“We’re adults. When did that happen? And how do we make it stop?” Ā -Meredith Grey
As a kid, I had small dreams. The most important one was to grow up. Yeah, I regret that now. I had no option. Did I?
I wanted to grow up quick, skip all the studying part, go work, be independent and all those sorts that I am supposedly now. At that point of time, it looked so good. Being a grown up and all. It sucks to be a grown up, to be frank.
In your twenties, you imagine moving away to different cities to pursue your dream or education or career and think of all those things that you could possibly do which your parents wouldn’t have allowed you otherwise. Life away from family is not a good idea, it breaks you, but it also makes you. You move from a cosy 5-star treatment of home to a cockroach and lizard occupied paying guest where food poisoning is bound to happen at least once. The space so cramped that even walking needs effort.
The twenties is a myth buster. It has a sharp needle that starts bursting your dream bubble one by one.
Effect: Domino effect.
You are now earning and you decide that no longer you would need to ask for the pocket money, in reality, the pocket money doesn’t stop and it helps you from not being broke at the end of the month.
Then you have days when you wonder where is it that you have ended up. The years of hard work, stress, accolades to come to a place that is far from what you have imagined. Nostalgia hits you, it is more of anxiety and frustration and just when you think you can’t take it anymore your friend from college calls you up and calls you to have lunch. You feel a lot better after the rant and reminiscing session.
Then there are days when you miss your family so much that you would want to quit and run away but then the bright person the almighty sent called MOM knocks some sense into you.
As a grown up I always thought I would be emotionally strong, not cry for silly things like in my childhood. Wrong. All wrong, you just would never know when those tissues may come handy. There is a constant emotional upheaval.
In your twenties, you are supposedly all sorted and you have a plan of what you want in your life. All sorted and clear. But the truth is you are the most confused. As if you are in a maze blindfolded not knowing how to get out right but have assumed that every other person in the race has found the correct route.
You dream of parties on the weekends but the reality is you would be roaming in your PJs late in the day washing clothes, running errands and all you could think of all the hard work is a good book, tea and binge watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S. for the 100th time.
The best part is you would have dreamt about parents and relatives finally treating you like adults, but you would be getting lectures on obedience, cleanliness, life, health, I mean everything okay. Over time I have begun liking my parents advising, although I get irritated sometimes I have begun to see sense in it. You would realise it too, sooner or later. You would.
Like many things in life, you dream, you expect of so many things, but reality always is different. In your twenties, you begin dreaming bigger and better, you grow matured enough to accept failure, move on and also believe in yourself. While you know your dream may not come true as expected, you would learn to accept it, learn from it and dream bigger.
Was there any dream of yours that your adulthood shattered or probably redefined?
**All through April I will be posting the A-Z of life of a girl of twenty-something as a part of the A-to-ZChallenge. Do join me in this journey of introspection and lesson.**
My twenties were so different… can’t relate to this at all…! š the parents advising remained the same though!!
So right about moving away from 5 star treatment to PG where food poisons are common! Who knew growing up was so tough!
Doctors and Dentists
Sometimes I wonder why do we even dream if they are meant to be busted. I would often dream As a young girl that life was perfect with no disappointments and just bliss. but later I realised that this dream can never be true
I am one person who has always taken life as it came to me, dreams were always my plans of future. Launching SIM Organics
* http://www.simpleindianmom.in/organic-vegetable-garden-i-atozchallenge-i-aprila2z *
*SimpleIndianMom*
One one dream was to live away from family and travel all around the world for work. But somehow that didn’t happen. I still live with my family. Independent yet under their wings.
Many dreams Ramya see reality and vanish as we mature. Your post resonated with me for I felt you were talking about me, undoubtedly, there is a connection as always. Stay Blessed, much love š
Truly Yours Roma
Dreams can be busted at any age or stage in life. If it makes you feel any better, I’m struggling to make a good life plan in my forties after my dreams of 20s were shattered. There’s always time for a new beginning!
Nice to read and enjoy your twenties!
Can relate to most of the things Ramya- I wanted to grow up fast and then, I wish that would not happen so quickly. I was away in Hostel and small PG rooms; disappointed with the food I started cooking my own meals. Dreams also get evolved with age.
So true. All of it. We thought we could grow up and be movie stars and writers and astronauts, but instead we’re fighting for livable wages and a few simple luxuries. Ignorance was bliss….
Spectres & Stardust – D is for Dandelion
I got married pretty early, so I ended up living my twenties dreams quite late in life. However, the rose-tinted glasses slipped off my eyes the moment I entered my twenties.
I can relate to a number of your points Ramya. I didn’t end up with the cockroach etc lodgings, but I ended up staying in a nurses’ home for my first year away from home. Then when I left the “boring food” of the nurses’ home and moved into a flat with some friends, reality struck. None of us liked to cook. Need I say more? Build a Better Blog
Yes we all dream about certain things when we are in 20’s or right out of college and realise later that its a completely different world. But I love dreams as I strongly believe dreams help us to achieve what we want to do in life.
Yes, I was confused in my twenties. I got married early in life and settling into my family life now I am pretty clear about what I want from life. Maturity comes with age only.I liked the way you described mom ‘almighty sent’
In early twenties I was not even clear about what i am going to do the next day!
True, dreams that we see as kids may not turn out to all that rosy when we grow up. But still dream we must š
Sigh
This made such a good read . I think life is never sorted not after entering 30 too
My life and experiences are same like yrs and it is like that bazz lurhmans sunscreen song
I had a smile while reading this. Could totally relate to it. Why did I ever dream of growing up? Why did that dream come true? š
I did move away from family at 21 and have lived away since then. Adulting is hard. My twenties involved moving to a whole new country, studying full time while working, then really growing up and working full time…ups and downs, paying bills, keeping house…not too different now in my thirties either! š
Diamante – Lifespan