We are listening to *THAT* album these days, right?
In my-not-Swifties-but-still-Swifties circles – and this early in the listening experience – one line is cracking through voice and text messages:
“I’m pissed off you let me give you all that youth for free.” – So Long London
Our ages range from under 25 to older than 70 and we are all identifying with this line, just 13 words.
Because we all have a hurtful experience that we gave our youth for free. And it stays with us.
For me, it is the years that I worked too hard, without building friendships. I gave so much youthful energy and purpose to overworking that I excluded actual friendship-building.
I don’t regret the career I built. I am sad at the friendships and friend-moments that I missed because I gave that youth away.
That’s me but my community members are sharing their own:
–> Many are sharing about early relationships and marriages.
–> Others about toxic bosses and underpayment.
–> A few about struggling with school debt and irresponsible adults.
–> One man shared the people and love he lost to the anger he was taught was what a “being a man” meant.
–> One woman shared her lost years because health professionals refused to help her through perimenopause suffering.
The beauty is that we are connecting, with the vulnerability that heals.
The tragedy is that we are all connecting because we all gave away a form of youth.
The good news is that this moment is still a moment of youth. We all still get to choose how we gift and use the youth we still hold. And we all still hold youth.
This made me think about this beautiful, vulnerable podcast conversation I had as a guest on the Queens of Tech podcast today.
In this conversation, and using different words, I share stories about giving away and also claiming “youth” that are vulnerable and specific. In fact, I shared two experiences that I have never shared anywhere else.
I talk about being underpaid, burnt out, sexually harassed, and failing incredibly publicly. I also share loving mentors, moments of joy, and my deeply held values and beliefs.
Because, yes, I did give away youth for free. Then I turned the youth into wealth.
In fact, I’m doing it still today for myself and also helping my clients make powerful choices for themselves and their Brave Careers.