As I sit down to write this article, I do everything that I possibly can to get into the zone. Removing myself to a secluded location: check. Drinking an ice-cold caffeinated beverage: check. Tying my hair back into a tight ponytail: check. I am so focused that nothing can get in my way...
Until my brother comes into the room and asks me to walk with him as he plays Pokémon Go. Honestly, this offer is tempting. Who doesn't want to take a leisurely walk in 75 degree weather while watching a sibling catch the zillions of "Rattata" lurking in the neighborhood. All I want to do is act like a child as I procrastinate from my responsibilities. But I don't. I tell my brother that I have to work on my article. As he leaves, I know I made the mature decision but my desire to be careless continues to linger.
This is a dilemma that most people my age struggle with. They wonder whether or not they should engage in the currently infrequent responsibilities that will be constant in their near futures, or if they should hold on to their childhoods for as long as they can. This dilemma is so common, in fact, that adolescents have started to use the word "adulting" when they choose responsibility over carelessness. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this term, "adulting" is a slang word that most teenagers and young adults use when they attempt to participate in grown-up activities. You got out of bed in the morning without hitting the snooze button? Adulting. You cooked a meal that did not consist of chicken nuggets or Kraft macaroni and cheese? Adulting. You did an entire load of laundry without accidentally dropping a colored article into your whites? You guessed it, adulting.
But what is so fascinating about this term is that, even though it sounds silly and is used in a very jovial manner, it seems like a defense mechanism, a way to minimize the anxiety that young adults have about their approaching futures. While I hold no issue with people using humor to deal with stress, it concerns me that this fear is so prominent that the popularity of this humor continues to grow.
So where does this fear come from? Well, many places, surprisingly. For one, many individuals are scared to leave the ease of childhood behind. People like this struggle to let this part of their lives go, remembering how much simpler and carefree everything once was. Others are afraid that once they reach adulthood they will not be able to handle the new responsibilities expected of them. To them, the idea of autonomy when they have never fended for themselves before is a truly daunting prospect. And, strangely, this anxiety can also stem from an impatience to reach adulthood. These individuals cannot wait for complete independence and they fear that they will never be able to achieve it.
These fears, despite their enormity, can be overcome when adolescents grasp three things. First, accepting that their childhoods will never fully come back again is a great necessity. As final and upsetting as that may seem, it is essential in order to experience as smooth a transition into adulthood as possible. Second, it is important to understand that people assume their roles into legitimate adulthood at different rates. Young adults should not force themselves to grow up too fast or shy away from opportunities that will help them flourish. If they let their maturation happen naturally, all will fall into place. And finally, they must trust that everything will work out OK. Optimism is key and if they spend the remainder of their youths worried about the future, they will never be able to enjoy the world around them.
So, with all that said and my responsibility to this piece seen to, I am going to search for my brother, act silly while playing Pokémon Go, and revel in my childhood for as long as I possibly can.
