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Feeling old at 20.....
- Thread starter ezekial45
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krypt0nian
Banned
Nick said:
See? Nick knows the deal here.
Well, age is like a hill.
When you are on the left you wish you can climb faster, it's boring down there.
When you are on the right you wish you can slow down and afraid of hitting bottom.
20 is when you are dead on top of the hill.
Enjoy your view, it's not time to look down yet.
When you are on the left you wish you can climb faster, it's boring down there.
When you are on the right you wish you can slow down and afraid of hitting bottom.
20 is when you are dead on top of the hill.
Enjoy your view, it's not time to look down yet.
WHOAguitarninja
Member
I'm 22. I realised the other day that when my brother is my age, I will be 37. That was the first time I'd felt old.
Ketchup Boy
Junior Member
I turned 19 like a couple of weeks ago. I don't even feel like an adult seeing how much I rely on my parents and stuff. It's kind of sad. I'm just waiting for college to start so I can do my own thing. And this is my last year of being a teenager!! And I feel like I'm wasting it.
Kuramu said:
That has been the general consensus among most of my older friends and co-workers. One explanation I can think of is that each piece of time is a smaller fraction of your total time so they go by faster. IE 1 year when you're 20 is a twentith of your life where as the same amount at age 60 is a much smaller fraction. On the otherhand, I have no idea what I'm talking about. Where's my fiber?
Kaiser Dämmerung
Member
ezekial45 said:
K
kittens
Unconfirmed Member
Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm 22 now, and I had similar feelings when I hit 20...
What I think it was for me, though, is a general dissatisfaction with the American/Capitalist way of life... Go to school for 17+ years, work an unempowering and mundande 40-hour-a-week job, get burnt out and bitter, retire, die.
After two years of college I said "**** that," and dropped out of school, cut my work hours to 15 - 20 per week, and focused more on my social life and community stuff (activism, volunteering, etc.)
And yeah, this is easier for me than it is for most Americans. I live in Portland (OR) and only pay $200 a month for rent, I get food for free from Food Not Bombs, and I keep my expenses pretty low (cept for games here and there).
I dunno... Being 20 years (one fourth?) of the way through life sucks a little less if you're living it to it's fullest, you know?
What I think it was for me, though, is a general dissatisfaction with the American/Capitalist way of life... Go to school for 17+ years, work an unempowering and mundande 40-hour-a-week job, get burnt out and bitter, retire, die.
After two years of college I said "**** that," and dropped out of school, cut my work hours to 15 - 20 per week, and focused more on my social life and community stuff (activism, volunteering, etc.)
And yeah, this is easier for me than it is for most Americans. I live in Portland (OR) and only pay $200 a month for rent, I get food for free from Food Not Bombs, and I keep my expenses pretty low (cept for games here and there).
I dunno... Being 20 years (one fourth?) of the way through life sucks a little less if you're living it to it's fullest, you know?
aorange999
Member
I just got a job at a college and there are a lot of work-study students in my office who are 10 years younger than me (28). They ALWAYS complain about how old they are and I laugh at them. Enjoy that age, you can do anything you want and blame it on being 'young and stupid'.
Be like Nick, drink a lot, use drugs and get laid as much as possible because in a few short years that stuff stops being called 'having fun' and turns into being 'irresponsible'
Be like Nick, drink a lot, use drugs and get laid as much as possible because in a few short years that stuff stops being called 'having fun' and turns into being 'irresponsible'
That's what depresses me the most. I missed out on having fun during those "peak years", and even though I want to make up for them, you really can't f*ck around and goof off in the second half of your 20s like you could when you were 17-20. Like you said, when you're younger it's just innocent fun, but when you're in your later 20s and beyond people call you irresponsible, a slacker. Of course those same people will still try to make you feel better by saying "oh you're still so young!"...... followed by, "just don't act it".aorange999 said:
not to mention I miss not being tired all day just because I went to bed at 3am the previous several nights. even though I'm in better shape than I was back then, there are some things you just can't have back. Really, 20 is like your physical/energenic peak. There's really no excuse to feel "old" at 20.
I was just going by my own experience and what I've heard from others. Not just strength but things like energy, being able to stay up late without feeling like shit, libido, metabolism/being able to keep fat off, not having to deal with physical ailments, hairloss, etc. And it's even worse for women. Basically, the time in your "adult" life at which you feel your youngest and have less shit to deal with physically. I guess "peak" is subjective and can be defined arbitrarily, but that's what I was going by. That stuff is nice to hear, though.pel1300 said:
I remember feeling old at 20, but mostly in the sense that I wouldn't have my parents nest to rely on.
But I don't feel old at 28. I don't have the same expectations that straight people have put on them. I still like to think there are equally good or better days ahead.
Time does fly by though, but so what? I don't think youth and happiness is exclusive to the 20's.
I do have a lot of nostalgia for the 90's though...
But I don't feel old at 28. I don't have the same expectations that straight people have put on them. I still like to think there are equally good or better days ahead.
Time does fly by though, but so what? I don't think youth and happiness is exclusive to the 20's.
I do have a lot of nostalgia for the 90's though...
I suppose it depends on how you choose to spend your 20s. Some people say you can really live it up throughout all of your 20s, and even as long as you like. Other people swear that once they hand you the diploma, life kicks you in the ass and it's the daily grind until you die. I'm sorta stuck......inbetween.MaX_PL said:
I'm 24 and, so far, have felt like my life has been a roller coaster ride of luck and ambition. Only now, that I've fulfilled certain aspects of my dream, have I focused more of my time on the social aspect of life. It's certainly paying dividends, as I'm way more happy and am also understanding who I am more and more.
