When you became an adult, what was the worst new part of it? Paying taxes? Worrying about money? Literally every adult I know claims to be super busy and stressed out especially if they have kids, but I'm not sure where it all comes from.
When you became an adult, what was the worst new part of it? Paying taxes? Worrying about money? Literally every adult I know claims to be super busy and stressed out especially if they have kids, but I'm not sure where it all comes from.
For me it is the feeling that I can't make any mistakes in things like paying mortgage, insurance, credit card each month, water, electric, taxes, etc. I constantly feel like I am forgetting something. In reality, the consequences of forgetting one of those things is negative, but probably not worth how much I stress over it.
I also didn't realize how much free time I had in college. I need to figure out a way to strike a better balance between college and now.
Nothing.
Ehhhhhh...I think its basically a wash for the "average" adult. The time I spend during the commute to work is probably the biggest loss I am aware of, but I will happily trade that for the personal, social, and financial freedom adulthood offers me.
The worst part is that most office jobs are maybe one step above a high-school environment so you still have people who fill the roles of administrators, teachers, janitors, cliques, Seniors, Freshman, etc. so all of that petty, political garbage is on parade all day.
As far as any kind of "proper" adulthood goes, that is all a personal choice. If any adult finds themselves pinning for childhood they seriously need to look at their personal choices. You did NOT have to do any of the following things as an adult:
Get a job you hate - This is actually the biggest thing you do NOT have to do
Get married
Have a kid
Buy a house
Accumulate debt
Gain weight
Fulfill other's dreams for you
Have an affair
Buy a second house
Get lazy
Abandon you passions
Get divorced
Forget your dreams
Have another kid
Buy another house
Get remarried
Accumulate more debt
Live for the weekend
Die unhappy
I'd say it's the never ending monotony of work. Whne you're in school, you know that you always have winter break and summer break to reset and take some time off. When you're working, you may get a week off here or there, but even in those cases, when you get back to work, all your previous commitments are still there waiting for you. There is no reset button. ever.
I guess for me it was the narrowing of options. When you're young you've got a lot choice in what lies ahead of you. As you get older that starts to disappear and you get limited by the choices you've already made. At some point you're pretty much locked into your life.
That and a slow but steady decline in your physical and mental capabilities.
young and naive wrote:
When you became an adult, what was the worst new part of it? Paying taxes? Worrying about money? Literally every adult I know claims to be super busy and stressed out especially if they have kids, but I'm not sure where it all comes from.
ED without a doubt, you don't know what you got til it's gone kid!
survey says wrote:
I guess for me it was the narrowing of options. When you're young you've got a lot choice in what lies ahead of you. As you get older that starts to disappear and you get limited by the choices you've already made. At some point you're pretty much locked into your life.
That and a slow but steady decline in your physical and mental capabilities.
That basically sums it up. Life is an adventure when you are young. You are a stallion running free on an endless plain. When you are an adult, you are a workhorse. You go from your stable to the horse team pulling the wagon and back again every day.
Having kids is an adventure that keeps you going. But it can even further rope you into a routine that is beyond your control. Your "friends" end up being the parents of your kids' friends.
You also become very cheap as you start to realize the magnitude of things like college tuition and retirement. I rarely ever buy clothes and will go to Goodwill before shopping the clearance sales. A half decent bottle of wine is probably my only indulgence.
young and naive wrote:
When you became an adult, what was the worst new part of it? Paying taxes? Worrying about money? Literally every adult I know claims to be super busy and stressed out especially if they have kids, but I'm not sure where it all comes from.
How old are those adults? Sure when i was a kid, adults were boring and stressed. But these days, my childhood friends and I are totally different. Sure we have kids and a job, but we are doing it with a smile.
The "Generation X" between 70s and millenials yuppies is the most laid back. But you kids probably don't even know what that means.
Precious Roy wrote: I rarely ever buy clothes and will go to Goodwill before shopping the clearance sales. A half decent bottle of wine is probably my only indulgence.
Damn , you need to relax and loosen up a bit. Your life sounds like pure drudgery!
Adulthood is great if you have a decent career and stable family life. I don't understand how people can be so miserable living in this country with such wealth (relatively speaking) and opportunity. Lift yourself out the doldrums and start living.
problem and solution wrote:
Precious Roy wrote: I rarely ever buy clothes and will go to Goodwill before shopping the clearance sales. A half decent bottle of wine is probably my only indulgence.Damn , you need to relax and loosen up a bit. Your life sounds like pure drudgery!
