So, when do I start feeling like a grownup?

[kellinator]

Tuesday (April 22) is my birthday. I'll be turning 25. I'm starting to feel old.

Yes, I know 25 isn't "old"! But I'm frustrated with what I haven't accomplished, especially in the last three years when everything went to shit. I'm digging my way back up, slowly but surely, but I realized last week that I made a goal on my last birthday -- write my novel -- that I didn't even come anywhere close to. (I wrote Homicide fanfic, does that count? I probably wrote enough stuff in here to make a novel, how 'bout that?)

I have to admit I get a lot of satisfaction out of my job, even if I am just a glorified gofer. (Official title: Interlibrary Loan Specialist. Unofficial title: Copy Bitch/Errand Wench.) Yesterday while sailing out the door I tossed off to a coworker, "If anyone's looking for me, I'm in a meeting at General" and felt utterly grownup and sophisticated. (The meeting was boring as fuck, but that's not important.)

But I guess I'm still waiting to see when I start feeling grownup. I have a feeling I'm going to be waiting for a while.

Comments

[tenn-crichton.livejournal.com]

For me, it was after an extended pub crawl and I realized that I'm not 21 anymore. After that, it just sort of snowballed.

[shutterbug.livejournal.com]

I started feeling it when I began for my first full-time job 9 months ago. And now I'm truly feeling it, when 8 hours of sleep still isn't enough to make me functional (well, awake) for work. When I made 10PM a bedtime, I knew it was all over for me.

It feels even worse knowing that the majority of my friends (meaning everyone except one) is still living the college life.

I grew up when I joined the real world and started paying bills.

I'm 23, so I'm even worse off ;)

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

We need to get you out having some more fun, then! Maybe you should see your doctor to see if there's a reason you're so tired.

[tikimama.livejournal.com]

Dude, I'm going to be 30 in a few months and I don't feel grown up. I pay bills and have a Real Job (and occasionally, a Career) and have cats and have been married 5 years. I expect to buy a house soon.

I'm coming to realize most people are faking it, no one magically feels grown up. I'm starting to get called "ma'am" in the store and realizing that I could have mothered kids going to concerts with me, but oh well.

I can buy beer, they can't. That is as grown up as I ever need to be. 25 is a great age, enjoy it!

(ps merge all that Homicide fanfic into a novel)

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!! This totally helps. You're so cool! (I sound silly, don't I?)

[tikimama.livejournal.com]

Silly is definitely the first step to avoiding being grown-up. :P

My mom (63) always says she feels the same inside as she did when she was 16. Craig's dad used to say that he would often look in the mirror and think "Who the hell is this old man? Where did I go?"

[technomom]

I do the same thing. Who is that? It can't be ME!

I realized this week that my niece from my first marriage is about to turn 18. I am OLD! (36)

[jennay138.livejournal.com]

happy early birthday!

Re:

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And happy belated birthday to you!

[tygerlilly.livejournal.com]

Atleast you live on your own. I'm 24 and still trying to save money by living at home. After May that will be a different story though. I definitely don't feel grown up, and I think that's what scares me about when I get out of grad school - I'll have to be grown up. Not that it's a bad thing, but I fear I won't know how to do it. And the other day I was thinking "Wow, I'm 24" You're as old as you feel, and feeling young isn't a bad thing you know (:

[amai-unmei.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to say that I understood what you wrote.

((((hugs))))

Part of me wants to feel grown up, but part of me says, "Fuck that!" When you find the answer, will you let me know?

[the-missy.livejournal.com]

First off: April birthday are the shiznit.

Secondly: I just turned 31 on the 12th. And I don't feel like a grownup yet. In my head, I'm still in my early 20s. I'll probably never have a "career" job, but that's not what I want. I want to be able to go do my easy and fun job, then go spend my evenings doing other fun stuff.

If you ask me, growing up is highly overrated.

[queenbookwench.livejournal.com]

Know what you mean. I'm 24 and for awhile (especially last semester, when everything went to shit for me) I had this irrational fear that adulthood was like a test. I was convinced that I was going to flunk. And I have to say that the first time a student called me "Ms. Bush," I felt really weird. I'm almost used to it now, but I still have to catch myself when I type emails to my class, to sign them "Ms. Bush" and not "Erin".

[mellowdramamama.livejournal.com]

Hey there!! Happiest of birthdays to you!! I just turned 25 in September, and it has been a rollercoaster since then. Everything in my life has changed, but it is a VERY good thing. You've got to change and grow in life or whats the point?! May your's be the greatest birthday you've ever had!

I'm still waiting

[lac.livejournal.com]

I don't feel like a grownup most days and I'm turning 34 this year. I did just buy my first set of 400 count cotton sheets and a new suitcase...that made me feel like a real adult.