A little over a month ago I transitioned from a teenager into a new adult. Although this marked a milestone in my life, this birthday made me feel something other than happy. For the first time in my life, I started to realize that I was growing older; that I was no longer a teenager. My journey to adulthood seemed so far away, but this birthday made me realize that this road was much shorter than I previously thought.

Additionally, one of my Odyssey teammates published an article “Growing Up And What It Might Not Be,” which made me think about how quickly time flies through our eyes. We spend so much time worrying about these little events in our lives that are meaningless compared to the entire span of life. I forget to take a step back and realize how my loved ones are growing older because I am too caught up with unimportant things to realize this.

So, take a break from whatever you’re doing at this exact moment and read this poem I created. I hope that it will change your mind on what you deem most important in your life. It has for me.

Growing up, I’m told, everyone goes through.

“Aging fast, young lad, best enjoy your youth!

For when I was you, I was eager for older,

but then I approached it and life grew much colder.”

Like me, I’m sure you’ve heard the above;

or, another version spoken by someone you love.

Conversations that partake reminiscing time,

and about how we’re close, but not ready for goodbye.

You see, time’s forever, something we hardly notice.

Our surroundings transforming because our mind’s focus

is held captive by shiny things deemed more important

instead of enjoying our precious, short, moments.

From birth, I entered this world to die.

I was shoved in this life that’s more of a lie.

I’m told, “Happy birthday, another year, time flies.”

So I cover my face with a mask, terrified.

I don’t want to grow older, I want to stay me.

Right now, in the present, it’s a simple plea.

Or better yet, take me back to my life filled of glee

when my worst fears were monsters, fictional as can be.

I never asked for wrinkles, or crow’s feet and hair loss.

I don’t want my memories to start forming spots.

Forgetting is hard, and my stomach’s in knots

from knowing that sometime I’ll lose my thoughts.

So I vow to change it, my very existence.

I’m done with the older, I’m forcing resistance.

My youth’s what I need as my life’s subsistence,

but if I do this, my loved ones will grow distant.

Why can’t I stop time and enjoy this life?

I only have one and that feels like a knife

forced deep in my heart, a consistent strife.

My conundrum for freezing time is rife.

To my mom, my dad, my dear little brother

my family, immediate, closer and further.

I love all of you, and although we grow older

remember: time’s fast, let’s make it tick slower.