“The trick is to enjoy life. Don’t wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead.” - Marjorie Pay Hinckley
I have noticed that it seems no matter what age someone is, they always wish they were a different one. Children always want to be older than they are. Don't you remember craving to be in the double digits when you were only eight years old? Then wishing to drive when you were only 14? At Nineteen year olds, you could not wait to be 21 and able to drink legally. This phenomenon does not stop as we get older.
I decided to write about growing up today because I have noticed recently, I am surrounded by people who can’t wait to grow up. Frankly, I do not really understand why. Everyone is so excited to be off in the real world, that they are not realizing or appreciating how wonderful this time of our life is.
It will happen sooner than you think people, so stop rushing it. At some point you will hit that age you have been wishing to be, but please do not miss enjoying everything in between now and then. Everyone believes being older is so glamorous and fun, but they do not think about how hard it will be either.
Don’t get me wrong, I am sure being an adult with a job and everything will rock, but there is so much responsibility that people do not think about or prepare for. Right now people are complaining about finals and how they don’t get a long enough Christmas break. Well newsflash, when college is over so are your Christmas breaks.
As I age and I watch my newly married family members, I’m beginning to see that life can be more challenging the older you get. I know that seems petty and obvious, but life does get harder as you get older. You will be faced with problems that you may not have faced before. Worries that feel like housing for your sorority or writing papers that feel like the biggest stress in your life right now will pale in comparison.
When you get that wonderful job you've been waiting for, and you are making money finally, there will also be drawbacks. You will be setting an alarm every weekday. You will be commuting to work. You might need to dress in a professional manner.
Your boss will not appreciate it if you are not on time.
Gone are those days of hitting snooze and saying "I'll just email my teacher and say I was sick." You are a professional now.
Growing up is amazing, but do not miss out on life, especially college life, because you are wishing for the years to go by. Enjoy being able to come home on breaks and have your parents there for you. Enjoy having them there to worry about you and what time you are coming home, because when you move out on your own, you may not be coming home to anyone. Enjoy the moment you are in because life goes by fast and if you are too busy looking forward to the future, you are going to miss it.
So, enjoy being in college and goofing off occasionally. Enjoy sleeping in sometimes when you don’t have a class, or when you “accidentally” oversleep. Enjoy the time you have, because the real world will be here soon enough.
