. I can choose to mope around or stand up and take action. No longer can I sit out on bad days because I don't feel like it. Because for me atleast, my life depends on it. So will run and when I cannot run I will jog. When I cannot jog I must crawl. 

And even within this metaphor, I must still embrace the reality of humanness and understand that sometimes I will have to stop, take a look and a deep breath to sit within the stillness of self. Many times along this path– many more times than before, I will learn how to forgive myself again and again. Because I won't win every time. The goal was never to win but to succeed. There isn't and there will never be a competition on my life journey. The goal is to be– and dance within the light therein. Persevering across the dance floor within everything that I do. Because in giving it my all, in the future I will be able to look back and know that despite any and everything, I would have done my best on this journey of being human and striving to leave a legacy behind: a story of a man who gave it his all. A story of perseverance.

2. Physical health & Mental Wellness

Everyday that I wake up above the ground I will show gratitude for my state of being. Many have been snatched away too early. Many are caught between the lines. And so many wish to have the strength and courage to get out of bed within their own will. Thousands await the day a doctor can utter positive words preceding their release from the confinement of hospital beds. Dreaming of the day where they can feel the sun on their skin. Dreaming of finally living in their most confident  body. Hoping and praying for a day where they are not playing a game of chess against their own mind– seeking for the reward of finally having the courage to take action. Seeking the courage to take action within their own day to day life. Each day that I open my eyes and take that first whispered breath each morning– I will make efforts to take care of my vessel. The vessel I was gifted with, that so many take for granted without notice. Each day I'm stricken with a grand idea tethered to my heart, I will aim to take action and not allow myself to be ridiculed by failure. but rather, build myself up with courage. Courage found in each bad day. Courage found in going to the gym, yet seeing no results. Courage in going to classes with no understanding. Courage to show up for myself– physically and mentally each and every day.

3. Personal Finances & Fulfillment 

As a second generation black gay immigrant from the small country of Haiti, how I spend my money matters. In this hyper consumerist country i live in, i am constantly being riddled with products being sold to me. False ideas wrapped in a bow presented to me as an opportunity of a lifetime. As my lineage hasn't been in this country for several generations, it is imperative that I educate myself and make wise decisions that aim to push the next generation further. Further  than I or my father could’ve ever dreamed of. A country where generational wealth controls the betterment of family. A land where money dictates power and power holds freedom– freedom of human being. It is my job to be diligent and vigilant in ensuring that when I welcome into this world– the next generation of my lineage,  I have lived a fulfilled life and am able to provide the same and more to my children. Although that might not be the same dream others have for themselves, that is a dream I have for myself. And a promise I aim to keep.

4. Enjoying and experiencing my youth

My most horrid and darkest nightmare is to become the old gay bitter man who points one finger of disappointment at the youth, yet bearing three fingers of regret pointing back at himself. The last man I ever want to look back at in the mirror is a man who gave up. A man with few scratches, wear and tear and some scars who chose to give up on trying. A man who forgot love. A man who gave up fun. A man who doesn't know how to live within the ever present moment. A shell of a human being. I want to be able to look back at my youth knowing that I did the silly and stupid things my inner child read about in books. I want to have dreams of my own washed up memories of friends at the beach. Road Trips where I met strangers that positively changed my mindset. Love affairs that taught me how to share and express love both platonically and romantically. I want to share lived experiences from mistakes I've made on my journey. I want to allow myself to make mistakes and learn from them. And in these lessons and different journeys of life I want to be able to have the experience to teach others on their own walks. Assist others in learning to live in the moment. And best of all, to provide insane bedtime stories.

5. Putting myself out there (even when hurt)

This next point covers my journey as an artist but also my life as a lover and friend. Even though on many occasions in the past I've been hurt by friends, lovers and helping hands within the art industry, I refuse to let that steer me away from the life I want to live. Many times I've felt cast to the wayside by people I've held dearest in my heart. I've felt like I needed to bend and fracture every structure in my being in sacrifice of my own authenticity for the comfort of others. No longer are those days. Even in my disorganized and disfigured periods of life I refuse to shut out experiencing new love, a new friend, a helping hand or mentor. Because contrary to the beliefs of my most hurt self, there are people in this world looking–  ready to receive and nourish me. As an artist and performer, there will always be a stage looking for somebody like me, somebody who walks like me and talks like I do. Contrary to what i've been led to believe, i do not need to sing a certain way to be accepted, i don't need to dress a certain way to be respected nor become a different version of myself to be seen and understood. My job is to find those spaces. And even after those spaces are found, the next step is to welcome in those helping, loving and caring hands.

