In his biweekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory.
I’ve watched men (and participated) chase just about everything. We’ll chase women, sex, money, status, and validation from people we don’t even like, as if our lives depend on it. Some of us will work ourselves to exhaustion for a career title. Others throw money at the newest car, the freshest shoes, or the best bottle in the club just to feel seen. We’ll travel miles, spend thousands, and burn ourselves out trying to impress, provide, and prove. We pursue with precision. With passion. With purpose.
But peace? Rarely.
The same man who’ll spend his last on bottle service won’t spend thirty minutes in silence. The man who’ll jump through hoops to impress a crowd won’t make space to sit with his own thoughts. The one who works 60-hour weeks to “provide” will often avoid any effort to process, heal, or breathe. We seem to have an aversion to stillness and peacefulness. Peace of mind. Peace of heart. The kind of peace that lets a man rest easy, not just sleep but actually rest. It’s the one thing we all need and the one thing many of us avoid chasing.
This isn’t about judgment; it’s about calling out what I’ve lived and what I see every day, not pointing fingers from some mountaintop. I’ve chased things that looked good on paper but emptied me out inside. I achieved things, titles, roles, and “greatness” I thought I wanted, not only to have sacrificed many more important aspects of my life but to realize after I lost it all that it was a false goal. I’ve ignored my own inner turmoil because there was always something else to do, something else to win, fix, conquer, or hide behind. I was performing successfully while neglecting my soul. And it doesn’t work. It never does.
We chase what we think gives us value. We chase what people celebrate. But chasing peace? That doesn’t get much applause. There’s no crowd cheering for the man who turns off his phone to be present with his thoughts. No one claps when you say no to the toxic relationship or walk away from the money that’s costing you your sanity. Peace isn’t flashy, but it’s essential. And if we don’t learn how to chase it with the same focus and fire that we give to everything else, we’ll keep finding ourselves successful but miserable. Surrounded but alone. Strong on the outside and torn up inside.
Society has not done us any favors either. For centuries, especially for the Black man, nothing has ever held any value except what function we serve. What can we do for the significant other, the family, the job, etc? We are evaluated and valued only by our accolades, achievements, and accomplishments. We are seen as doers only, not as human beings, let alone people. Men traditionally have never been allowed or given a space to explore and accept peace. We are meant for war, and war is all we have known, internally and externally.
Peace isn’t passive. It’s not something that just shows up after you’ve checked off all the boxes. You don’t stumble across it after a bad breakup or job loss. Peace takes work. It takes real effort to be still in a world that rewards movement. It takes courage to confront your past, your trauma, your triggers. It takes discipline to say, “I’m going to guard my mind the same way I guard my grind.” And for many of us, that’s unfamiliar territory. We weren’t taught to sit with our feelings. We were taught to keep pushing, to tough it out, to outwork the pain instead of dealing with it. But that avoidance comes with a price. And if we’re not careful, we’ll pass that bill on to our kids, our partners, and the people we love most.
I’ve learned that peace requires boundaries. It means protecting your energy, choosing your company wisely, and creating space for your healing. Sometimes it means turning down opportunities that look good but don’t feel right. Sometimes it means disappointing people who’ve gotten too used to your availability. And sometimes, it just means being still long enough to hear your own thoughts. That’s not weakness. That’s wisdom. That’s strength. That’s what being a whole man looks like.
We need to stop waiting for peace to just happen. We must be intentional. Just like we plan our workouts, our goals, our finances, we need to plan for peace. That might look like unplugging for an hour a day. It might be prayer or therapy or journaling or walking or talking to someone who truly sees you. I talk extensively about all the tools I employ to create balance and peace. You will have to dig in and do some research and trial and error. I can provide a framework and suggestions, but it will ultimately be unique to you. Whatever it is, we’ve got to stop acting like peace is optional. It’s not a luxury; it’s a necessity. Without it, all that chasing we do is just running in circles.
