Doing Your 20’s Different. (A new perspective)
To those of you just kicking-off, or in your mid, twenties: there’s a stigma around your season of life that I want to address, and hopefully reframe, for you. For some reason that period of time gets weird expectations tied around it— either from one’s own doing… or from culture— and I want to share some perspective in case it frees you up to enjoy the beauty of it.
I want to address the commonly-used idea that you’re “searching”.
I understand why it’s used— there is so much play and trying things on during this time. But I have to say, I never really identified much with that word or concept- and maybe you don’t either?
I believe if you let it, your 20’s present an AMAZING opportunity to learn, instead: Following.
To learn to listen to how your heart beats, what and who it beats for, and an opportunity- now as an adult- to follow it where it leads.
“Searching” makes it seem like you’re headed for a destination. **Spoiler alert**: you’re not!!!
“Following” is a way of life.
I have been in the sports world my entire life— a life-long athlete, and specifically in my 20’s: a collegiate athlete, a performance coach, an executive assistant, in leadership development, and now bringing it all together as a creative— and I can honestly say that none of those placements along my path can be defined in my life as me “searching”. But every single one of them can be described as me following. Why? Because in the moment I was in them, that’s exactly where I was meant to be. And exactly where my heart chose to be! Each of those moments shaped me. Each of those moments introduced me to people. Each moment showed me more of who I was and built skills within me. I felt love in those moments and I gave love in those moments. And every single one of them were teaching me a way of life. One that only *following* could teach me.
I felt a pull to address the stigma around being “in search” or “arriving” somewhere and instead wanted to challenge you to see your life as a journey that your heart is leading you through (not to). Success should be defined during this time (and forever!) as standing in a place that is TRUE for YOU in that moment. And if you are? Then my friend, you’ve arrived exactly where you’re meant to be! Until it’s time for you to follow somewhere else.
Listening to how your heart beats, what and who it beats for, and following it where it leads will never stop. You’ll find it’s just simply a part of the game.
So if you are in that season, do me a favor and practice living and loving as if your heart chose that moment— knowing it has purpose. Take your time during these years not to search— but to instead build your foundation of what it means to be a follower. Become an expert in it.. and then take that skill with you your entire life. You’ll find that when you do, paradise will always be in whatever moment you’re standing in!