Laura

Aging in Reverse

Daily writing prompt
When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?
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Hmmm….

Well.

As much as I talk crap about working, it did give me a level of freedom when I was younger away from my chaotic household that I’m grateful for

I prefer maybe not to get too deep into this prompt, because it could quickly go sideways into some territory which I’m not interested in displaying on my post, sometimes things are better left unsaid.

So, as for the answer to the question?

Perhaps when I started working at 15.

Or maybe when I was even younger than that, and my mother would ask me to cook her eggs coming off her nightly alcohol binge at 2AM.

It didn’t seem like there was anything wrong with this picture at the time…

Again…going into that territory I could care less for.

What I will say is a positive, is that I spent a good portion of my younger years being so serious, anxiety-ridden, depressed, emotional, not able to really conform with other people my age who were having a great time just being kids and teenagers, that I now have allowed myself to have more fun as I’ve gotten older.

When I was actually in school, although I hated it

That job? Just a job. Not a be all, end all.

Toxic relationship? Throw it away.

Something not serving your best interests? Bye.

Person or people demanding more of you than you can reasonably give? Nope.

Others who act vindictive then wanna be friends? Nah, I’m good.

I’ve allowed myself to be much more playful and childlike in ways that I know will hopefully only get better with age, because I need that.

Because there’s so much more out there

I have finally given myself permission to enjoy things, as we all should. To put my perfectionistic self aside and appreciate life.

I’ve spent so much of my time caring for, in service to, and helping others. Which I am grateful for. Always.

Well, most of the time.

But the freedom to act like a kid when I can?

Priceless.

Some of what I’ve said may come off as harsh and cold, but for the right people, the right friendships, and the right jobs, situations, times and circumstances, it is vastly different.

And you will always know when that is the case.

Happiest of Fridays! ☕️

84 comments

  1. Thanks for sharing! I can relate to your journey of finding balance between responsibility and playfulness. It’s inspiring to see how you prioritize your well-being and enjoy life more…..it’s amazing…. Here’s to embracing our inner kids! Happy Friday! ☕️

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    • Thank you 😊 glad you can relate in ways, and here’s to embracing our inner child, yes! 🙌 I wish a happy weekend for you and I so do appreciate your very kind comment 🙏 ☕️

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  2. Taking that step to embrace life’s little joys is such a big deal. And we all need those moments where we can forget the hustle and just be present. Your journey is super inspiring. Here’s to many more moments of kid-like freedom! Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend.

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    • Thank you Michael 😊 that’s so kind of you to 🙏 I agree, mindfulness is so important in our journey through life. It’s not always easy, but it’s necessary sometimes. Hope you have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend as well! 🙏

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  6. Thank you for sharing this story that makes us think about this issue. 🤔 “We spend more time in our lives being adults than children”. Parental impositions, society’s rules, school, work, children with full schedules😏, other people’s expectations and so we bury the inner child. 😉 You are right, do what makes you happy, rescue the inner child. 😅Being an adult is sometimes very boring! 😁🙌🏻✨🌙

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  7. Gotta keep the youth about you, music tends to do that for me along with playing games or blowing bubbles, simple things like to this day nothing moves more than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or quoting Scooby doo. Being in nature and understanding simplicity in a fast paced world, co sign, peace smell the flowers

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  8. Love this! Laura, It’s all about finding that balance permitting yourself to let go and have fun while knowing when to set boundaries. It’s freeing when you realize that not everything or everyone deserves your energy.
    Cheers to living life the way we want!
    Happy Friday!

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  10. Sounds like you’ve been through a lot. I totally understand that sometimes you don’t even realize it at the time 🙂 I agree that sometimes the moment when you realize you cannot act like a kid is when you can really grow up 🙂

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    • You’re right that’s true, you don’t often know at the time until you look back years later and you’re like “wow that was a lot.” It makes for things to me be much harder sometimes. I’m sure you see it a lot as a teacher 🙏

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  16. Great response. Now that I’m nearing 40, I honestly think we don’t reach adulthood until our 30s at the earliest. Adulthood means wisdom and we lack that without experience.

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    • Thanks Ren! I feel you, I’m inching that way as well and definitely feel similarly to you. Experience definitely is the key to a lot of things in life 🙏 appreciate your thoughts immensely and hope you have a great weekend! 😊

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  18. This post is strong and inspiring, really, a feeling of triumph, because it’s so clear how much you have overcome in your life. And you totally deserve to play and have fun now!!

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  20. I’m sorry to hear you experienced that when you were younger but I’m so glad you’re embracing your inner child now. It think when we’re forced to grow up quickly, we end up repressing a lot of things and missing certain experiences. But we can of course make up for that when we get older 😊

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