Growing Up Is Not as Bad as You Think

Learn to let go of cheap thrills

I’ve been thinking a lot lately at what point in my life did I start to mature and become an adult.

The answer is simple — when I decided to let go of cheap thrills and invest my time and energy in the things of value, that last longer and have a meaning.

When I was a teenager, I used to be afraid of growing up, because growing up meant having less fun and more real-life problems.

Guess what? It’s not that bad.

Being an adult comes with enough share of burden, but it comes with a deeper understanding of the world around you. There are so many things to explore and more capacity to do so. And, it brings a warm feeling of calmness. Youth is a stormy ocean of being afraid of the future. Youth is being lost. Youth is having no idea who you are or what you want from life.

Granted, I still don’t have all of my life figured out, but after all these years of looking, I’ve finally found my inner strength. I’ve become strong enough to deal with my depression without letting it ruin my life.

I’m no longer interested in temporary people, temporary friendships. I don’t hang out with people who I have nothing in common with except a place to party. I refuse to hold on to people who do not value me. I’m not afraid of saying goodbyes, no matter how painful.

I’m letting go of the adolescent glitter and welcoming the mature glow.

As my 25th birthday was approaching, I was freaking out. Part of me was grasping on the child-like quality of life and screaming in terror: “You’re growing old!”

But carefree lifestyle has it’s expiry date. And it should have. There’s nothing depressing, sad and terrorising about letting go of your inner child and embracing the adult. It’s okay to accept responsibility for yourself and your future, because that is what liberates you.

Contrary to a popular belief, a steady, regular job doesn’t put you in chains. If you have a career you enjoy and see yourself growing into a certain direction, then it’s totally fine to stay overtime at the office here and there, or put up with a stressful situation once in a while.

Challenge is to mind what a physical exercise is to a body.

When fitness couches try to motivate you, they say keep working out when it hurts, because when your muscles hurt, that’s when it works the best.

That’s how life is. You harden when you push through.

What I am the MOST thankful to this mature, grown-up self is the confidence.

Sure, I’m not as confident as I’d like to be, but I’ve come very, very far.

My self doubt no longer comes from other people. Only from within. I took the power away from other people to make me doubt myself.

…and that is the most liberating thought of all.

You make fun of the way I dress? — You simply do not understand my taste.

You think me expressing my emotions is dumb? — You probably do not have enough emotional depth to understand.

You do not take me seriously? — Good. Will be even more satisfying when I prove you wrong.

You don’t think I can accomplish something? — Give me time.

You find it weird that I like to have deep conversations? — Your problem. I’ll just be smarter than you.

You can’t see my value? – I’ve got bad news for you, buddy. You probably aren’t smart enough to see through the layers of me, or not interesting enough for me to open up.