I wanted to make sure I’d never find myself stained with uncertainties again. One of my closest friends had just passed away, I had my work hours cut in half, and I just had my feelings hurt by a guy. And it really sucked to admit I never truly experienced rejection before. So there I was, broke, greiving, and a tad bit salty. It was the height of a quarter life crisis. So I freaked out and just chopped off all my hair because I felt like it symbolized all the negative energy I had been harnessing for months. Of course my hair strands weren’t the true cause as I know now. It was myself. I always support those closest to me but I was at the point where I felt like I bystander in a crowd where everyone else was moving foward in life. So I decided I had to face my greatest enemy. Myself. And it was time to let all the inner demons go, the biggest one being fear. Fear breeds stagnation, and stagnation is one hell of a monster.

After my impulsive decision left me virtually hairless, I walked into my room and wrote down everything I didn’t like about myself on a piece of loose leaf, took a lighter, and lit the list on fire. Then I grabbed the ashtray filled with all my insecurities, guilt, and worries and rushed to dump it outside as if it was filled with rodents.

Then I cleaned my room like a mad woman and gathered clothes I no longer used to donate to charity. Once my space was clear, I turned off the lights and stared at my reflection. Have you ever just stared at yourself in complete silence? It’s some scary stuff. I guarantee the thoughts of your mind will be louder than any favorite song blasting in your headphones.

After a few months, what I heard in that silence manifested into the real world. I started writing again. I re-enrolled in school. I changed my diet, and suddenly I had overtime at work. And then the lovely editor of this blog found me on twitter. And so ends the quarter life crisis, and begins my late 20’s post hippie chapter.

Rough patches don’t dissapear, they have to be removed. So if you find yourself in one, face it, embrace it, and free yourself. It’s temporary. Just another part of the infamous 20’s.

Image Source: “Maillots Jungle”, ELLE France, June 1988 Photographer – Friedmann hauss Model – Akure Wall

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Laik
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