Adulthood is great if you have a decent career and stable family life. I don't understand how people can be so miserable living in this country with such wealth (relatively speaking) and opportunity. Lift yourself out the doldrums and start living.
Because many now a days aren't being given the same opportunities you old timers did when you were young.
delusional people wrote:
problem and solution wrote:Damn , you need to relax and loosen up a bit. Your life sounds like pure drudgery!
Adulthood is great if you have a decent career and stable family life. I don't understand how people can be so miserable living in this country with such wealth (relatively speaking) and opportunity. Lift yourself out the doldrums and start living.
Because many now a days aren't being given the same opportunities you old timers did when you were young.
It's not about sitting back on your laurels expecting the opportunities to just land in your lap. Many of us had to struggle and fight for our opportunities. Maneuver through the roadblocks and make a life for yourself. Stop your incessant whining pity fest.
Having a sick or badly handicapped child. It will run every aspect and possibly destroy your life.
Everything else is small potatoes. Taxes, mortgage, paying for college, not getting into an Ivy, 401K, boring job, youth sports, politics, doping, I long for the day when those are my worst worries. Fortunately, most people don't have to deal with this type of stress.
You asked for the worst.
You just find different things to stress or be sad about. It's not a ton different than HS or college. On the whole I am happier as an adult.
Areas that are worse:
-Declining health
-Declining physical abilities/appearance
-Limited career changes/mobility
-Acceptance of the idea that your life does not have limitless possibilities
Areas that are better:
-Marriage
-Kids
-Financial well being/autonomy
-Confidence/maturity
-Friends and friendships
Enjoy what you have, when you have it. Seek out experiences. Don't let fear rule your life.
lol kid wrote:
delusional people wrote:Because many now a days aren't being given the same opportunities you old timers did when you were young.
It's not about sitting back on your laurels expecting the opportunities to just land in your lap. Many of us had to struggle and fight for our opportunities. Maneuver through the roadblocks and make a life for yourself. Stop your incessant whining pity fest.
I have worked my ass off for 5 years after college and have nothing to show for it. Many are in the same situation as myself. Generalizing people based on the generation born in is kind of stupid and shows how simple minded you are. Some people like your self have had it easy in life and can not fathom in there tiny minds that life's not fair and everyone is not given the same opportunities to succeed. I highly doubt you have had to struggle as you claim to have. Others will back me up on how easy it was to succeed in the past compared to now.
You're busy because it takes forever to do the easiest tasks.I honestly remember when I could be in and out of the department of motor vehicles in 20minutes. Honestly thank god for having registration renewal online. Why people do that in person is beyond me.
office guy the 3rd wrote:
If any adult finds themselves pinning for childhood they seriously need to look at their personal choices.
I agree with this. You're here for a finite amount of time. Don't waste it on BS
I have found that sticking to a simple life makes it much more enjoyable.
survey says wrote:
I guess for me it was the narrowing of options. When you're young you've got a lot choice in what lies ahead of you. As you get older that starts to disappear and you get limited by the choices you've already made. At some point you're pretty much locked into your life.
That and a slow but steady decline in your physical and mental capabilities.
Took the words right out of my mouth. It's a depressing feeling when you notice your life path is now "locked in". Happens shortly after graduating college.
FooYou wrote:
I'd say it's the never ending monotony of work. Whne you're in school, you know that you always have winter break and summer break to reset and take some time off. When you're working, you may get a week off here or there, but even in those cases, when you get back to work, all your previous commitments are still there waiting for you. There is no reset button. ever.
survey says wrote:
I guess for me it was the narrowing of options. When you're young you've got a lot choice in what lies ahead of you. As you get older that starts to disappear and you get limited by the choices you've already made. At some point you're pretty much locked into your life.
That and a slow but steady decline in your physical and mental capabilities.
These two kinda sum up the general complaint you'll hear. I'm younger, married no kids, but I see the trap ahead. It's not a wife or kids or mortgage. I'm afraid of trapping myself in the same routine for the rest of my working years. It's possible to avoid i think, but it's easier to get sucked into than I realized. Most get there by taking the safe route (staying at a boring job, keeping the routine that you know works).
Forgive my chuckling.
Try living in abject squalor for 12+ years, eating rice and beans and wearing ripped clothing just to secure an advanced degree for yourself. Then, add a heaping dose of unfortunate circumstances to the mix. A decade of pure heartache and struggle, only to realize the lack of job opportunities in my chosen profession upon graduation. I received no handouts, no assistance. I made it on my own- and remain forever grateful.
Stop with your pity party, please.
Going from 15:xx 5Ks to 23:xx and realizing I am now a hobby jogger.