My philosophy is: You only live life once -- treat every day like it is your last. Appreciate and be grateful.
My philosophy is: You only live life once -- treat every day like it is your last. Appreciate and be grateful.
pissmypants
Member
I'm 19. I kind of get what the OP is talking about because I used to feel similar when I was 17-18. My problem was my lack of a social life. I started college a year ago and while I've had a very successful academic life, I've found it equally important to live it up. Start making friends with people who like to go out and have a good time - chances are you will too when you are with them. Interacting with people your own age, drinking and just generally spending time outside of the house are all very healthy (in moderation!) things to do to maintain a happy and balanced life. Cut down on the videogames and get out to see what the world has to offer.
Well, you're half right anyway.pel1300 said:
Your strength doesn't actually peak until your mid to late 30's. Bodybuilders don't even reach their pinnacle until 35 or 36. That's when your metabolism and physical strength finally reach a balance, allowing you to pack on the muscle mass like at no other time in your life. So if you're only 20 years old then you've still got a decade and a half to get those Arnold Schwarzenegger biceps.
Speed definitely peaks in your late teens, early 20's. Endurance probably tops out somewhere in your 30's, as evidenced by Lance Armstrong.
Ford Prefect
GAAAAAAAAY
lol rite guyz?Dr_Cogent said:
Laramie said:
It's weird, because I still consider 1997, when I was 10, rather recent. I also consider 10 years old to be a rather important year for myself, just like I consider 20. I left the U.S. for the first time at 10 (actually I left the country numerous times when I was 0-2 years old but I don't remember so it's rather meaningless) and I'm leaving on a much longer term at 20.
Who knows what'll happen when I'm 30. Marriage, children, etc. etc.?
I don't feel old though. Ironically I feel younger at 20 than I did at 19.
I'm laughing so hard tears are rolling down my wrinkled cheeks.
It just gets worse and worse and worse. Don't waste your youth worrying about your old age. It's coming and there's nothing you can do about it except enjoy youth while you have it. You'll never have it again. Do all the crazy shit you can without going to jail or getting a fatal disease, because those days will end.
There are advantages to being older, but I don't know many people my age who wouldn't rather have their 20 year old bodies back. Their 20 year old brains, no.
Edit: Oh, and concerning the lack of accomplishment? I hereby give you the secret that all men over 30 know: Your Life Is Not Going To Turn Out How You Expected. Deal with it. One of the only guarantees I can give you. No one's does. Wisdom is understanding that this isn't a bad thing, only a different thing.
It just gets worse and worse and worse. Don't waste your youth worrying about your old age. It's coming and there's nothing you can do about it except enjoy youth while you have it. You'll never have it again. Do all the crazy shit you can without going to jail or getting a fatal disease, because those days will end.
There are advantages to being older, but I don't know many people my age who wouldn't rather have their 20 year old bodies back. Their 20 year old brains, no.
Edit: Oh, and concerning the lack of accomplishment? I hereby give you the secret that all men over 30 know: Your Life Is Not Going To Turn Out How You Expected. Deal with it. One of the only guarantees I can give you. No one's does. Wisdom is understanding that this isn't a bad thing, only a different thing.
Cosmic Bus
pristine morning snow
28, and I feel twice that, easily. I didn't do anything with my life when I had the chance, and now it's completely screwed and I can barely find reason to get out of bed in the morning.
You're still a kid. Don't mess this shit up.
You're still a kid. Don't mess this shit up.
Systems_id
Banned
I felt this on way 21st birthday. It felt like time was slipping away and I hadn't even experienced a quarter of what everyone else my age was experiencing. Ironically it was my 22nd birthday, reading Pattern Recognition, and finally getting my own car that I snapped out of it and realized that I'm still young and I can do pratically anything I want. I'm free. I can travel, go to museums, experience different kinds of restaurants, go to events and basically do nearly anything I want anytime I want. Life is pretty rockin' right now.
FortunateSon
Banned
Dude, I'm 20 and I'm feeling great. Mind you, I'm only starting College this year. So yeah. I will be like the oldest there, well not really, but I will probably be like 1 year older than nearly everyone there. And you think I care? Not really. I really don't see what you're worried about.
You think you're old at 20? What about me then huh in College?
From 18-20, I was just fooling around, working, making money. Drinking, movies, jams, playing videogames, girls, theme parks.
Don't be afraid, trust me. Just don't worry, 20 is just a freaking number. Trust me, go outside and enjoy and you will forget that you turned 20.
Like, 20+ are going to be your best years.
Since I turned 20, I have been having a blast.
I would like to tell everyone, that my life before I truned 18 completely sucked balls.
This is what I used to do, home > games > watch movies home > yeah, whatever.
It was shit till I rediscovered life.
You think you're old at 20? What about me then huh in College?
From 18-20, I was just fooling around, working, making money. Drinking, movies, jams, playing videogames, girls, theme parks.
Don't be afraid, trust me. Just don't worry, 20 is just a freaking number. Trust me, go outside and enjoy and you will forget that you turned 20.
Like, 20+ are going to be your best years.
Since I turned 20, I have been having a blast.
I would like to tell everyone, that my life before I truned 18 completely sucked balls.
This is what I used to do, home > games > watch movies home > yeah, whatever.
It was shit till I rediscovered life.
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