Holo

I just turned 31 last week and I have been reading thru some of the "teen angst" threads that are here. I almost forgot the pain and emotional transitions associated with young age, and I realize how much I enjoy being older and more self confident now. Gone is the self-hatred I felt as a teen and tween. I realize most every problem can be solved, and very little in lfe equals the end of the world. It's like I'm watching myself grow up, now that I have the experience to see my changes.

For those who are in my age group or older, are you glad be to be older now? Is getting older a blessing to you as well, or something that is showing your inevitable mortality?

Minx

In that I really can't stop Father Time (Lord knows I have tried) I have decided to embrace getting older!
In truth, I am very happy as a thirty-something type. When you are younger everything is so dramatic and life-threatening. If you don't make it to that party tonight then the whole world will come crashing down and you will never ever ever get to go to another party ever again (until the next weekend, that is).
Or you are absolutely convinced that the girl you met in science class is the girl of your dreams....your soul-mate...the only one who can complete you and you will absolutely curl up and die if you can't have her (until next semester when you meet that cute redhead).
When we are young we never seem happy with ourselves, there is always the intense peer pressure to fit in, to wear the right clothes, to look a certain way, to act like everyone else. Bah!
I would much rather take my life the way I have it now. Sure there has been ups and down but now I am happy with the person I am (inside and out). I don't worry over what I can't change and I think I've developed the ability to accept what I can't change.
Trade all that for being an insecure 16 year old again? Not for me. I think the only thing I would want back is the unlimited energy youth seems to possess!

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dci

I like this thread. But as a 22 year old recent college grad with no job, if i don't get one soon..I am going to curl up and die!!!!!!!

Nisses

Where's that cute redhead Minx? Care to point me in the right direction?

Have to agree with dci really. I too am 22 and I am sort of in between I'll wager. I can read those angsty threads and remember myself reacting like that some time ago, and realise it's not the end of the world. And yet I'm sure from time to time, I still do it myself... So it's fun as long as you realise where you're at in life

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GSRIDER

As far as getting older... I never thought it would happen. I think according to my old journals I was slated to be dead by the age of 25 (I failed at yet another thing dammit).

But the only thing I can really say about age, or moving on in life is that I never saw "this" coming. I never saw marrige, kids, minivan, homeowner, cubicle, dog, lawn mower, TFP, 401k, loans, refinancing, more school years after school, day camps, expensive baby sitters...... none of it!!

I don't mind, but it's crazy to think that just 12 years ago my goal was to be able to buy nachos when ever I wanted and not have to dig for change in the couch to get em.

Viva la 33y/o

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bigoldalphamale

27 + 1 year remaining in B-school + 3 years law school + $140k in debt for school = pissed off insecure poor 32 year old. gimme 12 back. i like video games.

WhoaitsZ

i'm only 24. a lot of teen angst is okay now and kind of amusing. yet i still have issues and develope new ones daily so i think i gotta decade or six to go before closure.

but in general, life is easier on the level of understanding ones' problems. imo.

Liquor Dealer

Well, if you wanta' change places I'll be more than happy to provide you with a quick maturity fix! There comes a time when the good ole' ( actually good young) days are far in the past - But, getting older beats the alternative - by quite a bit!

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Cynthetiq

I have always been self confident even in my school days. I'm 34 now and my life is infintely better than when I was younger.

But as far as taking care of business (roof over the head, food in the stomach, $ for fun stuff) yeah, I'm glad to be older. I'm glad to be able to take care of situations I find myself in even as they get more intricate and complex.

On top of that, I'm glad that I'm married and have someone that I can do it with.

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gov135

I'm 25.

I'd like to go back and do it again - not because of regrets, or anything like that. But if you could know what you do know, etc....

But, I have to say its the paycheck that helped the confidence, got me feeling more secure. Not that I make good money. But its enough to keep me and my girlfriend happy. I've always had confidence, but the ability to go it on your own, to truly make your own mistakes, makes you an wiser, happier person.

Yes, I'm glad to be twenty-five. Yes, getting older can be a blessing because I am constantly learning. About myself, loved ones, others, etc. And what I learn I can apply to the future, to give me a chance at even greater success.

