Am I the only one who enjoys growing up and seeing what the world has to offer? We may lose innocence, but we gain true kindness, compassion, loyalty, honesty, maturity, information, skill, finesse, friendships and the beauty of the world around us. Like, seriously.
Being a grown up sucks. Sorry, but it does. Financial independence is great and all, but really it's the only saving grace. I'm still a young guy, I'm only 24, and I hate it.
In a heartbeat. I'd like to start over, if I could go back in time with all my experiences I imagine I'd be a much happier person right now. I could also stop myself from reading so much Tom Clancy. Seriously, what was I thinking? I'm reminded of a quote from Robert Frost: I feel a lot like I used to be that boy in Birches, and now I feel like I am the narrator.
During the teenage years is when you go through some of your most awkward, but what could be the best times of your life. Don't be so quick to get out of them, and make sure you take advantage of all the chances and moments. I can't tell you what I would give to go back and be in better shape and play sports again.
Growing up means change, and a lot of people don't like change. Then there's the whole deal about young people being cool and old fogies being lame, and, let's face it, after a certain point, people don't get any prettier, but actually start losing their looks. Mix that with more and more physical ailments, aches, and pains that join you the older you get, and few people look forward to the twilight of their lives while plenty would choose to live as 21yos for 100 years and then kick the bucket, looking just like they did at their best. I wouldn't want to start over again exactly the way I was because I'm happier now than before, but if I could go back in time with all my accumulated wisdom and life experience, little as it may be, but into a younger, healthier body, I'd jump at the chance. Then I'd make fewer mistakes and I could hunt down @KaTrian sooner too. It would be even more awesome if she got to keep all her experiences and wisdom as well and just move into a body without chronic injuries. @Duchess-Yukine-Suoh, I concur with @Lewdog: enjoy the age you are now, make the most of it, and remember that it's better to be glad for something you did than something you didn't do.
Oh and let's not forget, when you are young you can get away with certain screw ups that you can't as an adult. I'm not talking having a baby or killing someone, but other stuff. That in and of itself makes it worth being young!
I can't say. When I was a kid I would overhear my young adult sister and cousin wishfully sigh and comment how they'd "do anything to be a toddler again". I didn't quite agree then, and I didn't see their point when I was a teenager either. But now, as a young adult, I look back at those years with awe, sadness and sometimes regret as I think of all the things I should've done. It's probably the thanklessness of mankind--childhood and teenage are periods of growth which are dotted with steep learning curves. In adulthood, the excitement plateaus and eventually dips; decline is inevitable. You are unlikely to feel as optimistic as you did as a person who only had growth and opportunity before them. This may be partly my self-diagnosed dysthymia talking, but you asked, I typed.
I'm 17 and i already hate worrying about the things that fifty percent of American adults worry about every day. I wish i could be 17 forever to be honest. It's in between teenager age and adult age, where most of the attributes of being an adult is not on your shoulders just yet. But I've had it harder than most kids, so i guess that's why i already hate what the world has to offer to adults.
Sadder? No way! Let's see, you're not fully developed till your mid 20s, and, lifestyle permitting, your looks keep getting better till at least mid forties, and in lots of cases decades later. If you don't believe me, go visit California. As for your mind, again, lifestyle permitting, that will keep going till at least your eighties. If you're a natural born leader, you don't want to be a child. You want to be an adult! This is where most of the opportunities to shine are. Now you can become a boss, team leader, coach, whatever, assuming you've worked hard and gained the experience and leadership qualities you need. Experience is a biggie. Obviously any adult who has worked hard at something will almost definitely be more skilled than a child at that same thing, unless that child is a savant, or if its a non contact sport that they have been doing since age five (gymnastics, skiing, surfing, etc). I also personally believe passion increases with age (this is different from curiosity). The best thing about getting older is a perpetually improving perspective on life- all the things you used to think now seem foolish, and hopefully your behavior continually matures. To be honest, if life is not getting better as you get older, tragedies withstanding, you're doing something wrong. Now, for a few black and white facts. 30 year olds are hotter than teenagers/children 30 year olds are smarter than teenagers/children 30 year olds are (usually) more financially dependent than teenagers/children 30 year olds have better perspective on life and better sense of human than teenagers/ children Last but not least, all those childhood insecurities, (looks, popularity, death, parent approval), the moodiness, and the nihilism, all of it disappears when you reach adulthood. So, yes, for a fact, growing up is desirable and good. I'm saving for last one final comment on spirituality. If you believe in that sort of thing, your own spirituality should only strengthen as you age, no matter what, and this may very well be the most greatest part of getting older.
In today's economy, i find it hard to believe that the average 30-year old adult is completely "dependent" on finances. Most of the average 30 year olds may be on their own without support from their parents, but they are mostly living from paycheck to paycheck in certain states. Not to debunk your point, just to continue to elaborate on why being an adult sucks. Basically the realistic viewpoint. I do agree with the very last one only to an extent and completely disagree with the second. I know a few 30 year olds in my family who, well, didn't exactly do anything with their lives. (I haven't talked to some of them in plenty of years) I even have a few cousins who didn't change in smartness as time went on, they only went further down the wrong path. I also have cousins who did improve a lot as they got older. I guess it mostly depends on upbringing to be honest.
I don't know about any of you, but I like being an adult. No papers, no tests. No having to be forced to read about subjects you don't particularly care for. Outside job and basic social requirements and the law, you're pretty much free to do whatever the hell you want. A child can't go see an R-rated movie or watch TV in the middle of the night for instance. An adult can. A child can't go to a bar/pub and have beer while watching sports or listening to music. An adult can. Yeah, you have a lot more things to worry about, but there are good things that come with being an adult. When you're a child, you have to ask permission to do things. When you're an adult, you get to make that decision yourself. You have freedom to do things. Seriously, think of all the things you couldn't do/weren't allowed to do as a child and know that you can totally do them now. Right now, as an adult! It depends on the individual, of course. Me, personally? I would never repeat my childhood. Sure they were fun for the most part, but I like being an adult. Good thing, 'cause I've got the next 50-60 years of being an adult ahead of me.
Upbringing, yes, and personal integrity. Also, I believe that faith (in something) and role models are integral to ensuring a positive transition from childhood to adulthood.
I guess it's seen sad because growing up means you're getting closer and closer to your death, and then your life is over, and to many people that's a fairly sad notion. There're many perks to being a teenager, but when I was a teen, I wanted to be an adult, and now that I'm an adult, I want to be an adult, so I guess in my case growing up to adulthood was a good thing. Sure, as an adult you have a lot of responsibility, but I see that as independence 'cause I've always disliked not being in control of things. Now I can do pretty much whatever I want whenever I want however I want, and that's just awesome.
Might be that I'm currently working on breaking into academia, but where is this utopia you live in?!? No papers? No tests? Not having to learn about Restoration drama and the cultural impact of Twilight and (twinge) the Harry Potter series? What?! I want that! Seriously though, I'm literally about to make the biggest gamble of my life with this MA degree, and if I fail I don't know what I'm going to do - that is scary. That pressure I never had as a teenager, the biggest decision I made as a teenager was which girl to date next.
