Thursday, February 6, 2020

Adulting; Shift and Twist of Emotions


Throughout the age of #adolescence, we often dream about what life would be like in our 20’s. Just the idea of staying up late with no obligation to anybody, got us rolled over to fast forward even more to “that” day.

When finally the D-Day arrived, we were out on our own! The rent, renters, utilities, insurance, groceries, gas, car insurance, doctor visits turned out to be more than just names, starring right on our faces. We did not have this in mind all those years when we kept planning our beloved 20’s.

Bet you have texted your parents: “#adultingishard. The pressure is too much. What happened to my paycheck?” You must have seen “adulting is hard” all over the social media platforms:
1.     Adulting is hard. No reward when I make my bedroom tidy.
2.     Chai, because adulting is hard.
3.     I stay up late for no reason. Adulting is hard.

Author of #EmergingAdulthood Jeffrey Jensen Arnett says, this young adult is never alone. All of us find #adulting in our 20’s difficult, creating a bit of anxiety for our parents who are ever-ready for us to take on more responsibilities. 30 has become the new 20 folks! A period where exploration and instability hits the trends, to try out all kinds of things before we settle down.



Parents who are eagerly waiting for their young adults to launch a rocket wonder, “What happened?”

But things have changed, our time has evolved! Years ago #adulthood caught sight as a big achievement. People craved for the stability this phase provided. 50 years later? It has become a stagnation. A generation full of wonder, we are composed of contradictions of light and darkness mixed.


Are you still reading further and freaking out? Breathe! Since we are a spontaneous generation, we eventually gain control over our routine but just a bit later than expected.

Reason being why early 20’s are overwhelming is because we go from having spoon-fed everything to feeling all alone while we manage to pick the adult routine. Moreover, we are so hungover from our college adventures that we tend to complicate life after that. The ones in their early 20’s can easily testify that adulting is hard, but it also comes with a payback of freedom, adventures and challenges.

Working against human nature disrupts human emotions. We tend to always focus on the shiny thing that is in front of us, so adulting for us often means taking the long view for a long run: saving for retirement, taking vitamins, doing cardio but again, as the name insinuates it also simplifies the process of growing up! 

“Adulting strikes the minute one trades dependence for independence and self-centeredness for community.”

From the school bench to the college dorm room, we are all trying to figure out our passion to life but once you realize that not everything has to be a solved puzzle right away, the mental paralysis retires. Uncertainty drives anxiety. Graduation is the time of life with greatest indecision: Will I have a stable career? Will I find a right partner? When? Who? Where will I live? Which of my friendships will survive the transition? Well guess what:

“Uncertainty leaves us with either of the two options; we increase our certainty or we get better at accepting our uncertainty. Adulting requires both.”


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