We are not young
Growing up and growing old, two things that are inevitable for everyone and with the media obsessed with all things young it’s hard not to get a little depressed when seeing a new wrinkle on your face, or a softer belly. So when Yahoo!’s in house Sketchy comedy series spoofed Fun’s “We are Young”, it became a viral hit.
The video lampoons what it’s like to be 10 years out of college, overweight, married, health problems, drinking problems and unemployed. Fun’s original song is all about being young and carefree and hopeful of your future. When you’re young, your primary concern is about having fun, having no responsibilities because you have parents to take care of practical details, and just thinking about what you want to be when you grow up.
So, when you finally leave that bubble of youth exuberance and realize all the clichés that you heard really are true, “time flies”, and “growing up is never easy”, how do you cope with crushing reality? Well, as the song parody says “I guess I’ll do elliptical. Maybe I can finally do that yoga class. But I probably won’t. HGTV. Going to stay at home. Watch Modern Family.”
When does “world is your oyster” mentality disappear and real life’s challenges, burdens and broken dreams begin? Are you where you want to be? Please leave a comment below.
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It’s all a matter of perspective.
I am where I want to be. The most important thing in life is to “be here now”. Enjoy where you are and what you are doing. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow’s a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why we call it “the present”. When I look in the mirror and see the grey hairs and the wrinkles and the pudginess I just smile to myself and realize that I have earned each and every wrinkle, grey hair, and extra pound. Life is about the journey, not about the destination. We all worry too much about appearances. Life is for living, not for worrying about those superficial things that don’t matter.
my dad was such a fine provider for us kids, and my mother was a functioning “whatever”, that i caught on real fast to simply move it. and so i still do. at 18 years old my parents did not kick me out…they eased me out, because i did not catch on to leave my parents. but i still got my nose to the grindstone and still do…the best i can though disabled at this time. i am doing good, and know i did it myself because i take after both my mom and my dad.
It began after having my first epileptic seizure/ cardiac arrest at the age of 11. I soon realized that I most likely won’t be able to do a lot that most people take for granted but I never gave up. While I never became the astronaut that I dreamed of becoming; I still managed learn what I was capable of doing despite my disability, discover what my strengths and weaknesses are, build up my strengths while working on my weaknesses, and gain a fresh outlook on life.
I have to agree with Jess.
When does “world is your oyster” mentality disappear and real life’s challenges, burdens and broken dreams begin?
When you pop out babies.
I am 38, unmarried, unemployed, I smoke and I dont earn money, I dont have insurance, I am still on pills and had to meet the doctor every 6 months, my mother is paying for my smoking and my credit card debts which were left unpaid when I had to quit the job, all of those feels a great burden to her and yes, I am not young.
Are you where you want to be?
I will consider my life.
Seems so much loss, and hearts easily broken,but the gain of a grandchildren brings back youth, love, and innocence. We are so thank full to God that the children we did raise, have so much love in their lives and are thankfull for it.
Growing older is bitter-sweet really..
True, we dont look as pretty and packaged as we did when we were 16, nor do many of us have that “spark” of fun that we used to have….
But with age, comes bearing our own sweet children, maturity, wisdom, knowing (and implementing) right from wrong, responsibility and honor.
I’m growing older and I realize it wont stop anytime soon, lol, but I am also very thankful that I’ve made it this far and look forward to the next decades I may have to love my child, grow and simply experience the many beautiful things life has to offer!
Advice for kids just coming out of school, be that high school, college, graduate studies, or whatever — –
MAKE A TEN YEAR PLAN.
Don’t be rigid about it, plans will change. But make one.
That does two things for you. One, writing it down makes it register into your subconscious, and when your subconscious is working on a job, the job gets done. The subconscious is much more powerful than the conscious, but you need to give it a direction.
Two, it gives you something to compare your progress against, so you’ll know if course corrections are needed.
MAKE IT DETAILED. Don’t say, “in 10 years, I’m gonna be rich”, because that doesn’t work. What are you going to DO to become rich? What are you going to do the first year? The second year? Etc.
Now, you might say, “gee, 10 years is an awful long time” — but think about where you were 10 years ago, and what you could have done then that would have made your life so much easier now. Yes, it’s cliche, but 10 years goes by in the blink of an eye.
Studies have shown that if you DON’T make a plan you have 10 times the odds of becoming that overweight chain-smoking lazy slob who’s wondering what the heck happened to his life.
I am 18. I’m screwed. Enough said.
That seems to be the real problem with people they are not aware enough to even know when the right things come along or the right people, it’s why so many failures occur, so I can only add, **when one gets our to themselves enough to be able to put that someone or other thing first, not be so anal, and then perhaps it will be a win/win….! The road is narrow, but remember it keeps getting more narrow as one goes along, better make the right choices at the right times, or forever be sorry!
I am not familiar with any such videos. I have no idea from reading the blog post what you’re talking about, sorry. I have never had such feelings. Also, I wish we could thumb down the previous posters: who the heck is “Jess”??
