courtesy of mmegaera

[quietann]

If you're maybe noticing that you're older than you used to be, and are feeling sad/angry/confused/worried/frustrated that you haven't accomplished as much as you/other people in your present or past/annoyingly critical voices inside your head think you should have, and if you're maybe feeling something like "I'm not a real grownup like everyone else," and if you're maybe also feeling sad/angry/confused/worried/frustrated that your body isn't working the way it used to, and you're maybe thinking, "if that's true then how am I going to DO all those accomplishments that I/other people/voices in my head think I ought or want to do?", and maybe you're also wondering how are you going to dig out from under the accumulation of habit and procrastination and self-doubt to some sense of satisfaction in your life again, then post this same sentence in your journal.

(I don't usually do these, but... this one fits!)

Comments

[harimad.livejournal.com]

I often felt as if I'm not a real grownup* and generally only regret it when I need to project authority. I've never felt that not having enough time to do all I want to do is a negative thing. Quite the opposite, in fact. If I have enough time to do all I want, then I don't want to do enough and it's time to get another hobby.



* The family joke is my sibling has all the "old" genes and I have all the "young" ones.

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

I don't want to be a real grownup like everyone else. Partly because I suspect 90% of them are faking it, but mainly because grownups are BORING!

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

What you need is a forged grownup card like mine [g].

[mdyesowitch.livejournal.com]

Wow. I'm actually anti this. Not because it's not true, because of course it's true. It's pretty near impossible for everyone to do everything they ever wanted or even everything they see that their friends have done. But they haven't done everything you've done either. It's a trap. The whole mentality is a trap.

I would rather see something like, "I want to do something I've always wanted to." It takes the same sentiment, but elevates it to positive action instead of a stick to beat yourself with. Or, "I celebrate my friends because they've done things I've always wanted to do."

I celebrate you for the things you've done. You should too. 8-)

[quietann.livejournal.com]

Well, I am far from a PollyAnna. I am also 43 -- I have no idea how old you are, but trust me, things feel VERY different at 43 than they did 20 or even 10 years earlier. Especially when one has a major chronic illness and little things keep going wrong with it... It DOES feel like one is starting to face the clock.

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

I'm 41 and I do occasionally feel it. I don't have any major chronic illnesses unless you count gum disease (which only really bothers me at the perio's office). But here is a trick I have tried which may sound corny but which does help my attitude when I start feeling old...

Pretend you're a time traveller. You're actually 80 years old, your body has pretty much let you down, you can't see very well or get around much at all. Suddenly, you get to spend one day being 43 again. Think of all the things you can suddenly do again!

Oh well, that probably just sounded weird and trippy. But it works for me. Sometimes. :P