Dear Kia Imani: Big Risks, Big Rewards
Dear Kia Imani,
You are 25. A quarter of a century. You’re closer to 30 than you are to 20 and that’s really wild. LOL. I’m not sure when you got here but…alas. Here we are. While there’s a lot I want to tell you as you embark on this new year, I’ll keep this fairly brief.
The last few month of 24 were equivalent to a low budgets Insecure episode. It’s not what you had in mind at all. Like, almost everything happened the complete opposite in which you had planned. And while everything felt like a world of confusion, I want to commend you for handling situations with grace and immeasurable consideration. You have a unique way of not letting situations taint who you are at your core and it’s beyond admirable. I pray that you continue that in your new year and beyond.
In addition to all that you have accomplished in life, I’m really proud of all the big girl moves you made in 24. You gave love a try. You wore the hell out of some red lipstick. You traveled a lot. You allowed God to push you with Her Humble Abode. All of these things required you to take a risk and you did. In 25, I encourage you to take bigger risks. Risks that are going to push you further out of your comfort zone and risks that are going to challenge you just a little big more. Bigger risks often reap bigger rewards. Go bigger, Kia.
I really don’t want to make this too long but there are a few more things I want you to keep in mind as you enter 25:
I need you to be a little nicer to yourself and little more forgiving of yourself. You’re often frustrated at yourself for situations that literally require trial and error. If you try something and it doesn’t work, just don’t do it again. Try another route. Easier said than done but being frustrated at yourself is only a disservice to your journey. You have to learn to do things the "Kia Way” and those lessons are only going to come with life experiences. Good and bad.
You know all too well the power of writing things into existence. I want you to write the vision a little more. Write your thoughts. Write your ideas. Write the worries of your heart. Write it all down and watch what happens.
I need you to make time with God a daily priority. Yes you pray each and every day but I want you to devote time solely for God instead of squeezing it in when you “get a moment.” Imagine if God squeezed you in to his busy schedule and answered your prayers when it was convenient for him….we’d be in big trouble.
I have a lot of faith in your words and your ability to pour into others. Do more of that in this year and beyond. Continue to utilize your power with words and motivation to impact the lives of those around you.
Keep going to therapy. You need it.
Keep loving and most importantly, keep allowing people to love on you.
I promise everything will work out exactly as it should and I pray you have so much peace when it does. Literally, God bless these 20-somethings.
With love and BIG hugs,
Kia Imani
