We asked folks a question that led to many surprising answers – some sad, some thought-provoking and some funny. We’ve highlighted a cross section of those responses below.
Ryan Stock
Growing up in the Midwest was fantastic—I don’t think I would change anything about it if I had the choice. That being said, growing up as a child in a smaller community can create a certain mindset about what living a successful life means and how success is defined. Read more>>
Joelle Garfinkel
When I was a kid, I was told my sensitivity was a weakness and now I know it’s a superpower. That same sensitivity has connected me as an artist and educator, and has allowed empathy in social situations. Change doesn’t always come from the loudest person in the room. Quiet actions are often the most effective. Read more>>
Ben Nurhaci Lu
When I was little, I believed that grown-ups had already conquered all their shortcomings—that once you became an adult, you had it all figured out. I couldn’t wait to grow up and reach that place. But over time I realized that’s not the case at all—adults have their own struggles and imperfections too. Read more>>
Shelby St.clair|
As a child, I believed that love and acceptance were conditional. That I had to follow the rules, do things the way others told me to, and stay quiet to belong. I grew up feeling like I could be seen but not heard, and that my emotions had no place in the room. Today, I no longer believe that. Read more>>
CRISTINA TUDOR
Something I believed about myself as a child that I no longer believe is that art is not enough to make a living. Growing up, I was day dreaming a lot, and my school notebooks were filled with fashion sketches and princesses in elaborate gowns, tiaras and shoes, all mixed in with my class notes. Read more>>
Cora Mickael
As a child, I believed my body and my voice weren’t safe, that they had to be controlled, quieted and reshaped in order to be lovable, acceptable, allowed. I didn’t have language for it back then. I just knew that to survive, I had to perform. So I twisted myself to fit. Read more>>
Jordan Ashley
Growing up in Santa Monica, California, during the 2000s, yoga studios were everywhere, impossible to overlook. My first encounter with yoga came around age ten, when I attended classes with my mother. It was supposed to be bonding time after my parents’ divorce, but for me, it felt awkward and uncomfortable. I was shy and struggled to keep up. Read more>>
ABHILASHA FNU
As a child, I didn’t see myself as resilient. I would get upset easily and sometimes sulk for days over a memory, a place, a person, or an idea I was attached to. Over time, through life experiences and self-reflection, I realized that life is a blessing and the only moment we truly have is the present. Read more>>
rahul nath
I really thought life was what you were told that it was and that dreams were just that – dreams! But as my life had it, some really strong higher power showed me that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Read more>>
Christian Zezza
My relationship with making mistakes and the need to please others are probably the two main areas where I feel different these days. I’ve come to see that making mistakes is part of the journey—and most of the time, they lead to new opportunities and open doors you never imagined possible. Read more>>
Derek Kwan
I cared so much what other people thought of me when I was a kid, and perhaps my biggest goal was really just to fit in. As I got older and wiser, I realized that to achieve anything at the highest levels, you cannot over-index on what other people think, especially those that love to criticize but never build. Read more>>
