Kendrick Lamar - i

“I Love Myself” Isn’t a Hook, It’s the Whole Point

A Letter from InteGritti, in Resonance with Kendrick

When Kendrick Lamar chants “I love myself,” he’s not bragging.

He’s reclaiming.

And every time he says it, I feel it in my bones because that’s the same work I’ve been doing in my own way.

Through brushes, through breath, through live reflection and still mornings spent cracking open the mess of what it means to be human;  I’ve come to understand the same truth Kendrick sings:

Loving yourself in a world that’s built on erasure is a radical act. 

He says, “One day at a time, sun gon’ shine.”

I say,” Truth is. Period.” 

Different cadence. Same ground.

We’ve both stood in rooms full of people smiling and sensed the rot no one wants to name.

We’ve both felt how the world gaslights joy, punishes honesty, and then tells us to “stay positive.”

And we’ve both come to realize that we don’t owe our silence to anyone’s comfort. Nobody does.

Kendrick moves through his story with rhythm and rhyme.

I move through mine with color, tone, and presence.

But the destination’s the same: radical self-honesty, hard-won clarity, and the refusal to perform wholeness before it’s real.

When he says:

“I’ve been dealing with depression ever since an adolescent,”

I hear echoes of the stories I’ve told live about surviving shame, navigating loneliness, about loving myself out loud not because I always believed I was lovable, but because I had to believe something stronger than the world’s neglect.

I talk about mindfulness.

He talks about fighting to stay alive another night.

We are naming the same battle, just in different dialects.

And when he offers his story to the next generation, I feel that deeply.

Because I’ve done the same every time I go live and name the thing no one wants to look at or touch. Every time I show up with the raw truth instead of the curated version of me. Every time I make art that dares to say:

“You’re not crazy. You’re awake.”

So absolutely.

I agree with Kendrick.

Not because it’s trendy.

But because we’ve been living parallel truths; truths that say:

You can go to war with yourself… and still choose to love the one who walks out of the smoke.

You can be misunderstood… and still hold your center.

You can lose your way… and still be worth loving.

I believe in the strength it takes to stay here, eyes open, heart unhidden.

I believe in people who tell the truth even when it shakes.

I believe that what Kendrick sang, and what I live, are the same message:

Self-love isn’t a moment. It’s the entire revolution.

And it begins when we stop performing and start coming home to ourselves.

Stay mindful stay grounded,

InteGritti

Optional Journal Prompts to go deeper in your reflections:

What does “I love myself” mean to you today—beyond the performance of confidence?

Where are you still at war with yourself, and what would peace even look like?

The Digital Age: Reflecting on Progress and Pitfalls in Online Interaction

As I approach the age of 45, like many others, I find myself in a state of introspection regarding the course of my life. There is no denying that several aspects of life today are significantly improved compared to my adolescent years. Back then, the dramatic flair that often accompanied my youthful expressions found limited outlets for dissemination, particularly among strangers. My peers and I lacked the technological "perks" that today's youth take for granted. In retrospect, I am among those of my generation who appreciate this absence, recognizing the potential complications that such platforms can introduce.

In the contemporary era, not only do young individuals navigating the tumultuous waters of adolescence have the ability to share their innermost thoughts and feelings, but they also have at their disposal a plethora of tools to enhance their communication, including music and visual filters. This has led to an amplification of everyone's capacity to dramatize virtually any subject matter via social media. As an adult, I acknowledge my own dramatic tendencies but have strived to channel them positively. A lesson that took time to learn.

Contributing to the cacophony of gossip and self-centered grievances online is akin to contaminating a pool in which one wishes to swim—a pool, I must emphasize, that is occupied by billions of users at any given moment. How does one cleanse such a vast and polluted environment? The solution is straightforward yet challenging: cease the pollution and allow time for the waters to clear. Our collective addiction to constant connectivity hampers our ability to disconnect, even momentarily. There is a pressing need to decelerate, not to halt progress or regress, but to exercise greater mindfulness in our interactions. Social media has fostered a culture of toxic impatience, with negative consequences that seem to escalate.

The expectation for online businesses and services to rectify any issue, without users considering their own complicity in perpetuating these problems, is a notable concern. The public continues to utilize and complain about these platforms, often with little expectation of meaningful response or change. This sense of entitlement extends to collective actions and protests, where users demand accountability from platforms without acknowledging their own responsibility for the content and interactions they engage in.

Take, for example, Facebook. Its shortcomings are widely acknowledged, yet it remains ubiquitous. This paradox highlights a broader issue across all social media platforms: users expect these companies to care for their well-being without taking personal responsibility for their online behavior.

When individuals gather online without the ability or willingness to manage their thoughts and emotions constructively, there arises a need for oversight, structure, and safety protocols. However, there is a prevailing sense of entitlement that individuals should be catered to without regulation, expecting the world to adapt to them rather than fostering a mutually respectful community.

