By Myzzie Banks

Why does life in our twenties feel so messy, no matter how hard we try to pull it together?

Being a twenty-something in Boston can feel overwhelming. And if you’re a person of color, it can also feel isolating. We’re all trying to figure out who we are, build careers that matter, and navigate the ever-changing landscape of love, friendships, identity, and adulthood. At the same time, the world feels more uncertain by the day, making the future seem increasingly difficult to understand.

Eventually, we’re all forced to ask the same question:

How do I make the best of the life I’ve been given?

I’m Myzzie Banks, and welcome to The Myzzie Diaries, an ongoing life column chronicling the joys, heartbreaks, awkward moments, and unexpected lessons of navigating my twenties in Boston—New York City’s often-overlooked little sibling.

Before I became a writer, I was an artist. And before any of that, I’m a Black trans woman learning, growing, and discovering who I am. I began producing hip-hop and R&B music in 2019, and while music has given me more joy than I can put into words, I’ve always dreamed of exploring another creative outlet: writing.

My first inspiration came from Betty Suarez in Ugly Betty. I loved that she documented the triumphs and chaos of adulthood through her own blog. Later, friends constantly told me my life played out like a coming-of-age television series, and somewhere between those conversations and binge-watching Sex and the City, I finally found the courage to start writing.

You might think this is another Carrie Bradshaw-inspired column.

You’re not entirely wrong.

But if I’m being honest, I’m probably closer to Issa Dee from Insecure.

Life has an incredible way of reminding us that we are never as in control as we think we are. As someone who loves making plans, setting goals, and mapping out every detail, I’ve learned that life often has its own script. Usually, it arrives right on time to humble me.

Still…

Sometimes you have to do it for the plot.

Will it always work out?

Absolutely not.

Am I going to keep doing it anyway while I’m in my twenties?

Without question.

Because why the hell not?

Speaking of doing it for the plot, I was sitting at the front desk during my shift at the museum last week, scrolling through Threads between welcoming visitors, when I stumbled across an announcement seeking contributors for Mood Magazine NYC.

Something about it immediately caught my attention.

A publication dedicated to amplifying Black voices and celebrating communities of color felt like exactly the kind of space I’d been searching for. It wasn’t simply an opportunity to write—it was an opportunity to contribute to something bigger than myself.

Truthfully, I wasn’t sure anyone would even notice my application. After all, I live in Boston, not New York City.

But I figured, Why not?

The worst they could say was no.

So I submitted my application and left the rest to fate.

Then something unexpected happened.

I got the email.

I had been accepted.

Now, as a Founding Editorial Contributor for Mood Magazine NYC, I’m thrilled to bring The Myzzie Diaries to a new audience.

This column is part memoir, part comedy, part coming-of-age story, and completely honest. Together, we’ll navigate dating, friendships, career moves, identity, ambition, heartbreak, healing, and all the wonderfully messy moments that come with figuring life out one chapter at a time.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that none of us really has adulthood all figured out.

We’re all just trying to make the best of the lives we’ve been given.

So, welcome to The Myzzie Diaries.

I’m so glad you’re here.

Let’s do it for the plot.