So, yes, older can easily = happier.

papermachesatan

I don't ever remember being that dramatic...

erion

I remember getting worked up as a teenager about some stuff that seems pretty unimportant now.

I realized about age 20 that the stuff that had been happening to me all happened for a reason. From then on instead of adversity it was opportunity.

I'm 30 now and find that I am fairly happy most of the time. I have a beautiful, funny wife who is also my best friend, and an 8-month old son who makes me laugh out loud on an hourly basis.

What's not to be happy about there?

Sleepyjack

hmmm i am 19.5 and am really scared in turing 20 in 5 months or so. I dunno why, mayeb since i will no longer be a teenager...
Although i kinda like epicuurus's ideas and guide to happiness through friends, freedom and thought. And i guess as you get older you have more to think about and reflect on, you have true friends (if they've stuck with you for that long ) and you also have a lot of freedom. So getting older should generally bring you more happiness in that you're getting to know yourself and who you are better and so you can make more out of what you do.

As for me, i am generally happy with myself in most respects, however i am still discovering my place in the world whilst also searching for that one special girl.
true love and happiness waits

Troublebot

I'll be 33 at the end of this month and I can't imagine much I'd go back to 19 for. I'd probably date more in college, but to give up all the experience and growth I've gotten in the past 14 years... nope, wouldn't do it.

I appreciate the simple things alot more and even the big things don't bring me down like they use to. I understand the world alot better and my place in it. I'm comfotable in my skin and don't really feel it's necessary to impress people anymore. Yep, 33 is better than 19.

Now I'm just hoping 47 will be better than 33.

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lurkette

I am deeply happy to be 30. My 20s were a time of such growth and pain and lesson-learning. I'm deeply grateful but I wouldn't do them over again. I expect I'll feel the same way about my 30s when I'm 40

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Sparhawk

Tween!! I love it.

I've always been a pretty centered guy, no angst here.

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raeanna74

I think for one think my goals are different than they were when I was 18, 19, and 20. It's like when you are 5 and Mom says you have to wait a whole year for Christmas to come again that it seems like forever. Now Christmas marches in WAY to soon all over again. Time relative to what you've lived gets shorter and so your goals extend further into the future. You knwo yourself better, You know where your going, and you know where you came from. It's a comforting stage to be in. I'm glad to be the age I am (29). I have a child who is beautiful, growing healthy and learning fast. I have a college degree to be proud of, abeit the degree took me 6 1/2 years to get when it's only a 4 year degree, but because of the struggle it means more to me. I know I can do what I truely want to do. I'm married, settled, have my own business and we're enjoying life. We don't have a lot of money and we do have some debt but for now we both have work and it's a good place to be.

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cheezhead

Getting old blows!! Don't let older ones that think they have there shit together tell ya different. Best times are when young and no worries what so ever. Party up youngins before you get old!

Frowning Budah

Oh yea, you think now I am older I am happy and everything is going to be OK. Then you start down the other side again and suddenly your that anxious kid again worried abt what is left of your life and old age and how are you going to cope. Is there going to be any money to retire? Then you start second guessing all of your life choices and wondering if you did the right things back then. So enjoy all you 30 something's. Life is just waiting to bite you on the ass again. Of course that could just be me

warrrreagl

I'm 42, and I still get excited about adding another year to my age. I already tell people I'm 43, even though it won't be official until November.

I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life. Even if I could travel back in time and visit myself, trying to explain about true happiness, I wouldn't be able to comprehend it as a 20-year old.

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i8one2

At almost 42 OCT, I can say without hesitation live is more complex, but I have a well of knowledge, experiences to look upon as to not to continue the my mistakes from the past. I have also now been blessed with a caring loving and understanding partner that understands me for me. I have also grown up, yet maintained and will continue to maintain my youthful exuberance. I have now entered into a new lifestyle that I should of been in 10 years ago but couldn't-I wasn't ready. I can now love fully and completely another. I now have the ability to make dreams reality.

NON of this was possible before because I was too young. As for happiness, without a second of thought, I am so far off the scale happy I couldn't begin to explain the joy of being OLD, and getting OLDER...Its a blast.

