Why Trying New Things Is the Point of Your 20s with Rylee Thompson

**Olivia Burnett** (0:00)
Rylee, welcome to Twenty Something.

**Rylee Thompson** (0:01)
Thank you.

**Olivia Burnett** (0:02)
I am so excited and grateful that you're here. You are beautiful inside and out, and I'm so excited for our conversation.
But for the person who is spending, you know, an hour or so with us today, what about their life and their mindset is going to change based on what we talk about?

**Rylee Thompson** (0:19)
Nothing is ever permanent in this life. If you don't like something or something's not serving you or making you happy, change it. And I'm excited to go more in-depth with that and how that has changed myself and my mindset.

**Olivia Burnett** (0:32)
I'm really excited. I mean, you are so successful for early on in your 20s and all of like your side hustles and things that you're doing. So I think it will be a very beneficial conversation.

**Rylee Thompson** (0:42)
Awesome. I'm excited.

**Olivia Burnett** (0:43)
Let's get into it.
Wait, are we recording?
Hey, it's Liv, and welcome back to Twenty Something. You know, I feel like your early twenties are this really weird mix of moments. Like, for example, you're sitting on your bed at night with your laptop open, tabs everywhere, job applications, a random business idea, maybe a podcast mic even sitting next to you. And you're kind of just staring at all like, what am I actually doing? Because on paper, you're doing what you're supposed to be doing. Maybe you have the job, you're trying for the side hustle, but at the same time, you have all these other ideas, things you want to try, things you feel pulled toward, things that you feel curious about, but just none of them feel fully stable yet. And it's confusing. I get it, because you don't know if you're being intentional or you're just kind of all over the place. And so today, we're going to talk about what it actually looks like to try things and to chase what you're interested in and what you're curious about and how to build something before you have it all figured out.
Today in the studio, I'm joined by Rylee Thompson, who I feel like really represents this phase of your 20s, where you're not just doing one thing, but you're exploring, you're creating, and you're building multiple paths at once. She's a digital creator, freelance model, and hairstylist, and her whole brand feels like a real time example of what it looks like to actually go after the things that you're curious in, even before you have it all figured out. I am so grateful that you're here, as always. I think this conversation is a really important one. So welcome back to Twenty Something. So Rylee, I would love to hear a little bit more. We talked previously about how you just love living in your twenties, and I think your excitement for it is contagious. Your attitude of trying so many new things, just being willing to put yourself out there. But it sounded like you didn't always have that kind of mentality about your twenties. So talk to me about what that was originally like.

**Rylee Thompson** (2:43)
Just growing up in high school and as a youth, it's hard. It's so hard just figuring out who you are and the kind of life you want to live and figuring out what do I want to do. And it's stressful. And I feel like in high school, that's where I struggled the most. And I kind of got stuck in this little bit of depression and anxiety. And it was really hard and really scary. And I feel like the more I've talked about it, the more I realized that it is so common.
And mental health is such a real thing. And it is hard to help someone if you really haven't experienced it. And just finding those outlets for help, going through those things, though, have made me the person I am today.
And it truly has shifted my perspective. I think I was so stuck in, oh, this is how I'm going to feel the rest of my life. And I'm stuck. And I would love to do all of these things, but those are so out of reach for me. And just being able to graduate high school and move to a new state and try a new job and just trying new things truly has opened my eyes and my mindset and shifted that perspective for me, which I'm so grateful for, because that's freaking hard to do. And props to anyone who who can get there. And I truly believe that every single person can. And just trying new things and putting yourself out there and just realizing there's so much more to life and out there in the world is so exciting and fun. And that truly has helped me become a happier version of myself. Each couple of the years, I've had different passions and dreams and goals. And I'm a big believer. Like if something is in your heart and you're excited about something, it is meant to be like go after that. There's a reason why you feel like that. And it's been so cool to just try new things as far as like I'm getting into cosmetology and beauty and then also health and wellness and just trying new things like that and following your passions truly allows you to grow into the best version of yourself.