Thoughts Behind...

 The only person who knows you as you is yourself. You know your own quirks, your internal monologue, your guilty pleasures. What a shame that everybody misses out on your unique personality! Nobody likes to be called basic, but we all see everyone else apart from ourselves as basic. So, take a look at it, you're probably not as individualistic as you think.  A better self-introduction than most, our You Know/I know presents the most fun version of ourselves-- the specificities that make you you! Everyone has their own niche interests and preoccupations, and mine include any type of junk food, sustainability, and really groovy music that I can't sing along to. All these obscure topics of interest exist in each person, yet our default impression of people only consists of being quiet, boring, and lacking passion. I'm sorry if I offended you by being negative and saying you're not that unique. Instead, I mean to point out that we're all the same in the way that we...

In accordance with the 8+ age recommendation plastered on the side of the Game of Life box, we've been exposed to the "blueprint" ("Life Stories") of life since we were mere children. Our stages of life have been set out for us, with timestamps at the approximate ages of 5, 18, 22, 30, and 60.* It's so standard--this kind of thinking. And there's a reason for it. Obviously, these stages of life are traditional for most people, but they're also so tightly grasped onto because of the stability they provide for holders of this idea. It provides a clearer vision and comfort from the frightening mystery of the future.  Yet as we linger in each stage, we continuously look to what comes next. Personally, I've always admired those older than me and glorified their experiences. In comparison to their grand stories, my life always felt slightly less interesting-- always one step behind. And being exposed to what would soon be coming, I only had my thoughts...