#howdidaginghityouchallenge

[larryburb]

Jerry Berry from his first night in our home and last week. 2009 vs 2019 Still handsome #howdidaginghityouchallenge https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsj4CLEFOAW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=lz54cqqpk4q0

[illness-to-wellness]

Happy selfie Saturday! (I’m the one on the back left.)

Have y’all seen the #howdidaginghityou challenge that’s been going around on Facebook? I’ve been uncomfortable about it, and I realized why: it’s all about the external. It’s instagram-worthy because it shows you a perfect picture of an imperfect life, but nobody talks about the imperfections - they just focus on the glittery images of the lives they want others to believe they’re leading.

Let’s talk about imperfections. Let’s talk about growth.

My version of participating in the aging challenge from the late 2000s to now is just posting this one photo. I don't care nearly at all about how my appearance has changed; I care about how my interior self has divinely, marvelously transformed. I've gone from scared to courageous, nearly hopeless to wildly hopeful, lonely to surrounded by more love than I can understand, struggling for joy to experiencing and creating more joy than I ever could have dreamed.

I am so, so different from who I was then.

I think my teenage self would be horrified by who I've become, and if I could, I would hug her and tell her that she doesn't have to be scared to let go. That she won't just survive the change; she will live more freely because of it. That she will flourish when she begins to let go of the shame she's been carrying. That someday, she just might become someone who can laugh at her own mistakes and decide each day to be real rather than try to be perfect and keep up a carefully-curated façade. Someone who doesn't care about having just the right resume or the highest GPA. Someone who puts people and relationships, rather than work and prestige, first. Someone who knows her values and lives by them rather than subordinating them in order to succeed by others' standards.

It doesn't mean I don't still struggle with perfectionism - I do, and I do often. I have a lot of moments that trigger the reaction of a hurt and frightened teenager, and it can be hard for me to face them - and her - with compassion. But I'm getting better at embracing my younger self, as well as silencing the thoughts and living rather than just surviving instead. Who I am in this photo is who I'm becoming and who I always want to be - someone who's willing to make art, even though it's not the thing I'm most skilled at. (The painting in the front of the photo is most definitely not mine. Shoutout to my friend for being so cool and talented). Mine is just a background right now, and I definitely accidentally stepped on it and snort-laughed because it had little toe imprints, but someday, it'll have stars and a quote on it. It's in progress, just like me.

[aleechea]

How hard did age hit me? I'm aging gracefully. Six years and a dog later 😆...

[larryburb]

Winny old girl 2009 vs 2019 😆 #howdidaginghityouchallenge https://www.instagram.com/p/BsjqTs8l--a/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12dm1c65ska84

[topchoixe]

#tenyearchallenge #blackdontcrack #thankallahformyyouth #howdidaginghityouchallenge #agingchallenge #agingwell #TheyDontKnowImDope #nolove #SupportThaMusicEnforceThaMovement #GaminThaWorld #GTW #TopChoixe #RapLinesMatter #AtlanticCity #LasVegas #LasVegasstrip #realrap #unsigned https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs_3ps8g_I_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1jz3bgcpw5b5x

[topchoixe]

#nowandthen #tenyearchallenge #blackdontcrack #thankallahformyyouth #howdidaginghityouchallenge #agingchallenge #agingwell #TheyDontKnowImDope #nolove #disloyalbitch #dopemusic #igotbars #ireallyrap #fwm #retweet #@yafavoriterapper #therealatlanticcity #thefremontexperience #Fremont #thatrap #thestrip #cashout #TopChoixe #dolo #gottacatchemall #gottacatchemallpokemon #vans #Eagles #la #allgrey #wohler #samewatch #Repost #hiphop #AppleMusic #unsigned #realartists #musicmatters #LoveOption #lasvegas #gunsofboom #levelup #facebookfriends #Facebook #doom #videogames #gamer #transformers #80sbaby #fps #firstpersonshooter #goodgame #Newlevel #odin #odinassaultrifle #getsome #SupportThaMusicEnforceThaMovement https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs_2ZTRAiPApXae30jiF7gmleQloNM1ZabUiqc0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zb6jfs7l1uoq

[findingmimo]

I was supposed to join the bandwagon and do that #howdidaginghityouchallenge over the weekend. So, I tried looking for a picture of me 10 years ago but before even reaching 2009, I stumbled upon this photo of mine. Then, it made me decide to humble myself, look back and feel the true essence of the challenge instead of posting a comparative picture of myself. Parang sa itsura ko, andaming pinagdaanan nakuha ko pa yung magayos na parang walang ayos. Hahaha. Chaka. So Life, bring it on! 😁👌 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs5OdqPnKam/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=glodv4bt7ev2

[gordysee]

#howdidaginghityouchallenge 1999 Las Vegas 2019 Bangkok https://www.instagram.com/p/BswhVsSFyYz/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=11lk7wkdxkd1d