So, here’s what I’m saying: chase peace like your life depends on it — because in many ways, it does. I’m challenging you the same way I’ve challenged myself: Chase peace. Prioritize it. Invest in it. Make your peace just as important as your paycheck. Make your healing just as important as your hustle. And when you find it, protect it with everything you’ve got.
Start with five minutes of silence in the morning. Take a walk without your phone. Talk to someone you trust, not to fix you, but to hold space for you. Ask yourself how you really feel, not how you’re expected to feel. Practice being still. Practice being honest. Practice saying, “I’m not okay, but I’m working on it.” Remember that not having capacity for someone or something is also ok and saying “no” is not a reflection of your interest in them, but the intentionality of your preservation of you.
Because when men chase peace, we build legacy, not just lifestyle. We build lives that are sustainable, meaningful, and whole. More importantly, we show our sons and other young men how to do this also.
And that’s the real flex. That’s the real win.
Langley “Casual-Word” Shazor is a poet, author, publisher, entrepreneur, public speaking coach, podcast host, and pastor who is an advocate for youth and men. His goal is to enlighten, empower, and liberate those who are silenced, marginalized, and enslaved to self-destructive thoughts and behaviors. Visit 
Under the banner of creativity, healing, and opportunity, ElevateWi is taking its mission to the kitchen this summer with the launch of the Culinary Kickstart Experience, the latest installment in its VI Creators Program.
Designed for young Virgin Islanders ages 8-18, the hands-on initiative is part of the studio’s broader mission to offer safe, inspiring spaces where youth can discover their potential and connect with purpose. With each new program, ElevateWi is expanding what that support can look like — whether it’s in a studio, behind a camera, or now, in the heart of a kitchen.
At the center of the experience is celebrated Virgin Islands chef Jucinto Durant, a Johnson & Wales graduate who brings global experience — from international kitchens to cruise ships— back home to inspire the next generation. Durant, who has long been passionate about creating programs that “ignite a spark” in young learners, said this is about more than food.
“If we give kids a place where their creativity can come alive, where they feel seen and supported, they’ll bring that energy into every part of their lives,” he said.
That belief is echoed by ElevateWi Founder Omar Ewen, whose own journey as a creative shaped the nonprofit’s mission. “Growing up, I didn’t have a space like this,” he said in a recent interview with the Source. “We built ElevateWi so young people wouldn’t have to go without one.”
Since its founding, ElevateWi has launched a range of youth-centered programs across the arts — from performance and filmmaking to audio engineering and now, culinary arts. Each experience is structured around developing technical skills but also confidence, voice, and emotional wellness. And for many participants, it becomes a gateway to new opportunities, meaningful mentorships, and a clearer sense of self.
For the Culinary Kickstart, ElevateWi is taking the program on the road, partnering with existing summer camps and youth organizations to host pop-up workshops around the territory. At each stop, Durant leads students through essential techniques, team challenges, and food-focused explorations that emphasize collaboration, cultural pride, and self-expression.
It’s a dynamic way to reach kids where they already are — and give them something they didn’t know they needed, Ewen said. Organizations can apply to host a session at vicreators.org, but with only five slots available this summer, the team hopes more partners will come on board in the future to expand access.
That community-based approach is intentional, Ewen said. “We know what’s happening in our neighborhoods. The violence, the isolation — it’s real. But if we can meet young people where they are, offer them another path, give them something that makes them feel like they matter? That can change everything.”
Ewan sees creative outlets as critical tools for prevention and healing, especially for youth navigating fractured systems and limited resources. He’s seen firsthand how a song, a script, or a perfectly plated dish can open the door to larger conversations about identity, ambition, and even mental health. “We are teaching skills but we’re also building connection,” he said. “This is arts and wellness. This is about saving lives.”
As the summer unfolds, ElevateWi continues to seek collaborators, donors, and community leaders willing to help scale their work. And with programs like the Culinary Kickstart Experience, they’re already cooking up what that future could look like – one young creator at a time.
