For those of you who are used to carving out long chunks of time to read my posts: hey! This one is quick!!
I just wanted to point something out. I changed a setting today. My header used to look like this:
It doesn’t look like that anymore. I deleted the tagline.
I’ve been thinking about that tagline for awhile now, for a few reasons. In part, because I will turn thirty in September, and clinging to the label of “twentysomething” feels wrong. And factually inaccurate.
But really, it’s just that when I started this blog, “a twentysomething disaster” was a funny phrase, and I embraced it. I was a bit of mess back then. I wasn’t really happy. I was overworked, and I was tired all of the time, and yeah, okay, even if I was putting up appearances, I can tell you that I felt like a disaster most of the time.
And I am still not perfect. I can still be a bit of a mess. I am sometimes still overworked and tired.
But I am not a disaster. I’m a human being who is figuring her shit out, and who doesn’t need to put herself down for that. I’m smart and I’m capable and I really like my life as it currently exists and I’m almost thirty years old, damnit. And I am no longer writing pieces about how dating is tricky (although it is!) or about taking toilet paper from public restrooms because you can’t afford to buy it (I can buy things now!) It’s not all fart jokes up in here all the time (although those are still great. “Phhhhhbbbbbbttthhhpppfhh,” for the record, is my current favorite spelling depicting a fart noise; I think the “b” and the “thp” add a textural dimension that help create a full aural landscape).
I don’t write those kinds of things as often these days. I find myself more often writing about feminism, about racism, about mental illness, about religion, about the realities of navigating the world as I see it. I’m trying to use this as a platform for change. I’m trying to create conversation, generate meaningful connection, and spark dialogue that engages and excites. That’s a really exciting evolution, and I’m proud of the words I have put out into the world.
I don’t think I’m a disaster anymore. I just think I’m myself. And I feel pretty great about that.
Thanks for reading. Yes, you, reading this. Thank you. It means a lot to me.
xox Katherine
This is why I’m way more excited about my 30’s than my 20’s. It’s going to be great!
You are amazing writer please check out my new blog https://coperdog1renieda.wordpress.com/
I totally get ya.
I too am turning 30 next year and I prefer to call it evolving rather than aging š
I flat out call it “winning”, myself.
Totally get this. I started mine when I was a complete mess. I have “I make bad decisions” in my header.
And that’s not true. It’s fun to be funny and self-deprecating. But we also need to give ourselves permission to be human. To be us.
You’re figuring it out faster than I did. Which is awesome.
A fellow student of the human condition! Keep on sharing and don’t let thirty get you down, as forty wasn’t as bad as I thought it be.
Congratulations Katherine. We out here have known for some time that you are not a disaster. You are a talented, multi faceted (why does auto correct want that to be face teddy? what is a face teddy?), caring human being. And I appreciate your communication skills and would likely also appreciate your designing talents.
Best to you.
Kay
Thanks for acknowledging your capable, successful self! It takes courage to step away from the dysfunctional pack and admit things are going well…and the world is hungry for your insightful posts on meatier matters.
I’m really impressed with your choice of matters to write about. Really significant stuff.
You think you’ve got it bad, if my housemate leaves then my blog title will become factually inaccurate! My housemate will no longer be a mermaid! In preparation for if this moment ever arises I plan to stash piles of chocolate, alcohol and seaweed (mermaids dig that stuff right?) which I will use to lure her back, hopefully, forever.
You think youāve got it bad, if my housemate leaves then my blog title will become factually inaccurate! My housemate will no longer be a mermaid! In preparation for if this moment ever arises I plan to stash piles of chocolate, alcohol and seaweed (mermaids dig that stuff right?) which I will use to lure her back, hopefully, forever. (http://wp.me/5kuli)
I both like where you’ve been, and where you’re going. Happy (way early) birthday! š
Disaster is pretty harsh… Like the earthquakes in Nepal are disasters. I have trouble imagining that at your worst you were a DISASTER. Please TRAINWRECK for your 3rd decade hiccups? Much smaller magnitude of scale.
š
Love this. Life gets better. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m in my early twenties and the thought of living through this decade is kind of daunting to tell you the truth…especially since I’ve heard all these things about how your twenties aren’t easy as TV makes them out to be. And such. Thank you for sharing your thought process in deleting your tagline. In doing so, you’ve relayed an important message.
I’m fourty…yeah i know…but still feels like twentysomething…
You’re welcome. Thank you for the entertainment and thought provoking pieces š I’m almost half-way through my thirties. It’s a good decade to be in.
Darling, you were never a disaster. Ever. Nor could you be. Ever.
Love this post, and your writingā¦so much so that I have nominated you for the Liebster Award ā you officially get to answer a bunch of questions and do a lot of copying and pasting. ā But seriously, love your work
https://thegirlwhocantsitstill.wordpress.com/2015/05/15/im-a-winner-i-think/
Love this š love you and your blog!
Great post. I’ll be 48 this summer and I’m still figuring it out. In fact, anyone who says they’ve finally got it all figured out is flat out lying. You only stop learning when you’re dead. Keep writing, the world needs more of what you have to offer.
This was such a great post, I love following your blog!
Word, sister.
This post be like:
š
No but seriously, word.
Read your blog for the very first time as I am new here. You seem to be an amazing woman. I will turn 20 in October. Yay! I love how you write your mind out. I’m trying to do so, too. But, guess I’m not really good with words.
You know you’re in a good place in life when you can laugh at what would have made you mad in the past.
Stumbled in…and glad I did š neat read.
I love your writing! Very relatable. Please check out my new blog, takingboston.me
Well, if I were to change the title of your blog, I would call it “I’m totally telling my Mom about this blog” because that’s exactly what I did, last time I was home (specifically about the hate speech posters on the buses and the riots in Baltimore). Of course, I didn’t have her actually read it… because of all the cuss words.
If you found your 20s to be messy, your 30s are better, and I am happily approaching my 40s with a great deal of delight.
Maybe just maybe we will be able to write something altogether. Ego talking again. You have mastered prose and words just flow. I have to wait to see it in person. Smiles…