Lauryn Hill fans got something of a comeback recently when a series of inspirational videos popped up on YouTube. The two clips date back to a lecture Hill gave to a group of high school students back in the year 2000. They’re precursors to what eventually turned into over a decade of reclusive "will-she-or-won’t-she" record-making, but I promise you, dear readers, that it is The Truth. With an easygoing sense of humor and an uncanny awareness of the world around her, a 25-year-old Hill explains her creative process and why, at the peak of her hip-hop career, she choose to step away.

"We’re all trying to get to this next level without the next level finding us," Hill says. "Life is peaks and valleys," she continues. "And some people explain that as good times, bad times. But I actually think it’s learning, mastership."

Is your mind blown yet? No? Then watch the whole thing.

At the very least, Hill’s words are a testament to her worldview as an artist, and a powerfully inspirational note to anyone who’s looking to start this new year off the right way. So if you’re late on making a New Year’s resolution, or want to hold off until Lunar New Year instead, this is a good place to start.

We’re ending the day as often as possible by celebrating love. We welcome your ideas for posts. Send suggestions to [email protected], and be sure to put Celebrate Love in the subject line. You can send links to videos, graphics, photos, quotes, whatever. Or just chime in to the comments below and we’ll find you. Be sure to let us know you’ve got the rights to share any media you send.

To see other Love posts visit our Celebrate Love page.