The Queen's Tasks

WELCOME FRIENDS

Welcome to How Nev Sees It!

In each issue, you can look forward to three engaging sections that offer a glimpse into my world:

Short Story - Dive into the first part of a 4-part reimagining of a classic story or movie, set against the vibrant backdrop of NYC. Get ready for a fresh take that blends nostalgia with modern flair!

My Founder’s Journey - Join me as I document my entrepreneurial adventure, sharing the highs, lows, and everything in between. I’ll open up about my biggest pitfalls, with the hope that my experiences can help you navigate your own path.

Reflections - Think of this as my public journal, where I candidly reflect on the week gone by. It’s a space for me to process thoughts, insights, and lessons learned.

For today’s issue…

SHORT STORY

The Queen’s Tasks

The Queen of Hearts looked down at Alice with a knowing smile, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Your first task, Alice,” the Queen announced, “is to retrieve the Golden Key from the depths of the Labyrinth beneath the city. Many have tried, but none have succeeded. Will you dare?”

Alice nodded, determined to prove herself. The Queen’s guards escorted her to a hidden entrance in the palace floor, revealing a winding staircase that descended into darkness. Alice took a deep breath and began her descent, clutching the vial of shimmering liquid the Hatter had given her.

The air grew colder as she ventured deeper, the only light coming from the flickering torches on the walls. The staircase eventually opened into a vast underground maze, its walls lined with twisting vines and eerie statues. Alice consulted the notebook, hoping it might offer some guidance. She found a page with a rough sketch of the Labyrinth, along with cryptic notes about hidden passages and traps.

As she navigated the maze, she encountered various obstacles: pits that opened without warning, walls that shifted to block her path, and corridors that seemed to stretch on forever. At one point, she came across a group of stone statues that appeared to move when she wasn’t looking. She remembered the vial and took a cautious sip, feeling a surge of energy and clarity. The statues froze, allowing her to slip past them unscathed.

After what felt like hours, Alice reached the center of the Labyrinth, where a pedestal held the Golden Key. She grabbed it, feeling a sense of triumph, but her celebration was cut short by a low growl. A monstrous creature, part lion and part serpent, emerged from the shadows, guarding the exit. Alice knew she had to act fast. She took another sip from the vial and felt herself grow lighter, more agile. She dodged the creature’s attacks and sprinted towards the exit, the key clutched tightly in her hand.

Breathless but victorious, Alice emerged from the Labyrinth and presented the Golden Key to the Queen. The Queen smiled, clearly pleased. “Well done, Alice. Your second task is to find the Singing Flower in the Garden of Echoes and bring it back to me.”

Alice set off once more, this time guided by the strange whispers of the garden. The Garden of Echoes was a beautiful yet eerie place, filled with flowers that sang haunting melodies. The air was thick with their harmonies, creating a disorienting effect. Alice searched among the blossoms, each step feeling like it echoed for miles.

Eventually, she found the Singing Flower, its petals shimmering with an ethereal light. She plucked it carefully, the flower continuing to sing a soft, sweet tune. As she turned to leave, the garden seemed to shift around her, the paths becoming a confusing maze. She recalled the Hatter’s vial and took another sip, the world sharpening into focus. She navigated her way out and returned to the Queen with the Singing Flower.

“Impressive,” the Queen said, her tone begrudgingly admiring. “Your final task is the most difficult. You must retrieve a memory from the Pool of Remembrance. This memory must be one you hold dear, but once you give it to me, it will be mine forever.”

Alice hesitated, understanding the gravity of the task. She journeyed to the Pool of Remembrance, a tranquil body of water reflecting the past. As she peered into its depths, memories surfaced: birthdays, holidays, moments of joy and sorrow. She knew she had to choose one, but the thought of giving it up was painful.

Finally, she settled on a memory of her childhood, a day spent with her late grandmother in Central Park. The memory was vivid and warm, filled with laughter and love. She reached into the pool, feeling the memory solidify into a tangible form, a glowing orb in her hand. With a heavy heart, she returned to the Queen and offered the memory.

The Queen accepted the orb, her expression softening for the first time. “You have proven yourself, Alice. You have earned your way back.”

With a wave of her hand, the Queen conjured a portal, the mirror-like surface shimmering once more. Alice stepped through, the world around her blurring and shifting.

Part 4 coming next week…

Get Part 3 here.

Santana

MY FOUNDER’S JOURNEY

Taking A Step Back

One of the tougher realizations that a person can face is the realization of not being ready for a challenge they’d like to conquer.

I haven’t written a newsletter in a while because I was reeling with my business, Nurtured.

I started it back in April, and have decided that this isn’t a full-time business like I thought. There are so many things I have to figure out and because of that, I’ve decided to look for a full-time position while I do this on the side.

If you know of any job openings in Sales, please let your boy know.

REFLECTIONS

Prodigal Covenant

Ever felt like you were running away from something you knew you should be doing? Well, I have. And I’m tired of running.

When I was younger, I made a promise to God. A covenant. I told him that if he made me successful, I would tell as many people as I possibly could about him.

When I was younger, I would go on multiple mission trips to build churches and/or share information about the Bible and God in other countries. Galapagos Islands, the Phillippines, Trinidad & Tobago, and South Korea.

After coming back from SK I saw a lot of success. It took some time, but I became very successful in my professional career. I started to close deals that I never thought I would and earned recognition from VPs at my company. God came through, but did I hold up my end of the bargain? I sure didn't. If you even mentioned God, I would turn the other way. As I write this now, I can’t believe I would do that.

The other day I was telling a few people that I feel like Jonah.

For those who don’t know the story of Jonah, he refused to do what God asked him to do. He was supposed to preach to the people of Ninevah, and instead, he decided to flee on a boat towards Tarshish. While on his journey, a great storm threatened the lives of everyone on the boat. After finding out that Jonah was running away from God, the other men tossed him off the boat to calm the storm.

Jonah was then swallowed by a whale and stayed in its belly for 3 days and 3 nights. After reconciling with God, he decided to do what God originally asked and went to Ninevah.

This is my public statement that I’m done running away from my calling. Instead, I’ll run towards it and will ask for God’s guidance along the way. Besides, I don’t want to be in the belly of the beast anymore. It kinda stinks.

1. Prodigal Son - This past Saturday I went to church. For those of you who do not know me well, I grew up Seventh-Day Adventist, hence why I went to church on a Saturday as opposed to a Sunday. The sermon was interesting, as the pastor spoke about prayer and why so many struggle with it. Long story short - he mentioned people struggle with prayer often because they see God as a transcendent being that isn’t with us. I believe that he is with us through the Spirit. If you ever want to talk about this with me, just hit me up. It’s an interesting topic that I am happy to discuss with anyone.

2. Craving A Routine - After turning 13, I have never lived in one place more than 4yrs in a row. There’s a level of excitement that comes with that. It’s fun because you get to see so many places, experience so many cultures, and meet a lot of new people. There is a sense of loneliness that comes with it too, though. When you’re always on the move, you don’t get to have a consistent routine. I believe routines help with consistency. And I believe that consistency helps with excellence. I’ve vowed to stay in NYC for another 5 to 10 more years. Time for me to find my version of excellence.

3. Love Yourz - When offering constructive feedback to yourself, it’s easy to look at another person’s life and desire what they have. If you ever find yourself doing that, hit me up. If you prefer not to hit me up, then heed these words: “There’s no such thing as a life that’s better than yours”. Your story is special and unique, and it makes you, you. You should share it with the world and know that there isn’t another like it.