Your twenties are about exploring, learning, making mistakes, taking risks, learning from past lessons and collecting data. My twenties were all about that and more. It was a journey starting at 20 in journalism school and ending at 29 still figuring things out. It’s been a journey full of wins, losses, opportunities and missed opportunities. It was based on my own circumstances like being born of a single parent home, being a person of colour, having a learning disability and struggling to make it as an adult. My twenties are so not normal and I have decided to call it untraditional living. It’s okay not to have it all. Social media has helped me realize that I can make it later in life. That’s my plan and it can happen on my own terms. So, in my twenties, it was a process that I couldn’t help but love and hate. It’s not easy being in your twenties when the industry starts to shift and the world becomes unaffordable. 

Being in your early twenties is not knowing anything. I was walking blind and going through the motions. I had to face this head-on with no landing pad. It was good and bad experiences as a first child in your family. There is nothing easy about getting older. I had to experience everything first. I spent all of my early twenties in college. College students were identity and I lived in a bubble for six years. I was ready to leave but I wasn’t ready for the real world. I left college with no plans which is my regret. 

A shift occurs when you reach 26 years old. I worked full-time in a job that wasn't in my field I worked for uniform people aka Cintas. I broke me down and changed me. I wasn't the same person anymore. I felt like my adult decision was to quit my job with no plans. I only have $200 and a $542 paycheck coming next week. It's the first time I've felt so down, lost, and worried about money. I was completely lost. The years haven't changed that much for me. I did an employment program, worked for three months then let go, home for months, then a fashion exchange and 2025 is the same thing again but this time I had to job search for eight months on and off. Being stripped of your lifestyle, dreams, and goals, going outside and having your money will change you. Now it’s the end of the year. It’s time to turn 30 now.

The last few years in your twenties were not fun. Through this process, I have gained a deeper understanding of who I am, what I need, what I want, how to function, and much more. It's time to get rid of the girl I used to be. My former self is gone. I can't her with me. I will always remember her but she's gone forever. It's not easy to adulting in Canada and so I unsubscribe at 29. I will focus on investing in me for the next two years. My window is shorter because of relationships and kids. I want to experience everything. I'm no longer as young as I used to be. I'm an adult now. The deeper I get the more work I have to do. I'm officially joining the 30+ women's club. After everything, I'm ready for something new. 

• Thursday, November 13, 2025
• Bree-Ann's novel
• No comments

"My 20s: A Retrospective": Reflection on the Past Decade (Your 20s)

Your twenties are about exploring, learning, making mistakes, taking risks, learning from past lessons and collecting data. My twenties were all about that and more. It was a journey starting at 20 in journalism school and ending at 29 still figuring things out. It’s been a journey full of wins, losses, opportunities and missed opportunities. It was based on my own circumstances like being born of a single parent home, being a person of colour, having a learning disability and struggling to make it as an adult. My twenties are so not normal and I have decided to call it untraditional living. It’s okay not to have it all. Social media has helped me realize that I can make it later in life. That’s my plan and it can happen on my own terms. So, in my twenties, it was a process that I couldn’t help but love and hate. It’s not easy being in your twenties when the industry starts to shift and the world becomes unaffordable. 

Being in your early twenties is not knowing anything. I was walking blind and going through the motions. I had to face this head-on with no landing pad. It was good and bad experiences as a first child in your family. There is nothing easy about getting older. I had to experience everything first. I spent all of my early twenties in college. College students were identity and I lived in a bubble for six years. I was ready to leave but I wasn’t ready for the real world. I left college with no plans which is my regret. 

A shift occurs when you reach 26 years old. I worked full-time in a job that wasn't in my field I worked for uniform people aka Cintas. I broke me down and changed me. I wasn't the same person anymore. I felt like my adult decision was to quit my job with no plans. I only have $200 and a $542 paycheck coming next week. It's the first time I've felt so down, lost, and worried about money. I was completely lost. The years haven't changed that much for me. I did an employment program, worked for three months then let go, home for months, then a fashion exchange and 2025 is the same thing again but this time I had to job search for eight months on and off. Being stripped of your lifestyle, dreams, and goals, going outside and having your money will change you. Now it’s the end of the year. It’s time to turn 30 now.

The last few years in your twenties were not fun. Through this process, I have gained a deeper understanding of who I am, what I need, what I want, how to function, and much more. It's time to get rid of the girl I used to be. My former self is gone. I can't her with me. I will always remember her but she's gone forever. It's not easy to adulting in Canada and so I unsubscribe at 29. I will focus on investing in me for the next two years. My window is shorter because of relationships and kids. I want to experience everything. I'm no longer as young as I used to be. I'm an adult now. The deeper I get the more work I have to do. I'm officially joining the 30+ women's club. After everything, I'm ready for something new. 