The only thing that is stopping you from living is “you.” No one else. It’s all attitude. I may not be able to change certain circumstances in my Life but I CAN change my attitude about them, which keeps me young.
We’re all young. Speak for yourself. I plan on dying at a very young mental age.
So, when you finally leave that bubble of youth exuberance and realize all the clichés that you heard really are true, “time flies”, and “growing up is never easy”, how do you cope with crushing reality?
By realizing that Reality is NOT crushing. That is a vast misconception and a flat out lie started by the ignorant.
Life is to be Embraced, not shunned or hidden from. Run to it, embrace it, and it will embrace you in return.
You stop feeling the world is your oyster once you realize the oyster is hocked to Mr. Rothschild’s bank.
Life is not about the destination, but rather the journey. Material possesions are sansara.
I’m still young (just turned 21), and I already miss those days where I could eat 10 slices of pizza followed by a tub of ice cream and not get sick. I miss those days where I could kick a total jerk right in the balls and not be prosecuted for it. I miss those days where my friends and I didn’t give a crap about how we looked before we went out. But at the same time, I’ve retained my youth much better than a lot of people my age both physically and mentally. I still use Spiderman notebooks & pens, wear Peanuts shirts, sleep with stuffed animals, order off the kids menu, eat Lunchables, play on playgrounds, do the “ninja run” on campus to get to my classes, make brutally honest statements, etc. My list could go on and on, but I think you get the point.
I am where I want to be–for the most part–as I still see myself as a big kid. I simply don’t like hanging out with other young adults that are “too cool” to go roller-skating on the weekend and prefer to get drunk at a bar instead. I don’t see my “world is your oyster” mentality disappearing until I start qualifying for senior discounts & benefits. In the mean time, I need to go meet my friends at the playground.
Growing UP is NOT inevitable.
It’s not how long you live, it’s how much and well you lived
Pretty much, though I wanted myself to be somehwhere else at this point of my life I still never regret being here. Because I am here and I am still here and not there where I had previously wished to be but I find now that this is equally good to the other. So I am here and I will enjoy where ever I will be.
apparently im having a bad day,..my boss demoted me from my job and everyone just seems to be schaudenfraude (they’re happy because i feel bad), and i tend to wonder,…i wish i could go back in the days,..when i was young,..my parents are the ones that are facing all the harsh responsibilities,..and now that im 19,..i would have to face the cruelties of this life, alone and by myself,…(not really,..they’re still here to support me),..and yes,going back to my topic,…im depressed!!, im not on what i want to be in life right now, mainly because of this good for nothing boss of mine!,…but reading spike’s comment,…i mean wow,..seriously i feel a bit better
We’re only as old as we choose to feel. Biologically our bodies may be “old” but we can choose to live life feeling young, hopeful, exuberant, and happy. It saddens me to see people are so cynical and bitter with their lives.
I am happily married, 31, and live life as positively as I can. Yes, I and my husband have a lot of adult responsibilities to deal with and plenty of stresses. But we choose to enjoy life and take the bumps in stride. It’s not all perfect, not all sunshine and roses but it certainly beats being miserable and bitter 24/7.
I’m 64 and growing older has been amazing. In my head, I’m still young although the mirror may not agree. I am where I want to be and I’m most proud of my 35 year marriage and the development of a spiritual core. Although I’m out of work, I have a profession and I know I can practice my profession alone if I must. I worked hard to pay off my debts and to be reasonably secure in my older years. I could certainly face a financially bleak future, but I have a lot of skills and I have faith everything will work out the way it should.
Wow, way to be depressing. Life is what you make it and It looks like it took you too long to realize that fact. Aging is a beautiful thing.
I feel “worn ot and old” lately..
My daughters are adults, but seems liek every day, there is something to worry about or whatever..
I also have an elderly mum, who I have to make sure has things she needs etc( she can’t get to the shops, do her washing etc.. so is usually up to me ( or my brother)to do these things for her..
I know I shouldn’t complain, but some days am sooo tired , and don’t have the energy to organise my own daily life, but feel “pressured” to make sure she has what she needs..
I know that sounds awful, but, that’s how i feel..old and worn out..
I feel “worn out and old” lately..
My daughters are adults, but seems liek every day, there is something to worry about or whatever..
I also have an elderly mum, who I have to make sure has things she needs etc( she can’t get to the shops, do her washing etc.. so is usually up to me ( or my brother)to do these things for her..
I know I shouldn’t complain, but some days am sooo tired , and don’t have the energy to organise my own daily life, but feel “pressured” to make sure she has what she needs..
I know that sounds awful, but, that’s how i feel..old and worn out..
I’m 17, and about to graduate. I have to say that the things I regret the most have to do with girls I was too scared to take a chance with. Besides that, I really got no foundation for the future but hope.
It totally depends on us how we feel mentally about our age. Leave the body and organ system apart, let them become old, what’s important is our feelings which would not become old till our last breath….
