When you are at high
school, you usually imagine your 20s to be that far off place that will never
ever come around, and if it does it will not be for what seems like a life time
away. I used to laugh when "older" people would comment on how
quickly everything changes, and how fast the years go by. I never ever thought
that would be something I would say, shaking off their comments and getting on
with whatever was important in my current 14-year-old life at that time. Fast
forward 10 years later, low and behold, the future is here. It's right now. We
are always told to enjoy our youth, as it’s the best years of our lives.
Growing older however doesn't mean losing the fun you had as a youngster. In
fact, it opens a world of opportunity and has many keys that unlock many doors!
Here are some of the awesome things I’ve personally found out about growing
older...
1) You get the choice of what to do every day, (within
reason), who you live with and what country you settle in. You’re no longer
your parent’s shadow.
2) You can go to bed whenever you want. You're an adult now.
If you want to stay up to 4 in the morning- that's your choice. You don't have
to hide that torch under your sheets and listen out for someone who may come
and tell you to "get to bed, NOW!" Downside: you also realise you
don't quite have the energy you did as a child, and you cannot wait for nap
time.
3) You choose what to do with your life. You don't need
anyone's permission. (Within reason...) If you want to dye your hair pink? Go
for it! That breed of dog you've always wanted and slightly obsessed over by
watching videos online? You can have it.
4) Your hormones calm down. Those angsty, teenage years with
melodramatic moments do mellow out, usually. Of course you will still have your
bad days, but they are usually met with a more rational mind. Experience is
priceless.
5) You've made lots of mistakes in your teenage years, and
have learnt from them. Now is your chance to grow as a person and realise what
you want to do and what you don't. That hard transition from child to teenager
has been accomplished. High five!
6) You can sit and enjoy drink in a sophisticated setting.
Gone are the days of drinking cheap liquor on a cold, park bench.
7) You get the chance to earn your own money and make your
own choices about how that money is spent (once rent and bills are paid for, of
course!)There is satisfaction in this. You could save up and travel the world
if you really wanted, and yes, you could do that all alone.
8) You learn that in life, you usually get out of it what
you put into it. Friendships are a two way thing. Working hard and reaping the benefits is always awesome.
Jessica Martin
