Ahhh
yes, growing pains. No, I’m not just talking about the aches, the cramps, and
other unmentionable body issues (although that is a total thing in your 20’s).
I’m actually referring to the mental strain of becoming an adult. Yes, like the
“growing pains” of realizing, shit- I am on the fast track of being a full on
adult and becoming 30 seems like a hop and a skip away.
So
anyways, I’ve never thought too deeply about this phrase until I was a
teenager. I thought of growing pains as a shorter way to describe the hormonal
confusing whirlwind I was stuck in while the rest of the world seemed to be
floating above me with ease. By the end of high school I thought I had it all
figured out…this was not the first or last time I realized how very wrong I was.
We
spend so much of our developmental years in grade school that by the time we
hit college we are led to believe that it will be a fun and quick
four years that shall lead us to the Promise
Land: an entry level job. To me, college has just been like getting my feet
wet, but I don’t feel quite ready to jump in the pool. However
this is not another quirky article about how college doesn’t really prepare you
for the real world completely (don't get me wrong- I'll post that when I graduate) but how we have
to adjust to a handful of changes while evolving from young adult to RLA (real
life adult).
1.
The Age Factor
All my life I’ve
heard my parents, family friends, star crossed lovers in movies and even
teachers explain to me that age is just a number. I’d think to myself, “that’s just
something that older people say”. Nope, if you are deeper than a kiddie pool
then it shouldn’t take too long to realize it makes perfect sense. Not to get
all weird on you guys, but I feel like our souls stay young, they just adapt to
social norms for our age and adapt to the level of education or brain has
caught up to. But the soul is the same.
The class clown will always be goofy, even at 70. The princess bitch in your
homeroom will always have a stick up her royal ass, even at 70. However as we
grow into these older ages we start to wonder: Am I where I always told myself
where I would be at this age? The clock is ticking, and old age is sticking.
2.
If we’re talking BODY
This concept is
still tripping me out. That whole thing about metabolism slowing down, and French
fries taking you down is true. Our 20’s is when we have the chance to get in
the best shape of our lives, but more importantly set healthy habits we can
carry with us even after we are married with children. My skinny mini friends
and I are religiously watching what we eat, and even what we drink. Word to the
wise is STRAY AWAY FROM BEER. Great for casual settings but that shit is a
trap. Beer bellies on deck for RLA.
Weight
doesn’t just cover it though, our faces age as well. Now, some people call me
crazy but I already apply anti-aging cream daily. Since I’m only 23, its only
preventative (but it does keep my skin baby smooth).
However, no cream will
stop Mother Nature from taking her natural course through my body. When I look
back at pictures of me from even 2 or 3 years ago I can’t believe how young I look.
Try not to party too much like a rock star, because it will age you like a
jackass.
3.
Friendships
So here is my genetic take on how
we grow old and lose friends:
Your
priorities change. Their priorities change. You set new social boundaries for yourself.
They set new social boundaries for themselves. You meet new key people in your
life. They meet new key people in their life. Get it?
What I am
trying to convey is life changes. You will have friends you know your entire
fucking life, and suddenly you link up one day and things don’t click between
you anymore. A lot of people will ignore this feeling and try to force something
that isn’t quite there anymore. These feelings of companionship have
dissipated, and an empty expectation of friendships have emerged. Things that
you usually want to run and tell them, you now have the urge to tell someone
else. Growing apart HURTS, but making yourself connect with people who just don’t
get ‘it’ will HURT you too.
So I know I am painting the process of growing up to sound
like the worst form of torture, but it’s not. However if we don’t prepare
ourselves, reality will give us a big old slap in the face quite quickly.
Image 1 credit: http://intothegloss.com/2013/03/anti-aging-in-your-twenties-too-much-too-soon-skin-care-products-retinol/
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