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DOCUMENTING MY TWENTIES

The twenties are officially over and it’s time to reflect on who I was at 20 to 29 years old. It took me a long time to reach the point where I value daily self-education from someone who knew nothing. I remember being twenty years old and going to class the next day. I’m twenty-nine years old right now. My twenties was successful based on my values in life. I will never know how hard it is to be a Canadian citizen and a black woman. It is hard to make it in Canada. At the end of my twenties, I had some time and the opportunity to figure out what I wanted in life. I was broken in my twenties and I have no shame right now. I'm not blissed by experiencing those things. Fast forward 9 years later! I’m negotiating a new phase in my life. My age is starting to catch up with me, and I'm still trying to figure things out. I don’t have it all together but I’m enjoying the small moments in my adulthood lifestyle. It was untraditional and I’m not following the rules anymore. It's time to create my own playbook. 

• Wednesday, November 12, 2025
• Bree's personal journals
• No comments

Documenting The Evolution of Me: From 20 to 29": A photo series of Bree-Ann's twenties

DOCUMENTING MY TWENTIES

The twenties are officially over and it’s time to reflect on who I was at 20 to 29 years old. It took me a long time to reach the point where I value daily self-education from someone who knew nothing. I remember being twenty years old and going to class the next day. I’m twenty-nine years old right now. My twenties was successful based on my values in life. I will never know how hard it is to be a Canadian citizen and a black woman. It is hard to make it in Canada. At the end of my twenties, I had some time and the opportunity to figure out what I wanted in life. I was broken in my twenties and I have no shame right now. I'm not blissed by experiencing those things. Fast forward 9 years later! I’m negotiating a new phase in my life. My age is starting to catch up with me, and I'm still trying to figure things out. I don’t have it all together but I’m enjoying the small moments in my adulthood lifestyle. It was untraditional and I’m not following the rules anymore. It's time to create my own playbook. 

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Dear, Bree-Ann Gittens

It was so nice to meet you again. It’s been a while. I’m currently on the subway after Saturday class. I feel ready today to write this letter. This is me before 30 and a new chapter is coming and I'm doing some groundwork. I’m still doing the work and I see it differently. I was born different and my timeline isn't like everyone else but that's okay. My life is a series of phases, rebranding and changing every year. You are more than a single person, having no career, not financially stable and an uncertain future. The work you’re doing will benefit you. It is going to take time, but I hope to have results by the time I am 37. I am so capable of doing so much more and I can do anything that serves me. You better continue with yourself out there and never stop. It’s where we find growth.
This is where I see you as a happy and complete woman. My wish for you is that you are happy and that you find happiness. There were many ups and downs on this journey, but it was a journey of daily living. I want this to end the career hunt and the uncertainty. I never had them together in my twenties. I want you in your thirties so you can stop fighting the same battle. It's not easy but I believe in you. It's never been easy for us.
Your adulthood is unconventional and so beautiful. Our journey and life are busy ones. We do a lot of things and we never will wait again. This is for you as I sit there watching the news on another day. I know it's better for us. I really want us to have it all on our own terms. Never lose sight of the plot again. We know what we want now at 29. Let's make this happen right now and every day. I know you archived it. As a complete woman, I will let you take over and I hope this happens. You finished exploding and are ready to be an adult woman over 37 years old. Our end game is having a child of my own. As far as dating goes, I'll see where it leads in the future. I know that you had the career you dreamed of. Thank you.

I will always bet on you. 

From Bree-Ann Gittens, 29 

LOVE, BREE 
XOXO

• Tuesday, November 11, 2025
• Bree-Ann's novel
• No comments

Dear Future: I am writing to myself in the future & what I would tell my future self

Dear, Bree-Ann Gittens

It was so nice to meet you again. It’s been a while. I’m currently on the subway after Saturday class. I feel ready today to write this letter. This is me before 30 and a new chapter is coming and I'm doing some groundwork. I’m still doing the work and I see it differently. I was born different and my timeline isn't like everyone else but that's okay. My life is a series of phases, rebranding and changing every year. You are more than a single person, having no career, not financially stable and an uncertain future. The work you’re doing will benefit you. It is going to take time, but I hope to have results by the time I am 37. I am so capable of doing so much more and I can do anything that serves me. You better continue with yourself out there and never stop. It’s where we find growth.
This is where I see you as a happy and complete woman. My wish for you is that you are happy and that you find happiness. There were many ups and downs on this journey, but it was a journey of daily living. I want this to end the career hunt and the uncertainty. I never had them together in my twenties. I want you in your thirties so you can stop fighting the same battle. It's not easy but I believe in you. It's never been easy for us.
Your adulthood is unconventional and so beautiful. Our journey and life are busy ones. We do a lot of things and we never will wait again. This is for you as I sit there watching the news on another day. I know it's better for us. I really want us to have it all on our own terms. Never lose sight of the plot again. We know what we want now at 29. Let's make this happen right now and every day. I know you archived it. As a complete woman, I will let you take over and I hope this happens. You finished exploding and are ready to be an adult woman over 37 years old. Our end game is having a child of my own. As far as dating goes, I'll see where it leads in the future. I know that you had the career you dreamed of. Thank you.

