As my 25th birthday began to approach, I saw myself seeking guidance from any and everyone considered elder to me; if even by a month. The overarching question on my mind: how did you feel when you were turning 25?
A quarter of a century. Something about its approach was giving me a sense of anxiety. I’d only expected to be fearsome of turning 30 and being deemed a true adult. Yet as 25 drew nearer, I began to sink more into the theme of adulthood and the worry that I didn’t “have it together.” Maybe it was the idea of being able to do everything completely legally, including renting a car. Maybe it was the quarter-century crisis stepping on my heels. Or perhaps I was turning 25 before most of my closest friends. Anyway, the cake was cut, and the slice was gearing up to be far more than I could chew.
Most of the answers I received were the same. A mix between “I don’t remember,” and “I too, was feeling anxious.” Anxiety yes, but equally so…light. I was nervous and excited. Apprehensive and enthusiastic. Hesitant and intrigued, all at once. I felt reflective about my life, the things I’d accomplished, the people I’d met, the experiences I’d had, etc. A blooming sense of increased self-esteem came to arise as my birthday drew nearer. I spent my time writing up my feelings, evaluating my thoughts, and analyzing my growth.
Here are some of the things I’d written in my journal days before my birthday:
“Liberating. I’m so grateful for all of my experiences!!! I thank every single person!!! A heart of gratitude!! Busting out of the matrix! Peace, happiness, freedom!!! I feel freedom all around me. Like a halo above my head! Wow!! I can feel nature around me. I see the woman I want to be. 25- enlightened! Suppression vs healing. 25 feels older, processes time differently. Grown folks things like travel etc. Excited for growth and to be older. Enjoying life and where I’m at as opposed to constantly wanting to be or do something else. You still have TIME! Similar yet different experiences. The equilibrium! Have some conviction. Pursue what you want to do! If you pivot- that’s okay, just keep going.”
So many nights alone in my bed, crying to release. I didn’t want to spend the days with anyone except myself and Spirit, but I remember the night my friends threw me a surprise party. I had spent the day crying and didn’t feel up to going out that night. But I knew that as tradition would have it, I’d spend my birthday giving offerings by the water, so I wanted to make sure my friends had the opportunity to celebrate my bearthday with me. I mustered up the strength and I distinctly remember feeling so proud of myself with a full acknowledgment of my growth. In mind, in body, but overwhelmingly in Spirit. That night I’d decided I was completely ready to thrust myself into 25 and I wrote down the top 10 things I’d learned before turning 25.
- Do not lead with your ego. Be able to separate your ego and your ID.
- You are not the main character in anyone else’s story. It may feel like an attack but the world does not revolve around you. Realize that people act in the way that they see themselves. Once you learn to take nothing personally, you will live a life free from the expectations and projections of others.
- You have time.
- In the grand scheme of life, if we’re slated to live until our late 80s, our 20s are truly just as young as our teens. Now is the time to explore! Explore yourself in relation to the world. Pick a career and pick another one. Try a life path, then try another one. Experience will assist you to develop a sense of your authentic self. Create yourself and recreate yourself. Be who you want to be, and when that changes, be that too. Be everything and nothing. Be everywhere and nowhere. Be fearless in your approach to life.
- Be thankful for every experience you’ve ever had.
- Savory and unsavory. You’ve learned something and the acquisition of knowledge is something to forever be grateful for. Once you stop learning, you’re dead.
- Appreciate your growth.
- Sometimes we get wrapped up in the lives of others. Comparison is the true thief of joy. You deserve to be celebrated for being here on this earth and nothing more! Appreciate yourself and your growth.
- Meditate with affirmations.
- Train your mind to think about fulfillment. Meditation teaches you awareness of the mind. It teaches you to become cognizant of your thoughts. Therefore meditating with positive affirmations will train the thoughts in your mind. Remember, meditation is a practice, not perfection. So long as you’re trying, you’re doing it correctly.
- Aspire!!
- Our aspirations push us forward. Reach beyond the stars. If it can be done in this Universe it CAN be done by YOU!
- If your life doesn’t go as planned that’s okay. Plan for growth, when you know better, you do differently.
- Expect nothing, from anything and from anyone. This will save you disappointment and allow you to look at any lived experience through the lens of surprise and excitement. Test your strengths and boundaries by adjusting to the unexpected.
- You should have a spiritual goal that you work on with just as much if not more conviction than a physical goal.
- We are spiritual beings here to have a physical experience. There are worlds beyond 3D and what we can readily see. In order to attain access to those other worlds, we have to deepen our connection to Spirit (God/ Yahweh/ Jah/ Buddha/ Krishna/ Jesus/ The Universe or whatever/whomever you want to call it). Strengthening your spirit brings possibility and opportunity into your life.
- Manifest divinity.
- Be aggressive with your goals. They are yours and yours alone. When the idea comes to you is when you are ready to execute it! Do not wait, do not linger, do not worry nor fear! You are worthy and more than enough. Go forth and manifest!
- Free your mind from the shackles of itself. The matrix!!!
- In order for something to be true, it must remain in motion. The ONLY truth is that of Universal Law. If it can not be observed within the creation of the Universe, it is man’s opinion! Question everything. Strive for knowledge. Never settle.
The party my friends threw was absolutely amazing. We celebrated all night into the wee hours of the morning and I cried enough tears to overwhelm a kiddie pool. The love I felt in the moment was an affirmation of my life path. Excitement grew in the final days of being 24 and on the morning I turned 25, it seemed as though a light flickered on in my mind and body. A new level of innerstanding and growth had biologically unlocked itself. Things that worried me, bothered me no more. A sense of clarity in my vision overcame me and I’ve continued to press forward in life excited to see the growth each year brings.
If you are under 25 and reading this, then good. The sooner you understand and digest these lessons the better. It’ll put you light years above your peers and it’ll give you the wherewithal to assist people on their journey while protecting yourself on your own. Know this: you are okay. You are safe to simply be. Exist in the space and take up as much of that space as you can. Be authentically yourself for whatever that means for you. Live a life that fulfills you. Embrace the hard times with patience and kindness. Be gentle and caring with yourself as you traverse your journey. You truly are doing an amazing job! Strive to be greater than the day before. Live your life moment to moment so as not to overwhelm yourself. And most importantly, always lead in love.