The proliferation of dramatic and unfiltered expressions online exacerbates this issue, allowing for the amplification of personal narratives irrespective of their impact on the broader digital community. While I do not claim to possess all the answers to these complex problems, I am convinced of the necessity for each individual to exercise mindful self-governance and maturity in their online conduct. We must each take responsibility for our contributions to the digital world. Recognizing this responsibility is the first step toward fostering a healthier online environment. If one cannot tolerate dissenting viewpoints or the heat of robust discourse, it may be prudent to reflect on this intolerance. The diversity of opinions and perspectives is intrinsic to the human experience, and their coexistence is essential for a dynamic and evolving society.

Stay Mindful

InteGritti

Playing for the Game: Embracing the Possibilities

Take a breath. I’m not here to provoke anything but conversation in an effort to help make gaming more enjoyable and fulfilling for everyone.

In the realm of gaming, the question of “Why do you play?” often invokes a simple response of “to win.” However, I find myself drawn to the game itself rather than the pursuit of victory. While winning undoubtedly brings a sense of accomplishment, my true passion lies in the intricacies and possibilities that unfold within the gameplay.

Acknowledging my potential logical fallacies, I recognize that there are various motives for playing games. Yet, I am compelled to delve into the distinction between playing to win and playing for the essence of the game.

Winning undoubtedly holds its allure, serving as the ultimate objective in most gaming scenarios. The euphoria of triumph and the validation of success are undeniable rewards. However, true magic lies in those captivating moments that transcend mere victory. It is in those instances when the gameplay transcends expectations and leads to exhilarating experiences that define the essence of competition.

Playing for the game entails reveling in the dynamic interplay of possibilities that emerge during gameplay. Whether witnessing a team's seamless coordination culminate in a spectacular goal or a miraculous save that defies the odds, these moments encapsulate the true spirit of the game. It is at these pivotal junctures of uncertainty and potential that the essence of gaming unfolds.

Contrasted with the fleeting nature of victory, the joy derived from playing the game itself reigns supreme in my perspective. The journey of gameplay, with its highs and lows, excitements, and heartbreaks, embodies the essence of my gaming experience. The anticipation of witnessing something extraordinary unfold, igniting a surge of inspiration and jubilation, is what fuels my passion for gaming.

In essence, I play for the game. The thrill, the ecstasy, the sorrow, and above all, the boundless possibilities that manifest during gameplay are what captivate my spirit. Each match holds the promise of a unique and exhilarating experience, where the unfolding of events evokes a sense of wonder and joy that surpasses the mere act of winning.

So, I implore you to ponder: Why do you play? Embrace the game, embrace the possibilities, and revel in the magic that unfolds within the realms of gaming.

I play for the game. Why do you play?

Stay Mindful

InteGritti

Unveiling the Deceptive Tactics of Manipulation: Navigating Propaganda and Critical Thinking

Marketing and advertising are manipulation and propaganda, and they serve to undermine critical thinking and cognition, with the sole intention of exploitation and control. By neglecting to hone our ability to discern and pay attention to details, we become susceptible to manipulation and deceit by those seeking to exploit us.

sorry, not sorry marketers and advertisers you know very well that you’ve decided to exploit this aspect of humanity and just chose to be morally okay with it. More often than not profit is your justification. I know I know not all of you, but enough of you that you all look bad. Also, enough of you, that it’s wise for me to assume all of you, rather than give any of you the benefit of the doubt.

Who else has been guilty of saying:

“It was too much work so I didn’t bother, and I just signed the terms and condition contract.”

That is why they make it hard and complicated. Perhaps we need to demand That companies simplify their terms and conditions to be easier to understand. If they are genuine in their intentions there should be no issues with meeting that demand.

Those who seek to manipulate us hope that we will easily give up on understanding complex issues, thus leaving us vulnerable to their influence. Instead of taking the time to comprehend terms and conditions agreements, many simply agree without reading, placing blind trust in the unknown.

Every time you farm out your cognition, you are vulnerable.

Manipulators may complicate matters to cloud our judgment, or they may appeal directly to our emotions to bypass rational thought processes. Whether they overwhelm us with complexity or oversimplify information, the end goal is to prevent us from questioning their motives.

They Overwhelm us, distract us, and if necessary convince us.

It is crucial to recognize that when something appears overly complex, it may be a deliberate tactic to deceive us. Conversely, when things are presented in a simplistic manner, it may be a tactic to encourage us to make hasty decisions without critical thought.

Bottom line is that evil people don’t want you to think about stuff. They their solution has been to create as many distractions as possible to offer us alternatives to thinking.

That way they can think for you and profit off you and dispose of you without ever having met you, and with zero regard for your life experience.

Stay Mindful

InteGritti