I wasn’t planning for my first podcast episode to start like this, but here we are. My goal is simple: to be real and authentic. I’ve wanted to do a podcast for a long time, and I finally just said, “Screw it, I’m posting it.” It’s not perfect, but it comes from a place of truth, and that’s all that matters. Hi everyone! I hope you enjoy this video/audio of me brain-dumping after a conversation I had with my family recently. This episode is completely unscripted and off the cuff, just my thoughts coming to the surface. I’ve noticed this is when my best ideas and discoveries come to me, when I’m not prepared. My twin brother and I are both in our early 20s, and we always talk about how pivotal and important this time of life is. It’s so easy to follow society because that’s what everyone else is doing, and it’s hard not to stay on the same path. I’ve found my 20s to be very isolating and lonely at times. For most of my 20s, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I graduated college in 2024 and started working a corporate job in insurance… not exactly what I planned for myself. And while I was grateful for the opportunity and the experience, I also gained a lot of wisdom stepping into the “real world.” To be honest, I didn’t really like what I saw. I started struggling with my health while working that job, and I was newly sober. I never had a problem with alcohol, but I used it as a coping mechanism throughout college, either to “bring out myself and have fun” or to suppress uncomfortable emotions that were coming to the surface. So when I graduated and entered the workforce, I felt incredibly lost and confused. I was working a job I didn’t enjoy at all, and at the same time, I was forced to sit with myself in a way I never had before. In saying all of this, that season is what led me to find my purpose and my passion. I’ve always loved fitness and wellness, so I started doing endless amounts of research on my health and eventually stumbled across holistic health. Not only did it fascinate me, but it also helped heal multiple health conditions I was dealing with at the time. And I will say, it did not happen overnight. It took a lot of time and patience to truly uncover the root cause of what was going on within me. I’ll share more about that another time. In the video I posted, I talked about how your 20s are your “freedom era.” You have the freedom to discover yourself and truly figure out what you want to do with your life. Self-discovery in your 20s is crucial, and it will shape the rest of your life. I’m not saying self-discovery happens overnight. It’s something we do our whole lives. But I truly believe your 20s are where it begins. This is your freedom era!! This time is where you’re allowed to be lost, to try things, to change your mind, and to listen to yourself instead of the noise around you. Because our world is FULL of it now. Your 20s aren’t meant to be perfect. They’re meant to be honest. Honest about what feels right, what doesn’t, and who you’re becoming. I don’t want to wake up one day and realize I lived my life based on someone else’s timeline. I want to use this season to understand myself so I can create a life that actually feels like mine. I hope my story was able to inspire yours. With love, Chloe Get full access to Aligned with Chloe at chloemarshallcoaching.substack.com/subscribe
