I think all our lives our parents have reminded us that part of “success” meant finding the one and settling down, and with the help (or not help) of relatives, we’ve heard a million renditions of what constitutes as “the one” even though often times, neither our parents nor relatives have really reached their own relationship idealisms, or more so, their idealisms do not match the standards of our new generation.

Because many of us were raised on relationship expectations that put us into boxes as “man and woman,” and as “dictating and submissive.”

And despite us running as far from it as we can, it still takes us a lifetime to shake off the examples we’ve seen in marriage and relationships.

Causing us to perhaps wonder if what we are asking for is too much, too unrealistic, and too rare.

I believe our twenties, is the time when we come to realize each day that everything we thought we knew about life, is no longer true, and that in order to become, sometimes we need to unbecome.

In order to learn and grow, we have to unlearn everything we once knew.

In all ordinary aspects of our lives, as well as the extraordinary.

One of my girlfriends came over and posed a question she had read from her daily scroll of Instagram: "What would you pursue without social media?"

As social media has been proven to be one of the top business tools and career options, it has become more pressuring to rely on beyond just popularity, connecting with others, and posting your daily life.

But, sometimes I wonder if it takes away more than it adds to our life in terms of career opportunities.

Whether this is a letter to myself or to all the friends I've seen grow up around me, I wanted to send my wishes, as we take on different paths and go different ways, of the things I hope you'd at least have the chance to experience in your 20s. 20s because this is the best time to build ourselves, to find ourselves, so we can fall into ourselves fully in our 30s. And even if our timelines don't align, that having these experiences will still be worthwhile.

So, to my dearest 20 somethings, these are the things I would wish for you.

"Nothing lasts forever."

Not the good, nor the bad, and I absolutely know that.

And so the most beautiful thing, is being awake and alive enough to know that although I don’t know how long it’ll last, I know very well, with all my being, that in this very moment, I am not short of anything.

It took a long time for me to find the words I needed. And even then, I probably still don't have all the right things to say.

"Toxic" a word I didn't want to use. Because that implies that there is something wrong with you, that you only bring harm.

And that is not the case. Because I too, am not perfect, and because you amount to more than just a label. Because you were the bestest best friend I could have ever asked for. For all the nights you were there through my most soul-wrenching cries, all the times you were there to celebrate my success, and even praise me on my failures. All the moments you never hesitated to come and save me, at any time, any where, for any reason. Thank you. For all the love I will never forget.