This is absolutely beautiful. My 30th was last month, and it's led to so much reflection. Reflection on what has been, and what might be next. Reflection on how the weight of the world can make a sensitive heart feel hard, and sitting with an intention that this decade doesn't have to be about more achievement (or more anything really), but rather rediscovering that soft heart. Thank you <3
Thank you Paige, what a lovely comment and it was such a joy to read your reflections!! Happy belated birthday, and welcome to the 30s! I love how you said “rediscovering that soft heart.” That’s a beautiful sentiment and exactly how I’d say this precious time feels like. Our sensitivity is such a gift. 💕
Wow, you gave me a lot of feelings reading this. So great that you approached your 30s with this mentality! I was pretty scared, but now I see it a lot like you do. The almost 4 years I have been in my 30s have been so precious. It is in fact the years that I have felt most as myself in a long, long time. And I’m also craving for my younger self, seeing the world more lightly and playing more.
Thank you Luiza! ☺️ It is such a joy becoming older and to feel more like yourself. I’m happy you’re embracing your 30s, I hope to keep this mentality as the years go on ❤️
oh...this is beautiful. i’m 23 and i recognize i am still only at the start, however, i struggle a lot (as i’m sure we all do from time to time) with existential dread. reading this was like applying a soothing balm over my dread. i love the perspective of having a second childhood so much. i will remember it for a long, long time. it makes me hopeful i can see life through a joyful lens no matter how old i get.
p.s. i’ve never seen a single other soul acknowledge sideways stories from wayside school. i LOVED that series!!!!!
Ahh wow, thank you so much Sera! "Reading this was like applying a soothing balm over my dread" is so wonderful to hear and what a lovely sentiment. I wish I could have had this joyful childlike perspective at 23; the earlier the better! And haha omg, Sideways Stories is so underrated - I'm glad to know you loved it too!!
"In this second childhood, art is again made for the sake of creation." Pocketing Ayanna's wisdom for my own journey in honoring my inner child.
This was a timely read; I just wrote in my journal last night that I think part of my writing block comes from guilt and insecurity that what I'm doing doesn't yield immediate value or results. I'm working on a novel right now, a project that has no promises of material return.
I am so lucky to be in a position and time where I can work on my creative pursuits, but whenever I sit down to work on them, there's a voice in the back of my head telling me that I should be doing paid or "productive" work. Starting today I am going to bring out my inner child to drown out this voice and allow myself to create for the sake of creating, regardless of what may or may not come out of it.
This makes me so happy, Dina!! I'm so glad that you're going to be creating for the sake of creating, and I know that energy you put into it will be worth it as you're such a talented writer. I can't wait to read your novel one day! :)
Your reflection on the impending transition from your twenties to a new chapter is both introspective and touching. Your boyfriend's perspective of entering your "second childhood" as you both embrace this milestone is an intriguing way to view this new phase of life. It's a reminder that the joy and authenticity of childhood can continue to shape our experiences as we grow older.
Good Morning! Came here from the "Substack Reads" compilation. Just subscribed, glad I found your writing and particularly the journalling prompts, thank you so much for those. As someone a bit older than you, I wish I had viewed my 30's as a "second childhood"...I might start doing that. Also love your writing... the colors... the texture... incredible.
Hi Joaquin, thank you so much for your kind words!! It’s never too late to enter a second childhood 😊 I’m so glad you found value in the journaling prompts, I will definitely continue adding them to my posts! Thanks again for reading ♥️
Something that your post, and this reply, have helped me with is that I'm always feeling like, I'm "too late" to everything in life. Although I have experienced alot in my life, I look forward to embracing this attitude of openness to the world.
This is absolutely beautiful. My 30th was last month, and it's led to so much reflection. Reflection on what has been, and what might be next. Reflection on how the weight of the world can make a sensitive heart feel hard, and sitting with an intention that this decade doesn't have to be about more achievement (or more anything really), but rather rediscovering that soft heart. Thank you <3
Thank you Paige, what a lovely comment and it was such a joy to read your reflections!! Happy belated birthday, and welcome to the 30s! I love how you said “rediscovering that soft heart.” That’s a beautiful sentiment and exactly how I’d say this precious time feels like. Our sensitivity is such a gift. 💕
Wow, you gave me a lot of feelings reading this. So great that you approached your 30s with this mentality! I was pretty scared, but now I see it a lot like you do. The almost 4 years I have been in my 30s have been so precious. It is in fact the years that I have felt most as myself in a long, long time. And I’m also craving for my younger self, seeing the world more lightly and playing more.
Thank you Luiza! ☺️ It is such a joy becoming older and to feel more like yourself. I’m happy you’re embracing your 30s, I hope to keep this mentality as the years go on ❤️
I love the idea of being in our second childhood now! I will absolutely adopt this
Yay, Amani! I hope it’s beautiful for you. Thanks for reading 🥰
oh...this is beautiful. i’m 23 and i recognize i am still only at the start, however, i struggle a lot (as i’m sure we all do from time to time) with existential dread. reading this was like applying a soothing balm over my dread. i love the perspective of having a second childhood so much. i will remember it for a long, long time. it makes me hopeful i can see life through a joyful lens no matter how old i get.
p.s. i’ve never seen a single other soul acknowledge sideways stories from wayside school. i LOVED that series!!!!!
Ahh wow, thank you so much Sera! "Reading this was like applying a soothing balm over my dread" is so wonderful to hear and what a lovely sentiment. I wish I could have had this joyful childlike perspective at 23; the earlier the better! And haha omg, Sideways Stories is so underrated - I'm glad to know you loved it too!!
"In this second childhood, art is again made for the sake of creation." Pocketing Ayanna's wisdom for my own journey in honoring my inner child.
This was a timely read; I just wrote in my journal last night that I think part of my writing block comes from guilt and insecurity that what I'm doing doesn't yield immediate value or results. I'm working on a novel right now, a project that has no promises of material return.
I am so lucky to be in a position and time where I can work on my creative pursuits, but whenever I sit down to work on them, there's a voice in the back of my head telling me that I should be doing paid or "productive" work. Starting today I am going to bring out my inner child to drown out this voice and allow myself to create for the sake of creating, regardless of what may or may not come out of it.
This makes me so happy, Dina!! I'm so glad that you're going to be creating for the sake of creating, and I know that energy you put into it will be worth it as you're such a talented writer. I can't wait to read your novel one day! :)
Your reflection on the impending transition from your twenties to a new chapter is both introspective and touching. Your boyfriend's perspective of entering your "second childhood" as you both embrace this milestone is an intriguing way to view this new phase of life. It's a reminder that the joy and authenticity of childhood can continue to shape our experiences as we grow older.
Good Morning! Came here from the "Substack Reads" compilation. Just subscribed, glad I found your writing and particularly the journalling prompts, thank you so much for those. As someone a bit older than you, I wish I had viewed my 30's as a "second childhood"...I might start doing that. Also love your writing... the colors... the texture... incredible.
Hi Joaquin, thank you so much for your kind words!! It’s never too late to enter a second childhood 😊 I’m so glad you found value in the journaling prompts, I will definitely continue adding them to my posts! Thanks again for reading ♥️
Something that your post, and this reply, have helped me with is that I'm always feeling like, I'm "too late" to everything in life. Although I have experienced alot in my life, I look forward to embracing this attitude of openness to the world.