In order to be great, you have to be honest about your weaknesses and humble about your strengths.
In order to be great, you have to be honest about your weaknesses and humble about your strengths.
You want a job, a vacation, heath insurance, validation, a back rub, a scalp massage at the place where you get your haircut, people who are jealous of you, an ex who won’t stop texting you when they’re drunk, Twitter followers, happiness maybe sorta, someone to buy you lunch at a fancy restaurant, a mentor who can tell you what the hell to do with your life, a reliable internet connection, a reliable human connection, a gift card to the grocery store, dinner parties with friends where everyone will pretend to have their crap together for just one night, a nice flirty text message to wake up to every morning for the rest of your life, for everyone to like you even if you don’t like anyone, and one of those nights that doesn’t end till 9 AM and reminds you what it feels like to be young and alive.
What 20-Somethings Want (Thoughts Catalog)
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I’d be remiss if I denied that at some point in time, I’ve wanted every single one of those things. No matter how silly or fleeting or irrational or fundamental each of those things may be, I proclaim to the world that I have indeed yearned for every single one. Now, I must run and hide.
Tiffany
(via beantoots)
This photo features a group of 5th graders at Waterberg Primary School in Namibia. It was taken November 10, 2009 shortly after the new computers arrived and the desks and painting had been completed. Along with teachers from my school, I solicited and created a relationship with a nearby local German NGO which ultimately donated 22 new computers to Waterberg Primary School, while the school fundraised for and built the tables and desks. The new computer lab that resulted was used by the school faculty and staff, students and surrounding village community and I held daily training courses for teachers, adults and students. When I left Waterberg, the Internet had not yet been set up, but my explanations and lessons for computer use had registered and made an impact, because 10 months after my departure from the school (and to this day), I received an email from my principal (and several from eager former students), I knew that the computer lab was being used and valued.
- Peace Corps Education Volunteer Melissa Becci
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If you could make a difference, anywhere in the world, in any setting, what would you do?
For starters, I’d grub. I’d eat til my big little heart’s content. Then I’d be ready to make a difference. I’d hang around with the locals, live days in their shoes. I’d work at their jobs, sleep at their houses, do chores, attend the local house of worship. I’d offer to help out with the little ones, I’d find out how to prepare an average meal, I’d walk miles to the well and till the garden until dusk. I’d go to Namibia or Romania or Turkey or Chile. I’d put myself in the village and live among the people, as much as I can possibly blend in, and I’d learn to live their way of life. I’d live a simple local life because that would make a difference — in my own life.
It isn’t until we understand what it is to be touched, that we can truly and sincerely touch others. It’s less about saving the world, or changing people, or making a difference…If you really wanna be an agent of change, goodness and justice, you have to first take long deep looks at your own image in the mirror. You have to challenge everything about who you are, what you believe and what you stand for. You have to painstakingly explore who you are and what kind of statement you want to make in this world and proceed to take humble baby steps from there. For me, that means dropping me off anywhere in the world and feeling my way through an existence of which I have no prior knowledge. Then I’ll be ready for change…I won’t have a choice.
What does making a difference mean to you?
Tiffany, via 20Something Project
The power of street art + how it can teach us valuable life lessons!
(via poptech: Street artist Jetsonorama tries a new kind of healing in Navajoland)
If someone would’ve told me —
About the interest rate hustle and credit, I would have managed my student loans and credit cards better in college….SHAZAM!
I used to say I was a perfectionist once upon a time…I also have a laundry list of ideas that have never seen the light of day.
Fear is a paralyzing tricky little booger. For 20Somethings, fear can often mean feeling as though we’re not qualified enough, smart enough, have enough experience, or have enough money. If I had a dollar for every idea that I never moved on — well let’s just say I’d have quite a bit of chump change.
What this quote reiterates is that being a perfectionist is also code word for ‘being too afraid to make mistakes and/or take risks’. It justifies our refusal to try and excuses our lack of action.
What do I say about fear and perfectionist-like obcession? Kick fear in the ass. Mess up til you figure out what works. And take a risk on trying something new. Dream with your eyes open so you can see how much the world stands to gain from someone who’s unafraid to move beyond the fear of inaction. You only get good at something by trying your hand at it.
Now write that shitty first draft. Dammit.
With standup, it’s more interesting to hear about people’s failures than their successes. You don’t want to hear a story, like, ‘I went up to this hot girl and everything worked out fantastic. We’re dating. Everything worked out great. Good night!’ … People would be like, ‘I hate that guy.’ It’s much more endearing to hear someone going through the same struggles we’ve all gone through.
There is definitely something to be said about our deep attachment to other people’s hardships and successes.
There is mockery in failure, wisdom in overcoming, envy in success, and peace in introspection.
(via nprfreshair)
As a 20Something, we often feel like we’re groping around in the dark trying to find our way on the road to success & achievement. If you’re a person who can find your way all alone, than maybe this isn’t for you. But for many of us, we absolutely need to have people in our corner.
Having a mentor means having people who believe in you, even when you don’t believe in yourself; having people introduce you to new opportunities you otherwise would have never known about; and being a resource to you during what feels like a tumultuous time of having minimal resources. Having a mentor and being a mentor is about building mutually beneficial relationships with people who see your talent and respect your ambition. Don’t ever sell yourself short by thinking you can do it all alone. Reach out there into the world and find people who will help you get to where you wanna go.
If you want to be heard, you have to speak to the world.
We’ve all heard the term perception is reality. Or maybe you’re more familiar with the half full/half empty glass quandary. Sure these are powerful analogies and metaphors, but how do we move from abstract optimism to having a secure sense of self during the tumultuously confusing years of our 20s? It’s exactly as this article suggests. If you can see something in nothing, you’re on your way. If you can look at yourself and explore your struggles, your passions, your fears and your inspirations, than there’s more than enough there to set you on the path to a bright future.
Push yourself to think creatively and create your own reality. If you can’t conceptualize your success as an idea, it’s 100% less likely to drop into your lap. Dream it, think it, be it.
We all know the reasons why being a 20 something is confusing and frustrating and annoying and relentless. But sometimes we need a reminder that there’s power in embracing the fleetingness of this moment in time and grinding it out boldly, confidently and fearlessly. It truly is awesome. Dammit.
Think about all the epiphanies you’ve had in your 20s (so far). Now pick one. If someone would’ve tipped you off about it, what would be different? Submit your peace of mind at areallybigproject@gmail.com
“If someone would’ve told me ______ , I _____”
Soundoff is a poll series of the 20Something Project that collects anecdotes and real life experiences of 20 Somethings based around a number of core themes of the 20 something experience.
Rapture
mixed media on paper
(Source: arpeggia, via thesocialrecluse)
The Earliest Appearances of Cookie Monster’s Sharp-Toothed Prototype

One of our core values: Simplify. Less is more.