Riding Out the Storm: How Jazmine Sullivan’s "After the Hurricane" Inspired Just 1 Minute
Inspiration for creativity often finds us in the most unexpected ways. For this particular episode of Just 1 Minute, the catalyst was Jazmine Sullivan’s deeply moving song, "After the Hurricane." This track, from an album that served as the soundtrack of my relationship with my first “real” and “true” love, brought back a flood of emotions that shaped the script for this season.
This season of Just 1 Minute is one of the most personal I’ve ever created. The stories are more than just fiction; they’re reflections of my own life, my own journey through love, loss, and the storms in between. Jazmine Sullivan’s music has always been a source of inspiration for me, but this particular album has a special place in my heart. When it was first released, I was in the midst of a relationship with someone who a psychic once told me was my soulmate. Each track echoed the intense emotions of that time, capturing both the highs and the lows.
Songs like "Bust Your Windows," "Need U Bad," "Lions, Tigers, & Bears," and "Dream Big" became the anthems of my life, each one representing a different chapter of my love story. "Dream Big," in particular, didn’t just reflect my relationship—it inspired and continues to fuel my journey in the entertainment industry. That song reminds me that my purpose in creating art isn’t about chasing fame, but about leaving a positive imprint, something that will hopefully inspire others to dream big themselves.
But then there’s "In Love with Another Man," the track that would play on repeat on my iPod after every date, because deep down, I was comparing every person I met to “him”—the one who haunted my thoughts for years, the one I believed was my soulmate.
Fast forward to now, as I release this new season of Just 1 Minute, I find myself once again opening my heart in real life, only for the hurricane to strike again. But here’s the difference—the beauty lies in the growth I’ve experienced since that album first dropped. Heartbreak still stings, but I’ve learned how to navigate the storm with more strength and resilience than I ever had before.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the lyrics from "After the Hurricane":
I was a storm inside, you were the calm. But now I’m shattered, left to pick up the pieces. After the hurricane, what’s left of me?
Each line is like a knife, cutting through the façade we build around ourselves when love falls apart. Jazmine Sullivan’s voice captures the raw vulnerability of heartbreak, and it’s almost impossible not to put yourself in her shoes, feeling the weight of every word, every note.
To anyone who has ever faced heartache, who has weathered their own emotional hurricane, know that you’re not alone. The storm may feel endless, but it will pass. And when it does, you’ll emerge stronger, wiser, and ready to embrace whatever comes next.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with me. I hope this episode of Just 1 Minute resonates with you as deeply as it did with me while creating it.
Sending you all my love today—ride out the storm, because clearer skies are ahead.
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