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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