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rs8001

Early 30's here. It would be fun go back with the perspective and knowlege I have now. Personally, I think the biggest changes for me came from 20 to 25. I would say I went from a shorter range outlook to a much longer one (don't think I would have ever made it through college without that). Like reanna74 said, a year just goes by quicker now.

I mostly enjoyed my teens and twenties and I miss some of the fun times I had back then. I wouldn't get worked up about some of the things I did then. Most of the difference now is just life experience plain and simple.

Great thread Holo. I enjoyed reading yours and the others response and can relate to a lot of it.

sierra2774

I am 29 now and to be honest, I am just not sure if it is better or not. I loved my teenage years, my 20's were very hard...Let's just hope my 30's are better!

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hotdogg

I am 54...Every age has it's advantages and disadvantages, I absolutely would not want to go back to being a 20 or 30 year old, although I would enjoy the stamina and body of a 20 year old...For me age is about what is going to happen next, the next adventure and certainly not lamenenting what was, but what will be.

oldman2003

One day you wake up and realize twenty years has gone by you. You are no longer young. You vividly remember what you felt when you were your sons age. You are past the nightmare of becoming like your parents. Your oldest child moves on and has a child of his own. You’re a grandparent. The years accelerate into the future. Each year goes by quicker then the one before it. Life is constantly throwing you curve balls. You look ahead and realize you only have a few good years left. Next year I’ll be fifty! My wife has left me and moved somewhere across the country. Suddenly for the first time in my life I am alone! Oh my God, what the hell happened to my life? The wine has turned to vinegar! Maybe the Swami was right when he told me (30 years ago) that the wise man prepares for his death….. Sorry didn’t mean to scare you… just wanted to say… be here now…because that is all you got anyway….grow old with grace…save some money…don’t be too cocky and be humble because someday you will know what I am talking about….

oblar

i am 21 now, and i must say I act/think almost identically to how i did when I was 14...

there are a few differences.. first time i got into a car wreck, I thought it would be the end of a lot.. lots of changes.. hassles, yes... changes, no.

but overall, it seems that the major problems that I thought could be the end of the world still haunt me. I think back to them, and hope I never havfe to go through it again... (unwanted pregnancies and the like)..

i think there are certain things that one never grows out of thinking it will become the end of the world..

right now I just want to get through school and get a decent job so I no longer have to depend on others. That is probably my main goal right now.

as a little note: when I say end of the world in my post, I mean it as a major life change.. Not necessarily the end, but the end of your current lifestyle.

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Double D

First of all whatever your age, try to embrace life.

One's numerical age is a marker of time spent here on planet Earth. What you do with your time, makes you who you are.

I used to say that I *wasted* ten years of my life, from age 18-28. I don't believe that anymore.
My life has changed, I've learned some, but I have much more to learn.
I wouldn't want to go back. No, no.
I've earned these 43 years and I wear them quite happily.

I too, am struck by the angst that so many of the younger folks here go through.
But growing older doesn't mean no more angst-- it's a different kind of angst (as others have mentioned) and you've had some time to learn how to better cope.

Bottom line. I've met some very wise 25 year olds and some really dumb 45 year olds. In some ways, age is merely a number and truly, life is what you make it.

hotzot

my mind likes being older, but my body doesn't. Aches and pains, grunts and groans, god it sux. what the fuck is it with all this fucking hair in my ears?!?!?

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rodgerd

Hell yes.

I hated my high school years; the outpouring of teen angst after Columbine was something I identified with because, well, fuck, gunning down the school bullies would have struck me as a fine and dandy idea at the time, too.

I was a gawky, physically and socially awkward teen, with piss-poor dress sense. As I've gotten older, I've filled out my physique in a good, rather than bad way), broadened my interests. I'm more socially at ease.

Getting older has generally been good to me. I'm better in bed. I'm happier with people. I'm a less angry person. I have better relationship skills. I earn more. Life is good, basically.

laxative

i'm finding that older = cough more

i'm a know-it-all (maybe i always was), and it's much easier to lay nineteen-year-old girls at 31 than it was at 19.

cdwonderful

Your 30's will be wonderful, your 40's even better and as for your 50's, well, by then I expect you will be ruling the world!