6. Seeking advice

Even after spending many years basking in the studies of academia no matter how rigorous the curriculum, I do not and will not know everything. Just as the world renowned philosopher Socrates said “a wise man knows he knows nothing”. I could spend the rest of my life banging textbooks and research papers against my forehead and still not even begin to touch the surface of the fullness of the knowledge of my industry, yet alone the world. At every corner of this world there are questions left unanswered. And I'd be doing myself a great disservice if I decided to waste valuable time and energy scavenging amongst rubble, when I can just ask a professional for help. Not only would this save me time and energy, I'd also be so many more times as likely to receive a more polished and respectable outcome. This applies to my art and my personal life in whole.

7. Acquiring a higher education for career and furthering world insight

In America, there is a tumultuous and difficult barrier to entry for acquiring a higher education. Not to mention the fact that many of our youth already fight an uphill battle in an honorable attempt to receive their high school diploma. Between facing a school to prison pipeline, financially struggling families and many battling mental health issues. being able to consecutively participate in 7 classes, extracurriculars, advertising themselves for college and for many like me who had to work a part time job during high school, it can all be difficult if not impossible to even finish high school. Luckily through the perseverance my life beat into me, I had no other choice but to keep fighting and push forward. If I were ever to fail, the only option was to fail upwards. Find something I was passionate about, learn as much as possible, give it my all and fail upwards. Eventually I made it to college and continued doing the same. And now I have learned insight in my industry as to where I can make my change. Here I can be impactful in the lives of people who have the same dreams as I do, or who have come from places similar or more difficult than mine. In my past I had already been vastly interested in learning how the world works, how different cultures shift, move, mingle and interact. And now with the knowledge i've set out to seek and acquire it is my turn to not only give back to the communities that have upheld me for so long, but also build and foster new ones for others

8. Helping others & fostering community

The previous point covers this briefly, but I felt it required a point of its own. Helping others and fostering community. As a second generation Haitian gay immigrant there were so many unnecessary battles I fought and learned from in my youth that provided resistance into me becoming my highest self and excelling in my dreams and endeavors. This is the path laid out by the founders of our country for anyone who dares to walk the crooked narrow path of intersectionality. Whereas many who were born into or decided to fall into conformity.these types of people are given the graces of navigating this country on a broad and straight path. Never being vered off by homophobia, racism, classism, transphobia, xenophobia and or ableism allows for many to be able to walk into rooms and or establishments with a sense of ease– an ease that is more often than not, easily taken for granted. And it is only when the oppressed speak up about their oppression where they realize that not only have they benefited from this societal norm– they now feel like it is on the brink of being stripped from them. Now with that being said, it is imperative to me that in my life I actively work against these norms in our society. As a music artist who was lucky enough to achieve a higher education I feel as if it is also a responsibility of mine to take what I have learned and not only to apply it– but share it with those who were both not fortunate enough and or not willing to sacrifice years of their life to achieve it themselves. So many artists would dream of finally having the resources, knowledge and stability to chase after their dreams, goals and ambitions. But due to life's circumstances and challenges were unable to bear the load of moving across the country in search of the chance of finding higher knowledge applicable to their lives. So no matter the circumstance or the challenge I will plant the seeds of giving back to others in efforts to build and foster communities to help the next person along the line. In this culture of learning and giving back, it is where I, the student, found and received opportunities to better my life and those around me. And it is in this culture where I will follow the custom of returning that same gift to the next generation of cultural load bearers in my community. That is one way I can contribute to fighting back against oppression in this country.

9. Trusting my intuition

After spending the past 21 years of my life thoughtlessly reevaluating and second guessing every decision that I make, I am aiming to learn to be intentional about dismantling this oroborus of a thought process. With years and years of allowing elders, classmates and peers to climb up my back and shoulder me with the burden of their own self loathing and doubt has conditioned me to at times lose the connection with that wise inner voice of mine that has protected me and kept me safe all these years. The soft spoken wisdom that whistle blows at the sight of abuse, manipulation, liars and figurative vultures signaling bad omens over my head. In retrospect, although it can be very easy to return the favor towards these figures in placing the blame on them. But with my own intelligence I must also acknowledge that I strongly played a part in the undoing of trusting my own consciousness. This critical second guessing of self has led me astray and estranged to my own goals many times before, and if I am aiming to live a more content and fulfilled life, it is my job and my duty alone to rebuild and strengthen this precious trust and I plan to do so and move accordingly moving forward. 

10. Planting these seeds and tending to my saplings

if you want to reap the harvest of the seeds you've planted for your future, you have to stay committed to your goals. Planting the seed—setting intentions, making plans, taking the first step—is only the beginning. Growth takes time, consistency, and patience. Following through, even when it's hard or progress feels slow, is what turns potential into reality. Without dedication, the seed withers before it can bear fruit. But when you honor your vision with action, you position yourself to enjoy the full rewards of everything you've worked for.

Phanzé LaMuse / Stephan LaFortune

05/02/2025