Today I'm so excited to share my involvement in a new site called The Equals Record, which was started by my friends, Elisabeth Fraser and Miya Hirabayashi. The blog centers around the thoughts, lives, and issues of women, and I'm honored to be a regular contributor. Each week, I'll be authoring a column called "Looking Forward" about my life, growing up, and being directionless but loving the adventure all the same.
An excerpt from my first post: "Ask me my age, and ninety-nine percent of the time, I’ll hesitate before answering. This isn’t because I’m embarrassed to admit the number (I’m twenty-six); rather, it’s because I actually have to think about it to make sure I’m getting it right. My age at heart and my age in reality are two completely different things. I may be twenty-six. I feel eighteen."
NOTE: I know it's impossible to read, but the words on my knuckles (written in washable ink!) read LOVE LIFE.
Read the rest of the post on the Equals Record, here. And, of course, don't forget to check out the rest of the site! Contributors include Brooke Fitts, Ashley Muir Bruhn, Mara Kofoed, and Cheri Lucas. I'm thrilled to be a part of it!
Oooh, gurl. I feel you on the age thing. I sometimes have to think about it, too. I still feel like a youngin' (I am one, but I mean a YOUNGIN' youngin'), but for some reason, I tend to think I'm older. I've corrected myself many times thinking I'm a year OLDER than I am. Maybe it's because I'm subconsciously trying to rush my life? Okay, maybe not so subconsciously. I should stop that.
ReplyDeleteI love what you wrote, I can definitely relate! Congrats to you - I'm excited to read more posts from you! xx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shoko! We're so excited to have you on board, and we think your voice is perfect for this! xoxo
ReplyDeleteLove, love, LOVE this blog post! My fav so far :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Sho, so excited to read your contributions!!!
I really understand and completely agree with what you wrote. My bf is 10 yrs older than I, and I sometimes feel like I catch up with his age(mentally), and then feel so overwhelmed like omg I am not doing anything with my life! But then we both have to take a deep breath. I admire what you've done, like WWOOFing, jumping out of a plane, etc. :) It really does make one's life seem longer if you do different things every now and then, even if you dislike it or really like it, or even see experiences through a phenomenological lens.:)
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way with the age thing. So sweetly and honestly written. I can't wait to follow again!
ReplyDeleteI try to find adventure in my life too - it's a very important key to feeling young (even at 23 sometimes I feel like a granny - like staying up past 11 pm on a weeknight is late for me now).
ReplyDeleteGrowing up is a strange phenomenon :) Age is just a number after all, isn't it?
xoxo,
mon amy
Thanks for sharing this. I am looking forward to reading your post. Also, I had you pegged as a little older than 26 in my head - you're very mature.
ReplyDeleteHi shoko, I just visited the site n read your column. It's a beautiful writing! Also I feel so connected what you had to say as I'm a freelance designer and have felt exactly same. I look forward to your new column :) p.s. I'm wondering if they can use my drawings on the website. Let me know if you happen to hear if they do sometime:) xo akiko
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love and i'm loving "the equals project" too!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this! I really like the focus of The Equals Record, and am so happy that you and your voice are a part of it!
ReplyDeleteSo Cool Shoko! Great writing, very honest!
ReplyDeleteYour column was fantastic! You are a great writer~ Can't wait to read more!!
ReplyDeleteOoh, I loved your article! I'm 26 too. I feel the same way. I have a feeling though, all those that from the looks of things "have it all together" are having the same feelings in one way or another. Okay, I just realized how many times I said feel/feelings and I'm too lazy to go back and change it. So there you go.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I just read your article. You go girl. I'm one of those 9-5 people and as much as you might sometimes feel behind the eight ball on the whole "having a plan" thing, it can be over-rated. Looking forward to reading about your future endeavors!
ReplyDeleteYou are so inspiring my darling. I'm going through a similar journey, but like you said, I feel directionless not purposeless.
ReplyDeleteGreat column! I can't wait to read it weekly :) Like Molly said, the plan thing is way overrated. I have a feeling that 99% of people (myself included) are just pretending they have things figured out anyway. You're definitely not alone!
ReplyDeleteJust read the post; LOVED it. Especially the sentence that starts with, "Still, it's jarring...". So much truth. I"m twenty-five, and the idea that I have to do so many adult things is still utterly ridiculous to me. Bills and taxes and health care and paperwork and cooking...and I get mistaken as the mother of the boys I nanny pretty much every day. It's terrifying. But I think there's something beautiful about being "directionless, but not purposeless", as you put it. I don't think I want to have it all figured out yet. I feel like every person is where they should be in their journey, and if we're light years behind others in some aspects of life, then we should embrace it, because the rest will come when it's meant to. Anyway, yes. Great writing =]
ReplyDeleteWow, thank you, everyone! Your support and kind words mean the world to me!
ReplyDeleteCassie, I feel that way sometimes, too. There have been times in my life when all I wanted was for things to move faster - and then before I knew it, that phase of my life had passed me by. I really try not to do that now, but it can definitely be hard.
Joanne, thank you! I completely agree - trying new things certainly helps you focus on the now. Same goes for stopping and taking a breath, as you mentioned. So important.
Amy, yes, totally! Here's to lot of wonderful adventures to balance out the granny aspects of growing up :)
Brianna, that's good to hear :) Usually, I get pegged as younger - I'm glad to hear otherwise!
Akiko, thank you! And I will definitely look into that for you and let you know!
Henry, thank you! That is so sweet.
Taylor, haha! I know what you meant. And I think you're absolutely right!
Molly and Melissa, that's a relief! Sometimes I DO feel like I'm the only one! Thanks for the reminder that that's not the case :)
Stapha, thank you so much! It's a good journey to be on - I'm sure you're doing wonderful things!
Rachel, a big fat YES to everything you just said! The most comforting thought to me is that at any given moment in our lives, we're exactly where we're supposed to be. And you're right, we should embrace where we're at, no matter what. So smart.
ReplyDeleteShoko, I'm just catching up with all your lovely posts - I'm a little bit behind this week. CONGRATULATIONS! This looks like such a wonderful project to be part of and I loved reading your article! I so relate to what you say! I left a comment over on The Equals Record, so you can see more there.
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