A New Era

It’s been a while since I’ve last posted. Life has been a whirlwind this last year. I moved to L.A., started to pursue screenwriting while working on my fourth poetry book (more on that later), and started to settle into my 30s while reminiscing on who I used to be in my 20s.

I’m sure if you’re reading this and you’re around my age, then you know what I mean when I say that once you hit your thirties, a flip inside you changes and you no longer crave the things you used to want or the dreams you may have had when you were in your twenties. Not to say there were less responsibilities in our twenties, but our mindset shifts as well as our priorities.

In my twenties, I was living in New York with three other roommates, more careless, and drinking and staying out until sunrise. I’m not saying I don’t party every once in a while, but I’m more in tune and conscious about my health, and knowing my limits and when to say no to people, plans, or drugs.

I’ve learned to say no to plans out of feelings of obligation, nor excusing the actions of others to maintain friendships. I’ve learned to let go of friends that I thought would be in my lives forever due to our rising differences. I’ve learned to not place expectations on others just for me to end up disappointed. I’ve learned to accept my life for what it is and not compare myself to someone else and what stage of their lives they’re in. I understand that even though I don’t have every answer in the moment, that everything does in fact happen for a reason, and things we want the most requires patience, resilience, and hard work.

I’ve learned that privacy and solitude is a luxury. Keeping close relationships with friends and carving time to meet with them is a luxury.  I’ve learned the importance of community, and being there for people who put in the effort to be there for me, and to collaborate with each other and make beautiful art that amplifies our voices and speaks for the things we stand up for, especially in such tense times like these.

The culmination of all these realizations can be found in the pages of my upcoming book. I can’t believe it’s been four years, but I’m happy that I’ve allowed myself time to really sit with this project and allow it to evolve into its final form today, and I’m excited to share it with you this summer. A new era is finally here, and it’s important that we know that the actions we take today forge the paths we’re on tomorrow.