traversing twenties: with Maya Zaido
If could reach back through time and have a heart-to-heart with your twentysomething self, what would you say to her?
She’s in her twenties, that glorified period of life when she’s supposed to be discovering herself, deep in exploration, living her most defining decade. And yet.....she may feel like the exact opposite. Or exactly that. Or somewhere in between. She probably doesn't even know.
Maybe you pour her a cup of tea, look into her eyes, wrap her in a hug.
What do you tell her?
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As I was planning this series, I serendipitously came across a beautiful post by a woman named Maya Zaido, entitled "message for all my 20-something friends." As soon as I read it, I found Maya on Facebook and immediately messaged her: I saw your post this morning and knew I needed to connect with you. It was seriously perfect timing and seriously meant to be -- kindred spirits, for sure. Maya graciously contributed this piece and it needs to be shared. Thank you, Maya:
perfectly imperfect
you are unique
20something Maya
venturing to find what you are searching for
life is fast and moments aren't important
often there are way too many of them
moving way too slow
your 20s are the beginning of deciphering your pain
and the continuation of your escape
moments only seem to be one
or the other
life isn't fast
you are fast
running from one thing to the next
tricked into thinking you can find the answer outside yourself
you stop attending classes
you disappear as soon as the work challenges
you disappear from relationships
as soon as you become afraid
terrified of being exposed
of people seeing your ugly
all that makes you an imperfectly perfect kind of beautiful
in a society of illusion
it isn't until you commit to asking for help
no matter what
that you unknowingly discover the key
slowly getting ok with your personal ugly
you are running fast and when you aren't
utter pain comes to visit
making almost unbearable time spent in your quiet
the same quiet that your 40yo self yearns for when without
moments are enough in number now
the difference is that you no longer run
you truly love yourself
not perfectly
not without the hard moments found in any relationship
imperfectly perfect
you enjoy being in your own company
in your calmness
in your centered
you embrace both your still waters
and the ebb and flow at your shore
you've learned to appreciate storms as they bring great clarity in the clearing
there is a knowing that all truly does pass
change
transition
you know this through experience
your choices
you know that life happens for you
with your best interest
even when you can't see the evidence
yet
opt to not run
my dear 20something Maya
begin to embrace your ugly
give your exhausted spirit a break
find purpose in what you create and share
clarity of purpose is inside the pain
inside the spaces that feel too uncomfortable
ask for the support you need
ask until you receive
have your own back
create from your purpose when you can
bounce off of it as you trampoline toward life
investigate
choose your direction consciously
not by default
either way it's always your choice
remember there are no wrong picks
there are only experiences
for you
my dear
when you look back with your 40yo eyes
you will not regret your moments
you will open wide to your life
anew most every day
you will open wide to yourself
anew most every day
you will discover a perfect amount of moments
imperfectly perfect
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as an artist who paints with words, i am impassioned by traveling to places others tend to avoid. you know, the iffy; the dark and scary; the at times seemingly treacherous places we all have. yeah, those places. i tell the tales that surface of my own treacherous places, my own iffy-ness; my own dark and scary. in hopes this somehow helps you as much as it does me; in hopes my words offer you exactly that: hope. because telling about your iffy places and rewriting them so they are no longer treacherous is the key to freedom. create on my dear. ~maya ox
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