I will always bet on you. 

From Bree-Ann Gittens, 29 

LOVE, BREE 
XOXO

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29 lessons by 29

1. Stop waiting to live your life.

2. During your twenties, it is important to collect data

3. Self-development is the key to growth

4. Make life experience a priority

5. Fall in love with yourself

6. Say yes to the opportunities.

7. Say no to what doesn't serve you

8. Explode your sexuality

9. Learn what makes you tick sexually

10. Practice safe intercourse

11. Don't be nice anymore but be selective about how you use it

12. A woman must be able to earn her own income

13. Learn about money management

14. Make real sacrifice for your future

15. Believe in yourself

16. Don't worry too much

17. Don't take things so personally

18. Boys/men are a lot of work

19. Romantic relationships are easy for some and painful and different for others

20. Date yourself like a real relationship.

21. Spend time alone: solo dates

22. Dreams come to wish list

23. Get over Society pressures

24. Unsubscribe from today's society

25. Follow are on my path and don't look at others

26. You are enough for yourself which makes you a winner

27. Keep trying every day.

28. Real world hates you

29. Nobody don't cares about you except the people who know

• Thursday, November 06, 2025
• Bree-Ann's novel
• No comments

29 lessons from 29 years of experience

29 lessons by 29

1. Stop waiting to live your life.

2. During your twenties, it is important to collect data

3. Self-development is the key to growth

4. Make life experience a priority

5. Fall in love with yourself

6. Say yes to the opportunities.

7. Say no to what doesn't serve you

8. Explode your sexuality

9. Learn what makes you tick sexually

10. Practice safe intercourse

11. Don't be nice anymore but be selective about how you use it

12. A woman must be able to earn her own income

13. Learn about money management

14. Make real sacrifice for your future

15. Believe in yourself

16. Don't worry too much

17. Don't take things so personally

18. Boys/men are a lot of work

19. Romantic relationships are easy for some and painful and different for others

20. Date yourself like a real relationship.

21. Spend time alone: solo dates

22. Dreams come to wish list

23. Get over Society pressures

24. Unsubscribe from today's society

25. Follow are on my path and don't look at others

26. You are enough for yourself which makes you a winner

27. Keep trying every day.

28. Real world hates you

29. Nobody don't cares about you except the people who know

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The feeling of grieving my youth is real. It’s weird that people my age are real adults and I’m still holding on to my youth. I’m grieving for my youth right now. It’s so hard to lose your youth when it is your identity. It was something you could hold on to. Being twentysomething was status. Now it doesn’t hit right anymore to use my youth. You can’t be your 20 year old self again. Your youth is like a shield, when you make mistakes, that's when you use it. It's time to move on to a new chapter, and the youth you had will not be able to accompany you. There’s a new change in your life and adult responsibilities will always be there. As the youngest millennials, we are turning 30, and that's when your youth leaves you.

The Exploding phase is over. I can’t use it anymore. I’m just twentysomething that just exploded. It’s officially over now because exploding is in your twenties not in your thirties. It’s time to get deeper into adulthood and start building. I mean by building is your career, financially, housing, travelling, relationships, living your everyday life and figuring things out for yourself.

Being thirty is like going deeper into adulthood. You will be an adult with adult responsibilities. It’s different for everyone in today’s climate. We live in the most unaffordable society in history. Where paying now and later is taking over and it’s causing you to own nothing. More subscriptions and less ownership are going to be normal. Adulting is tough when the world is only getting more expensive. Being an adult is more difficult than ever, so not having it all figured out before 30 is okay. You can start again or make it up in your 40s, 50s, or 60s.

There is no longer any trace of your old self. Your thirties mark a new chapter in your life. You are young again. You're now 30 years old, which means you’re young again. Now you can watch TikTok stories of people in their 30s with a new outlook. As a result, you feel better about this chapter. Social media can make you feel less alone with your problems sometimes. Your life is a series of challenges, obstacles and adventures that can lead to success on your own terms. Goodbye youth, hello to a new playbook designed for you. It is important to keep trying, following your heart and doing the work on your own.
IT'S NOT OVER, IT'S DIFFERENT NOW. 

