Youthful Life: X

The 20s are all about looking past appearances. There is something so deeply humbling about understanding that every single person you come into contact with knows something that you don't know. There is so much more to people that what we get to see. Outward appearances often fool us into made up stories we have for everyone we see. If we never learn more about people then we are forever stuck with the tales we woven about them in the looms of our minds. Things may look good on the outside but a mascot, a jelly-filled donut, or a piñata - what's important is on the inside. Beauty IS skin deep, but it's what behind the beauty that holds the real power. Watch out for the Trojan Horse. What do I mean by beauty not being skin deep? I mean that we judge everything and everyone based on what they look like. When you wrap a gift, the paper you wrap it with, the technique you use, and how it all comes out matter. We eat with our eyes, and also process everything else with ...

The 20s are all about understanding your world. The word your is so purposeful in that sentence. We are the center of our own worlds. Yes, it's important to remain down to Earth and to be humble but at the same time there's nothing wrong with being conscience of the environment you live in. In fact, if you're not taking notice of it, then who is. We may stay grounded in this place but when we're surrounded by the right people, it's like we're in a sky full of stars. When was the last time you just looked up at the sky. During the day it literally adds a filter to the entirety of the day. Sepia, valencia, hudson and all the rest, it's so amazing what a couple clouds and some sunshine can do to affect your day. When night falls, the sky becomes a totally different space. Deep blues, rich noir shades of black, and hazy oranges take over. The moon shines or hides away and the stars come out to twinkle, shine, and glisten in the far away nothingness of spa...

The 20s are all about being afraid. Fear sometimes serves a purpose. While it can cause us to remain small, to cower, and to freeze, it can also be a powerful thing that motivates, exhilarates, and inspires us to do truly amazing things. Fear is what holds people back but also what pushes them forward. Fear is a double-edged sword that you have to know just how to wield. Fear can take us to dark places but also lead us to the light. Fear can keep us stuck but can liberate us all the very same. It can tell us we're alone or can bring us together. Fear is fear, is fear, is fear. Sometimes you have just get lost in the fear. Maybe you don't really need to be found. Try and find me, I'm a lost boy. Quite possibly the scariest thing that I have ever experienced was coming to the realization that I would not be going to medical school after college. I had spent the entirety of my life preparing to do just that. I had my life planned out, medical school, then residency, wife, ...

The 20s are all about realizing your personal importance. Self-esteem, self-image, and self-respect all have to come from you.  There is no one that can treat you better than can for yourself but recognizing that you need to do so can be an uphill battle. Sometimes it takes some prompting, reminders from others, and obnoxiously positive affirmations to let us know that we matter. It shouldn't have to come from someone else but it's okay if it does. You don't need anyone's permission to love yourself. Go team natural, let yourself be a little raw, and know you're imperfectly perfect. #NoFilter necessary.    " To be human is to sense and to be sensed." There is nothing more invalidating then sharing part of yourself and having your courage disregarded. In a world of barriers, disconnection, and aversion to contact, to give your memories to another is bold. Sharing our opinions face to face, from our lips to another's ears, with our unique voices bein...

The 20s are all about understanding the world around you being more than just the way you see it. You see, the truth is relative. There are some universal truths and even more so that have yet to be proven. We all come and interact with one another and have our beliefs, ideals, and personal truths collide. Every single day we trade ideas, and thoughts. We grow and change, while some things stay the same. No matter what, our memories and those of us, are forever. Things aren't just black and white, they're gray all over. What we want to see is in vibrant color. No one is perfect. It's something we are told from a young age and yet we're still tasked with trying to achieve perfection every day. It's impossible. It cannot be done. We make mistakes. We mess up. We do the wrong thing. It's human nature. We are flawed. We have imperfections. We are faulty. Why do we chase something, this ambiguous and amorphous, that's unattainable? There's no point. Some...