When The Drum Roll Hits:
Finding Power in the Pause: Why the Build-Up is Everything
There’s something about a drum roll that stirs my spirit. It’s not just a sound—it’s a summons.
The quick rattle before the cymbals crash.
The heartbeat before something unforgettable happens.
Whenever I hear it, I get hype—not the wild, crowd-screaming kind of hype—but that deep, inner rumble that says, Get ready. Something’s coming.
For a long time, I chased what came after the drum roll—the loud part, the applause, the recognition. But life, in all its irony, has taught me that the magic isn’t in the noise.
It’s in the build-up.
Because the drum roll is anticipation.
And anticipation is sacred.
🎶 The Space Between the Beat
Life’s rhythm isn’t made only of crescendos. Sometimes it’s held together by pauses—the pause after heartbreak, the pause after disappointment, the pause when you’re forced to reinvent yourself.
That’s what maturity sounds like: learning to stand still in your own silence and still feel powerful.
You stop craving noise and start respecting timing.
Sex and the City taught us about love, labels, and designer shoes. But real life? It teaches you about rhythm—how to move in sync with divine timing, not society’s expectations.
Maybe “having it all” isn’t about more.
Maybe it’s about alignment.
🌧️ Melancholy Isn’t Weakness — It’s Wisdom
Melancholy is misunderstood. It’s not sadness; it’s reflection dressed in elegance. It’s the ache of growth—knowing who you were, honoring who you’ve become, and forgiving what had to fade away.
Sometimes melancholy is your soul’s way of saying, slow down, feel this, it matters.
And if you listen closely, you’ll hear the quiet dignity in it—the grace of surviving what tried to break you, the peace of no longer explaining your strength.
🥁 The Life Lesson: Respect the Build-Up
Every drum roll reminds me that everything meaningful starts with tension.
Before the applause, there’s effort.
Before clarity, there’s confusion.
Before transformation, there’s the stretch that hurts just enough to change you.
That’s the real hype—the inner fire that builds before the bass drops.
So now, when I hear that drum roll, I don’t rush. I breathe. I listen. I let it rise in me until it becomes confidence.
Because life is one long drum roll—testing our patience, refining our purpose, and teaching us that hype without humility is just noise.
💫 Closing Reflection
Melancholy and hype aren’t opposites. They’re dance partners—one reminding you where you’ve been, the other showing you where you’re going.
And somewhere between the two, that’s where your dignity lives.
That’s where your rhythm returns.
The drum roll wasn’t leading up to the moment.
It was the moment.
✍🏽 About the Author
Renee “Royal” Mickens is a licensed and seasoned Commercial Insurance Professional, recognized for excellence in client advisory services, complex account management, and long-standing contributions to the property and casualty insurance industry. She is also the CEO and visionary behind Royal Hustler Company, an award-winning marketing, promotions, and public relations firm amplifying authentic voices within entertainment, beauty, and culture. A writer, connector, and creative soul from the Bronx, Royal blends rhythm, reflection, and resilience in every story she tells.
