With the blessing of another year of life, God has, through His unyielding love and immeasurable grace, granted you more time to capitalize on your extant excellent opportunities, and He will place even more incredible ones in your path in the days ahead.

Even though we confront these dark times when enough Americans put a felon, racist, neo-fascist, and white supremacist back in the White House, leading this nation closer and closer to an abyss, continue to fortify yourself by investing in yourself, doing the things that make you happy, that fill you with joy, fearlessly pursuing all your dreams, knowing that we come from a people who have faced greater challenges than the Cheetos Man occupying the highest office in the country.  

As we’re both keenly aware, rest is resistance (thank you, Trisha Hersey!). Given this, continue to tap the power of rest to advance yourself in every way, to fight the forces and powers that desire to prevent you from luxuriating in your peace. Some forces and powers fail to recognize that the peace we refer to cannot be taken away. However, if we don’t steward it effectively and keep it at the forefront of our minds, we can be distracted from the reality of our peace.  

Lean in more to rest, as it is the fuel we need to achieve those ambitious goals and conquer everyone and everything standing in the way of those goals.

I look forward to what your new year will bring. What I know for sure is that whatever you give to the world in your new year will be extraordinary.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Santresa Glass!

Dr. Antonio Maurice Daniels

Johns Hopkins University