When I was younger I used to think that by age 25 I would be married, own a house and work a 9-5 job. I even envisioned having children... lol. I'll save my thoughts on having children for another blog post. It's so funny to think about all the scenario's I just mentioned as none of them are even close to being fulfilled and may I add that what I thought I once wanted is not the case anymore.
When you think of a grown-up what comes to mind? Does this person have a good job? Do they look a certain way? Do they own a home? Do they have kids? Do they drive a nice car? Are they married? Are they happy or are they miserable? What actually makes someone a grown-up? People are considered adults at the age of 18. They are legally allowed to vote and depending where they live they are able to purchase alcohol. But lets get real, turning 18 doesn't magically make someone a grown-up.
Personally I don't feel like a grown-up. This September I am turning 25 years old and over the last few years my life has changed in many ways. By change I mean mentally, physically and even spiritually. My weight has went up and down, my hair colour and length has changed more than a few times. I've changed relationships, established new friendships, reconnected with people from my past and I've lost touch with multiple people. I've switched career paths more than I can count and I've even moved provinces. All of these things have aged me in some way but I still don't consider myself a grown-up.
I don't know if one day this will change or what. When I think back to when I was a child and I looked at my parents, grandparents, sister and even people that I didn't know and I would subliminally categorize them as adults. I didn't stop to think that maybe they didn't feel this way. For example, my sister and I are 8 years apart. When I was 16 my sister was the same age as I am now. I used to look at her and think she was a grown-up. She was in a long term relationship, she had already went to college and she had her own place. She checked all the adult boxes. But I bet she felt the same way as I do now, still trying to figure out this whole adult-ing thing. It's as if society has decided that by a certain age we should have it all together. They force us to pick something that we might want to do for a living, send us off to school, we graduate and then BOOM we are grown-ups.
There is an expression "you're only as old as you feel." I really resonate with this saying. It's all about mindset. I see people that are 60 years old bouncing around happy as can be, joking and carefree. But then I notice 20 year old's who are completely miserable and uninviting. I strongly believe that age is not defined by the body. It is determined by the mind. Staying positive while being kind and compassionate can play a major role in how old you actually feel!
Children are very creative and the older we get we tend to hide our gifts and talents from the world. Adults don't want to be labelled as weird or different. Often people think that becoming an adult makes you sad and depressed. Adults are supposed to act normal and they have a lot of rules that they must follow. They are held to a higher standard and have more responsibility. This is true but only if we make it true. We all live in a dream world and we often forget the true meaning of life. We are here to learn, be happy and enjoy each day. Don't ever let people pressure you into feeling or acting a certain way simply because that's the way it's been for years now.
It's important to remember that as we grow older we can't get caught up in society's dream world. I think that being a grown-up is a term that society has put out there in a way of linking us all to responsibility. It's as if you become an adult or a grown-up and you are instantly labelled as having more responsibility and are held accountable for everything that you do. Break free from this dream world and do what you want, when you want. There is great freedom that comes with being an adult and often people forget about this because they are bogged down with the responsibility stigma that's attached to it. Choose the freedom that comes with being an adult and maintain the care free mindset that we harness a child. It's totally possible to have the best of both situations. You make all the decisions in your life and being a grown-up is nothing but a mindset.
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Xx. The Stressed Out Millennial
Photo by @mushroomalice check him out on Instagram for more amazing artwork!
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