My grand pa once asked me ‘ what’s your age? I answered ‘ I am 23 years old’, he said if you want to be young forever always answer ‘ I am 23 years young’. And today I just feel ‘ I am 43 years Young’.
I totally agree with everything in this video. I had to leave my previous career in my late 20s as my conscience wouldn’t let me stay. Now, I’m in my early 30s, rotting away in a shitty retail job. I’ve been job hunting for -years-, but in this economy, forget about it. I can’t even get a friggin’ interview.
Anyone who thinks life is great is either living a charmed life, or just isn’t paying attention.
my b-day is may 15
Always enjoy life! The younger you start, the more youth you get to enjoy.
I’m 16 yrs BTW, and I LOVE life!
Age is a curse. You should be rewarded for all your hard work. Instead? It’s like you are punished. Myself I look like my face has been sucked dry and set on fire. My body is broken down and everyone I knew is dead. My wife is long since dead and buried. I have two sons and two daughters. I haven’t seen any of them since their mother died, 12 years ago. They are across the country and I never bother them. Or they me. I will be 80 years old tomorrow. I will be 80 years old on May 4th. I will wake alone and go to bed alone. And pray for death one more time
Everyone grows old. Wood grows on the shoots of the sapling, bark grows on the tree.
To those who think that ‘growing up” is optional, I would like to direct your attention to that 46-year-old still wearing the same kind of concert t-shirts from high school and allergeric to responsibility. Do they really seem like a free and young person? Or more like someone who is in denial and living a sort of pathetic life? I have wanted to stop the hands of time, too. Keep the same fun relations with friends and carefee attitude. However, once you realize
TIME waits for no one.
You are on your way to really living today.
i’m not where I want but Im not where I was, said someone I forgot. “Im getting there” is how I want to see it.
Well this is interesting. I was just thinking about this and how society is really hard on us as we age. Images of youth and perfection are everywhere and it’s even rougher when you are a woman, because you are really made to feel if you don’t keep up some level of beauty your basically unattractive and done. It’s not easy but..I’m not giving up, I am proud to say I am in my 40′s and I don’t think it’s over. I just released a CD called THE ROAD and its gotten some great praise from Music Connection Magazine. Pg 48 May issue, and Minneapolis Star & Tribune named it “1 of 6 Cool Things In Music” Mar 2012 right after Bruce Springsteen. I feel sharing my music is important, not just because I like to write or sing or want to be recognized for the stardom factor, that actually may not be all that desirable once you get it, plus this is really expensive to do RIGHT, even when you have major amazing guys who have your back like Rob Chiarelli and the wonderful Simone Sello among other awesome musicians. Nope- it’s more about the statement that… YOU CAN DO THIS. I’m not giving in to those that say, “give up, that you can’t get the music recognized if It’s just coming into the public eye when your not 20.” You know what? If I was to find my audience I’d be the first woman over 40 to come out with a debut release and have it get heard universally, to have success with it. BUT SOMEONE IS going to do this at some point. And it needs to happen because we can not buy into this crazy thinking that if your not 20 you can’t have a passion and really see it come to fruition. What do they say…Do what you love and the rest will follow? OK Here we go, takin’ the ride of faith! : o ) !
Faith and hard work of course!
Growing old is required, growing up is optional. Far as I’m concerned “I’ll never grow up”
I do dare to disagree.
I watched the linked videos, and, no, it’s not me who’s depicted there.
Some people around me call me “childish”, well, I love that, and who wouldn’t with 45 years of age? I’m not a kindergarten kid anymore, but I have never grown old somehow, although my hair is turning grey.
Keeping up a child-like spirit is the best you can do.
Like the song says “growing up leads to growing old and then to dying and dying to me don’t sound like all that much fun.”
When I was a kid I had an idea of where I wanted to be at this point in my life and I’m no where close to there but that’s okay because I’m exactly where I want to be now. I had a great time when I was a kid and I raised a lot of hell in college and a few years after. I skipped from job to job for a year or so after college, earning enough cash to get by on for awhile and then taking off.
Reality came crashing down when my wife told me that she was pregnant with my son. When I found out I was going to be a dad, I dropped all of the partying and decided I had to do something about my chronic unemployment. I got lucky and got hired for the first good job I applied for and I’ve been there for almost 24 years.
I have four kids now and I don’t have the same kind of fun I used to have. I had a great time running around, drinking and carousing when I was a kid, but those good times can’t compare to the joy I get from hanging out with my wife and kids. I guess I’m lucky, I not only love my family, I really like them too.
I can testify to the fact that time really does fly. I don’t feel like I’m much older now than I was when I started my current job, but my oldest son is now the age I was when I started the job. My advice to young people is to have fun when you’re young, help people as often you can, be good to your friends and family and take your responsibilities seriously when you become a spouse and parent.
check into what Steve Jobs said at his gaduation speech for young people. I think you will find it to be enlightening.
what a great post!
Thanks.