Anyone on cusp of becoming ultimately knows it’s a time of transition. More or less, it’s a time when one embarks a new journey. Embracing all the twists and turns that comes along with navigating the intricacies of a new terrain. Being on the cusp of becoming can be both exhilarating and terrifying because it’s full of unknowns. Even so, the road ahead may create an exhausting amount of internal anxiety’s, it’s important to remember just how precious these moments are. Essentially, to see there in lies an opportunity for self-improvement.
“For me, becoming isn’t about arriving or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end.”
– Michelle Obama
The truth behind the First Lady’s statement is a powerful prose that is often forgotten. Upon turning 30, I thought I had finally come to be exactly who I was. Successfully but painstakingly overcoming all the obstacles of adulthood. During a moment of self reflection, I came to realize just how much I accomplished on the count of my own accord. In hindsight, the accomplishment was personal growth.
I moved 1000 miles away from home, kept a job, and a roof over my head, and repeatedly mended a broken heart without a sinister view of the future. I had acquired new tastes, refined my style and still wholeheartedly wanted to start a family someday. Plus the surety I felt with being completely comfortable in my own skin was a breath of fresh air. Looking back on my twenties, I was proud of the woman I had become. At last, I thought. I am whole, I am woman, I am myself. Until myself met Motherhood. What a slap in the face.
Me: Wait, I had this all figured out
– A Conversation With Life
Life: Pssshhhhhhhhhahahahaha
On The cusp of becoming, Life decided it hadn’t had enough of me. It wanted me to see multitudes of motherhood. Which at times is an excruciating yet ever so enlightening experience. Most of the time it’s rewarding, but the reality of it all can be quite an eye opener. Society makes motherhood seem like the smell of fresh laundry and being wrapped with warm fuzzy blankets while sipping hot cocoa on a cold winters night.
Although, the truth is very different. It’s extremely complex and there’s a tendency to constantly be at war with yourself. Better yet, to continuously perform a juggling act. Forever trying to master the wearing of multiple hats and meeting the daily demands with immense precision. Every mother out there, whether they’ll let you know it or not, I’m sure will all agree.
There is no specific age or moment when someone can honestly say “I have it all figured out.” It’s not about reaching a certain age or milestone, but rather having and maintaining a healthy, mature mindset. The moment you think you have it all figured out, suddenly you realize you don’t. It’s the moment when you stop pretending to know everything and start admitting that you have a lot to learn. It’s when you become humble enough to be honest with yourself and do whatever it takes to improve.
“The moment you think you have it all figured out, suddenly you realize you don’t.”
This is a difficult transition for most because it requires admitting that you are not perfect. No one is. The cusp of becoming means giving up your ego and recognizing there’s need for growth and allowing yourself to be vulnerable. It means being able to handle all of life’s setbacks and difficult situations with grace and resilience. Mostly, in knowing that things won’t always go according to plan but that ultimately everything will work out in the end.
For some people, this awakening leads to a change in priorities and a newfound appreciation for what they have. Others may become obsessed with chasing new goals, never content with what they’ve achieved. It’s only after we come face-to-face with our limitations that we can start to push ourselves further than we ever thought possible.
While there is no life map ever set in stone, those who embrace these new stages of life will find that it brings about tremendous growth. Both inside and out. It’s a journey towards self-discovery. Ultimately, it’s the journey within itself that makes the cusp of becoming so rewarding.