• Wednesday, November 05, 2025
• From the editor
• No comments

Grieving your youth

The feeling of grieving my youth is real. It’s weird that people my age are real adults and I’m still holding on to my youth. I’m grieving for my youth right now. It’s so hard to lose your youth when it is your identity. It was something you could hold on to. Being twentysomething was status. Now it doesn’t hit right anymore to use my youth. You can’t be your 20 year old self again. Your youth is like a shield, when you make mistakes, that's when you use it. It's time to move on to a new chapter, and the youth you had will not be able to accompany you. There’s a new change in your life and adult responsibilities will always be there. As the youngest millennials, we are turning 30, and that's when your youth leaves you.

The Exploding phase is over. I can’t use it anymore. I’m just twentysomething that just exploded. It’s officially over now because exploding is in your twenties not in your thirties. It’s time to get deeper into adulthood and start building. I mean by building is your career, financially, housing, travelling, relationships, living your everyday life and figuring things out for yourself.

Being thirty is like going deeper into adulthood. You will be an adult with adult responsibilities. It’s different for everyone in today’s climate. We live in the most unaffordable society in history. Where paying now and later is taking over and it’s causing you to own nothing. More subscriptions and less ownership are going to be normal. Adulting is tough when the world is only getting more expensive. Being an adult is more difficult than ever, so not having it all figured out before 30 is okay. You can start again or make it up in your 40s, 50s, or 60s.

There is no longer any trace of your old self. Your thirties mark a new chapter in your life. You are young again. You're now 30 years old, which means you’re young again. Now you can watch TikTok stories of people in their 30s with a new outlook. As a result, you feel better about this chapter. Social media can make you feel less alone with your problems sometimes. Your life is a series of challenges, obstacles and adventures that can lead to success on your own terms. Goodbye youth, hello to a new playbook designed for you. It is important to keep trying, following your heart and doing the work on your own.
IT'S NOT OVER, IT'S DIFFERENT NOW. 

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A timeline of what it's like to age in your 20's: Bree-Ann Gittens

20 - Starting my first semester at Centennial College. Failed one course after struggling to adapt to college life. 

21 - Behind in college due to not passing one course - new classmates and retake two classes.

22 - Started news lab at Centennial College's Journalism program for two semesters

23 - Fall semester, failed a group project course. Multiple problems happen during the four months. 

24- Off time from college - Doing a recovery class for failed course, joined an employment agency program - Fall 2019 - My first internship, The Bluff Monitor.  

25 - Post- Centennial College plans - Fashion school at George Brown College - first working in my twenties - broke into warehouse industry. 

26- Finish fashion school - no post-college plans - Start my own studio and failed - Landed my first full-time job not in my field 

27 - Quit my job - spiritual and self-improvement journey - Paid employment program - Launch Miss Well Energetic

28 - Went on my first date and my first hookup. First heartbreak and healing process. Going back to school for the fast track fashion program

29 - Jobless in 2025 - 8 months job search - Back to fashion exchange again for production experience. Letting go of the past situations and healing. Relaunch my studio and started a fashion creation startup. Working on myself and getting ready for 30. 

• Tuesday, November 04, 2025
• Bree's personal journals
• No comments

Getting older in your 20s - my timeline for aging in your 20s

A timeline of what it's like to age in your 20's: Bree-Ann Gittens

20 - Starting my first semester at Centennial College. Failed one course after struggling to adapt to college life. 

21 - Behind in college due to not passing one course - new classmates and retake two classes.

22 - Started news lab at Centennial College's Journalism program for two semesters

23 - Fall semester, failed a group project course. Multiple problems happen during the four months. 

24- Off time from college - Doing a recovery class for failed course, joined an employment agency program - Fall 2019 - My first internship, The Bluff Monitor.  

25 - Post- Centennial College plans - Fashion school at George Brown College - first working in my twenties - broke into warehouse industry. 

26- Finish fashion school - no post-college plans - Start my own studio and failed - Landed my first full-time job not in my field 

27 - Quit my job - spiritual and self-improvement journey - Paid employment program - Launch Miss Well Energetic

28 - Went on my first date and my first hookup. First heartbreak and healing process. Going back to school for the fast track fashion program

29 - Jobless in 2025 - 8 months job search - Back to fashion exchange again for production experience. Letting go of the past situations and healing. Relaunch my studio and started a fashion creation startup. Working on myself and getting ready for 30. 

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