a thought to unfold…
We grow up trying on ideas, expectations, of who we are supposed to be.
We wear expectations like outfits—some passed down, some borrowed, some never meant for us at all.
We try them on, hoping they feel like home.
How many versions have you tried on—just to realize the only one that fits is you
inspiration is everywhere…
Friday night I was outside weed-whacking (and I wonder why I’m single) when a little girl I know from the neighborhood rode by on her bike. She stopped and said hi and we chatted about school. Every time I see her we’ve been counting down the days because I know she’s excited for summer to start, so I asked her how many days left. Only four more days.
She went on to tell me how her class has this tradition during the last week each day, they pop a balloon and get a theme for the next class day.
I said oh that’s so fun, what theme was today? And she replied, ‘“dress as who you want to be when you grow up.” So obvi, I asked her who she dressed up as. Without skipping a beat, she looks at me point blank and says, ‘Myself.’
Oh damn, I was floored. Can't we all learn something from a fourth grader truth bomb? I told her, “That’s the best thing you can be when you grow up. I’m still working on it, but I’m glad I became myself, too.” And she said, “Yeah, I was going to dress up like a nail tech, but my moms scrubs didn’t fit me… so I decided to just be me.”
And holy shit was that poetic. They didn’t fit. And I’m not just talking about her mom’s scrubs. But the roles, the expectations, the pressure. We try on what others wear, or who they think we should be—only to realize eventually they don’t fit. The only thing that ever really fits… is you.
thoughts for practice…
JOURNALING Prompt
What are you currently wearing (metaphorically) that no longer fits?
What version of “you” are you ready to return to—or continue becoming?
REFLECTION FOR your practice
The next time you step onto your mat, ask:
Can I move in a way that feels like me today? Not how I think I should move. Not how someone told me to. Just me.
On your mat, your only job, the only thing you have to get right, is to show up as you. Completely. Entirely. That’s it. Let it be a practice in returning.
A place where alls you have to do is show up exactly, fully, beautifully…you.
take this with you…
When we’re young, we’re taught to think of who we want to be when we grow up—a doctor, a nurse, a fireman, a pilot, all these different identities—then throughout life, we try on who we think we’re supposed to be. And then somewhere along the way, as we grow, we begin peeling back those layers. All the layers, all the identities that were never really ours.
There are over 8 billion people in this world— but not one of them is you. Really think about that. Your voice, your light, your energy… they are unrepeatable. There is no other. So don’t ever stop being you. And y’all know the deal, when we hide parts of ourselves, we don’t just cheat ourselves—we cheat the world of the magic only we can bring. One singular you.
So yeah you can keep trying on all the things—you can spend your whole life doing that if you want— but I’ll tell you right now, the only thing that fits, is you.
