“It Was All a Dream”: Rising Above Adversity, Adapting, and Growing — Inspired by Juicy by The Notorious B.I.G.
- H LS Scarboro
- Dec 8, 2025
- 3 min read
By Heather (LS) Scarboro LCMHC-QS, LCAS, NCC
"Juicy" by The Notorious B.I.G.
There are songs that fade in and out of cultural memory, and then there are songs that become cultural memory. “Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G. is one of those anthems—an ode to perseverance, transformation, and the quiet but powerful act of believing in possibility even when the world tells you otherwise. Long before it became a celebratory classic, it was a survival story set to a beat, and its message is as relevant today as it was in 1994.
A Bit of Personal History
When “Juicy” came out, I was 13 years old, living with my single mom as she navigated a messy divorce from my then–stepdad—a process that deeply impacted my trust in the men closest to me. I’m a child of the ’80s, raised on MTV’s Headbangers Ball, MTV Jams, TRL, and a rotation of children’s shows like He-Man and She-Ra, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Care Bears, ThunderCats, Transformers, You Can’t Do That On Television, Zoobilee Zoo, Sesame Street, and, of course, Mr. Rogers.
Despite everything she was carrying, my mom never policed our musical influences—and thank goodness. (The irony, of course, is that a few years later I would become the one policing everyone’s music choices after deciding that anything outside contemporary Christian music meant I was “knock, knock, knocking” on Hell’s door. But that’s a story for another blog.)
At 13, “Juicy” arrived during a time when I was also struggling with a neglectful and abusive situation at my dad and stepmom’s house. Every other weekend—dad’s weekend—I developed intense stomach issues that disrupted school and spilled into my English free-writing journal. My teacher, Ms. Bock, connected me with Mrs. Mosley, the school guidance counselor, and through that lifeline I eventually stopped seeing my dad until I was old enough to drive. It all had to move through the legal system, but that decision saved me.
I didn’t understand all the lyrics back then, but I did understand the message: it’s never over unless you give up. Even at 13, with only a child’s grasp of the world, I somehow knew that life didn’t have to stay the way it was. I didn’t have control over everything—but I had some control. And that mattered.
Adversity as a Starting Point, Not the End
The opening line—“It was all a dream”—is more than nostalgia. It’s a declaration that every reality begins as a vision. Sometimes the hardest part of rising is daring to imagine something beyond your current circumstances.
Biggie’s story began in a one-room apartment in Brooklyn, where scarcity wasn’t metaphorical—it was daily life. He reminds us that adversity doesn’t disqualify you; it shapes you. Challenges aren’t evidence of failure—they’re evidence that you’re still fighting.
Adapting in Real Time
A major thread throughout “Juicy” is adaptability. Biggie didn’t romanticize the grind—he adapted to survive it. He learned from the streets, from setbacks, from instability. Adaptation wasn’t optional; it was necessary.
In our lives, adaptation may not look glamorous, but it’s no less essential. It’s changing course when the path you’re on stops serving you. It’s learning to navigate a new loss, a new boundary, a new version of yourself. It’s allowing growth to change you, even when change hurts.
Celebrating Growth—Even the Small Wins
One of the most radical parts of the song is Biggie’s willingness to celebrate himself after a long climb. By naming the contrast—“sardines for dinner” to “birthdays were the worst days”—the celebration becomes earned.
Growth isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s subtle:
feeling more grounded than you did last year
choosing rest before burnout
building healthier relationships
showing up for yourself in ways you once thought you didn’t deserve
These are victories worth acknowledging.
Staying Connected to Your Story
Another timeless takeaway from “Juicy” is Biggie’s refusal to disown his beginnings. The past isn’t shame—it’s testimony. Our early chapters don’t limit us; they give our later ones depth.
Rising above adversity isn’t about pretending the hard things never happened. It’s about owning your story so fully that no one can use it against you.
Choosing Your Dream Over Your Doubt
Ultimately, “Juicy” is a reminder that while life may hand you obstacles, your vision—your dream—is yours to tend, protect, and grow into. You get to keep choosing yourself, even when the circumstances around you don’t immediately affirm that choice.
And maybe that’s the most timeless message of all:Growth isn’t about where you start. It’s about where you’re willing to go—and how fiercely you’re willing to believe in the possibility of something more.
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