The marathon—and the healing—continues.
Actress and model Lauren London collaborated with PUMA for “Forever Stronger,” a moving video tribute to her late partner, rapper Nipsey Hussle, and her journey forward after he was shot and murdered on March 31, 2019. (The couple have a 3-year-old son Kross Ermias Asghedom.)
The video, directed by Danny Williams, captures Lauren in Los Angeles, walking through the parts of Nipsey’s beloved Crenshaw that he made his signature through his music career and community work, and that were a part of their California love story.
But what’s most striking is the poem by Nipsey’s sister, Samantha Smith, that Lauren reads over the visuals and haunting score. Through Samantha’s words, the mom of two channels courage and vulnerability, finding strength in confronting her fears and coming out on the other side forever changed.
“I got a question only Lord knows,” Lauren reads. “‘Does life birth us twice?’”
We heard a few lines of poetry that would make great affirmations—phrases that when repeated out loud can have a positive effect on one’s state of mind and healing. As a fan of affirmations herself, it makes sense that the “Forever Stronger” ad would feature so many powerful declarations of selfhood and growth. Here are our favorites—feel free to use them in your own self-care practice!
1. “There is nothing to hide here.”
We are here to show up fully, and unapologetically, as ourselves. We have no reason to hide or feel shame for who we are and where we are.
2. “We are the song that writes itself. The melody replays in the key of elevated living.”
We are forever a work in progress, and we are beautiful.
3. “Glory and divinity conduct our symphony. We are infinite affinity, wrapped in sacred epiphany. We are meant for we.”
Yesssssss!
4. “We are flowing, we are growing. We are open like the Red Sea.”
A reminder to open ourselves to life’s vast possibility.
5. “We walk through with confident uncertainty.”
Stepping into the unknown with the certainty that whatever happens, we got this!
6. “We kneel here. We heal here. We open our hearts to the heavens.“
Make space for your healing and connecting with the universe.
7. “We use our tears to cleanse our canvas.”
The pain of starting over helps us prepare for what’s to come.
8. “We dance in the rain til the fear is drained.”
A reminder that making a point to find joy even in the darkest times can be healing.
9. “Pain is the light. Pain is insight.”
Moving toward the pain, instead of running from it, brings a deeper knowledge of self.
10. “The body hurts, but the spirit grows.”
Woof… A word.
The “Forever stronger” poem by Samantha Smith
There is nothing to hide here. No way to pretend.
We relate. We disagree. We disengage.
We are running into each other. We are the song that writes itself. The melody replays in the key of elevated living.
We forget the words. We never forget the feeling.
Glory and divinity conduct our symphony. We are infinite affinity, wrapped in sacred epiphany. We are meant for we.
We are flowing, we are growing. We are open like the Red Sea. We walk through with confident uncertainty.
We kneel here. We heal here. We open our hearts to the heavens.
We use our tears to cleanse our canvas. The fear floods us. The love is electric.
Self-inflicted pain, we dance in the rain til the fear is drained.
Cuz pain is the light. Pain is insight.
The body hurts but the spirit grows. The flesh is starving while wisdom overflows.
I got a question only Lord knows: “Does life birth us twice?”
