Despite being a sincere and dedicated procrastinator ever since I can remember, the truth that some learnings had been deeply embedded and never left my mind is beautiful to me. Some words were so strong and impactful that I can proudly affirm their influence on the person I am today. On that note, I can surely resonate with the saying by my childhood favourite Astrid Lindgren ‘All people should carry their childhood with them from beginning to end’.
That quote might have a distinct meaning for each of us and a never-ending file of interpretations. Some may perceive it as a reminder to stay cheerful and childlike in situations, which just blatantly scream adulthood. Others may see it as mental nourishment, which reiterates the necessity to never forget teachings, which shaped us in the early years of our lives. For me, it denotes both.
I sense the overwhelming nature of adulthood. I constantly remind myself of the accumulating number of priorities. I can write an ongoing list of responsibilities. But more than anything, I live with the existence of moments, in which I desire to be a child again.
Isn’t that funny? For me, the thought itself indicates a human being’s tendency to always hope for a different story. The curiosity for the other end of the spectrum is just too big. The greed to be more, to have more, and if there is time left, to give more, is too great. Be it the persistent displeasure with the now or the constant reliance on the past and future, the grass is always greener on the other side for us.
On that note, I do believe that the inner child should not leave one. Not forgetting that the inner child can imply so many things. It can be the calming soul during hardships, the listening spirit in loneliness, but also just a cheerful trait in moments of botheration.
Nonetheless, despite all those points of affirmation, I also believe in more than the inner child. As a grown-up, I have faith in experiences we gain to form and not destroy ourselves. I trust in the encounters we make to evolve and not be left behind. Above all, I accept the overwhelming nature of adulthood as it is.
The notion is always easier than reality. The same goes for adulthood. We all strive for more independence, more choices, and simply more solitude in our lives. But once we reach a point, which enables all of that, we feel overpowered. We believe to be thrown in at the deep end.
However, in reality, I am waiting for the day we finally acknowledge the affirmations of being an adult. The stage, in which we truly understand the fact that we are served with the possibility to grow individually. The period in which we sincerely notice platforms we are served with, to educate not only ourselves but others as well. The time, we recognize the voice we have with the growing numbers on our page called age. And most importantly, the moment we are ready to deal with the feeling of overwhelm in the midst of coming of age.
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