never let them know your next move

unpredictable or unaccountable?

It’s mad to think this will be my first post/newsletter/blog (whatever you want to call it) that I’ve put out. This has been a long time in the making. Uncertainty and laziness had me in a chokehold, but there’s no greater time than the present. So welcome to:

As I Grow Older

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In this week’s edition, we’ll be talking about the idea of not letting people know your next move.

I love TikTok, so these videos will be a massive feature of these articles, and this one video has caught my attention. And before someone says I’m overanalysing and taking this trend too seriously by writing a whole post about it - I absolutely am.

I find it funny that this “work in silence” mantra still exists when we’re so used to oversharing and revealing our deepest secrets via social media storytimes and 280-character threads. Yet, we’re still plagued with social media stories from the “hustle in private/don’t let them know your next move/stay unpredictable” warriors overtly sharing their covert operations.

Side note: beloved, if you’re telling us that you’re working in silence, you’re not working in silence.

Truth be told, I see nothing wrong with dropping off the map and doing your own thing for a while. I often feel like the family member that will randomly move to a new country and cease communication with everyone for two years. Then randomly reappear one day with a new identity, wife and 3-month-old son.

No one will hate you for being on your own to work something out, or just genuinely keeping life to yourself. We have to keep the people on their toes.

But where do we draw the thin line between being unpredictable and being unaccountable?

This isn’t another “make sure you keep good company” rant. I’m asking you (and myself), what’s the purpose of having people around us in life, if we must always work in secret, always hustle in private, always keep everything hidden and only to re-emerge above the surface when we’re ready?

We’re not in primary school anymore. Life isn’t an extended session of show-and-tell.

I have a weird habit of not wanting to speak to friends when life isn’t going well for me. I hope to sort everything out before the next check-in or Central London link-up. If they need life updates from me, they can check my Instagram story.

I’ve always cherished the idea of staying unpredictable. Telling no one or limiting details to a select few. And I mean FEW. “The grand reveal will be prettier than the ugly process”.

But as I grow older, I realise that you need to let people in on the process. Accountability doesn’t limit progress! Accountability only limits those who believe the journey is to be done alone but celebrated together.

I get it though. As the statement reads, “Don’t share the vision in seed form”. We don’t share our ideas, goals, and even struggles because we believe that either people won’t get it, or even worse, disregard it. It’s relatable. The attitude that people don’t buy into the vision so it's better to plant, water, and harvest this seed myself. To that I say;

Whoever plants a garden, only needs himself. Whoever plants an orchard, needs everyone.

Okay, everyone is an exaggeration. Just don’t think you can do this journey alone. Build a core community where you can share your ideas and goals.

Be accountable more than you are unpredictable!

I’m not saying let everyone know your business, but don’t die with the idea that you have to do this journey alone.

Regardless… don’t let them know your next move.

Woke up one day and decided to dye my hair brown

Love, Peace & Blessings,

Abs.