What do you think about growing up and what it means??

[retronerdgamer]

This might seem like a really weird topic but I kinda wanted to see what people thought about it. Been watching Naruto lately and I'm near the end of Shippuden and really the final arc in it is very interesting IMO. Without spoilers I think it fits the theme of what it is to grow up that the series has had and it kinda made me think about this and something in my life.
Like I've always been afraid of distance growing between me and people I know/knew but this kinda made me think that no matter what that's going to happen at some point and that no matter what the real ones will always be there even if it's not all the time like "the good old days".
Maybe I went off topic, I'dunno but what do you guys think? I think accepting change is a really good thing to have for someone to "grow up".

 

[Gorse]

Growing up is:

1. Having the desire and capacity to accept a high level of responsibility.
2. Being able to effectively and consistently respond to change in a way that leads to positive development for you and your loved ones, even when the source of that change is negative.
3. Getting generally slower and gradually developing more aches and pains.

If you can do all that of, congratulations — you’re an adult! Can you drive me to the mall later?

 

[retronerdgamer]

Growing up is:

1. Having the desire and capacity to accept a high level of responsibility.
2. Being able to effectively and consistently respond to change in a way that leads to positive development for you and your loved ones, even when the source of that change is negative.
3. Getting generally slower and gradually developing more aches and pains.

If you can do all that of, congratulations — you’re an adult! Can you drive me to the mall later?

The first one is a bit debatable as IMO you can grow up and not have the desire for a high level of responsibility.
Second and third are really true though. Haha, I've slowed down and gotten a few pains myself and I think change is something I'm slowly coming to terms with too.

Also hell no because I hate the mall

 

[Waffles]

I don't think there's an "end goal" to growing up. To me, it's an ongoing process.

But I'm about the worst possible person to be answering this because I have hardly grown up myself.

 

[CaptainGreedEye]

I feel like Growing up is coming face to face with the fact that Nightmares must exist for dreams too be possible.
What I mean by this is, that No matter Were you are in the world and no matter how hard you try to do good things and stop evil, Bad things are going to happen and evil will always push back. I know their a lot of people in the world that Dislike the evil in other and them self's, but When you grow older You start to realize that its necessary for it to exist. not only cause it gives us purpose but is the very thing that allows use to Feel a need to live in the world. Their no point For us to exist without evil cause thing would Be come soo boring and mundane, it would be like living in a purgatory. It's one of the reason I believe in reincarnation cause, Imagine going to heaven. You did everything right and god gives you salvation. then what? You can do everything you ever wanted and never struggle. But A yellow dog once taught me "What's the point of living, if you get everything you want in life" At that point Heaven Seems Like another Eternity in hell. You'll never have that purpose again. No true reason to ever exist. Cause You did and fulfilled your goal. Getting to heaven. Just like Graduation from school, Collage, or even getting a job. Then what? You did it. now what? Their no point in picking a new goal Cause your in heaven... Kind of feel like You should of never existed.

 

[tenkai star]

it happened without noticing it I’d say. You learn to provide for yourself, and then one day you have to provide for others and I found purpose and fulfillment from that. Sometimes I have nostalgia for certain periods but I enjoy the present just as much. I get it though bro, sometimes the weight of existence and the uncertainly of the future randomly crash into you like a truck. Haha I remember feeling an existential crisis from watching FLCL when I was like 10

 

[Acerodon]

I feel growing up is about learning to take care of yourself and possibly other people if you so choose. I feel that the measure of how well you are able to do things for yourself is how you have grown up.

 

[Karnik]

Growing up? Nah, I don't recommend it...lol.
Seriously speaking (assuming I can contain myself ), it means this;
1a) Find a job (possibly stable), get up early to do it (trying not to fall asleep during it, so pissing off the boss);
1b) Find an apartment and rent it, trying not to spend all your monthly salary to pay for it (you have to feed yourself somehow);
2) Find a partner and possibly marry her, trying to always agree with her, and satisfy her (emotionally and "physically") every now and then (sure, while looking for a secret lover);
3) Keep everything clean and tidy; the house, the car, yourself and the household accounts;
4) Play video games every now and then, secretly if necessary (especially hentai games) without overdoing it and so spraining your fingers or wrists, necessary to work and so survive;
5) J**k o*f every now and then, obviously secretly, in honor of old times and adolescent memories, not so much as to neglect wife and secret lover;
6) If you decide to have a child (or if it is born due to carelessness or laziness), forget about doing half of the things mentioned above;
7) Get dogs or cats (excellent alternative to point 6) spoil them cuddle them until exhaustion: they have the advantage of "looking" eternally young, and furthermore they don't torment you with the much feared adolescent crises;
8) Try to retire as soon as possible to dedicate yourself body and soul to video games, anime and to wander lazily here and there among these silly forums.

In case anyone hadn't understood, I wrote the formers half seriously and half jokingly, and I hope that my awkward and weird english was understandable to most people, and especially to the OP.
Yours truly.

 

[DunkeyKong]

I need money…like what Arthur said

 

[Strange Hero]

I haven't exactly reached peak adulthood myself, but I think the ultimate lesson I've learned so far is you'll always have time to explore your passions and interests, and most adults who are drifting away from their friends, family, and interets are choosing to do so. Just go with whatever feels right to you, trust yourself.

The existential question I've had ever since college: "Will I ever have enough time to explore my hobbies: writing, reading, playing video games, watching anime and movies?" became white noise, essentially. You'll never have a perfect and ideal scenario, things will change and you'll have to adjust. But you can always find time for yourself and for others.

Some people do naturally grow apart though, I think that's the sad part about growing up. Is there any meaning to you not enjoying a friend's company anymore? Not necessarily. We never taste something the exact same way every time, I think that's the same with experiences.

There's an unusual comfort to the realization that the things you hold dear will change alongside you, as if your journey includes all the things you love. That turns something as simple as a favorite TV show into a part of your soul.

 

[DunkeyKong]

I haven't exactly reached peak adulthood myself, but I think the ultimate lesson I've learned so far is you'll always have time to explore your passions and interests, and most adults who are drifting away from their friends, family, and interets are choosing to do so. Just go with whatever feels right to you, trust yourself.

The existential question I've had ever since college: "Will I ever have enough time to explore my hobbies: writing, reading, playing video games, watching anime and movies?" became white noise, essentially. You'll never have a perfect and ideal scenario, things will change and you'll have to adjust. But you can always find time for yourself and for others.

Some people do naturally grow apart though, I think that's the sad part about growing up. Is there any meaning to you not enjoying a friend's company anymore? Not necessarily. We never taste something the exact same way every time, I think that's the same with experiences.

There's an unusual comfort to the realization that the things you hold dear will change alongside you, as if your journey includes all the things you love. That turns something as simple as a favorite TV show into a part of your soul.

It feels like I'm reading a movie scripts, great description man!

 

[andubandu]

I believe accepting change is crucial as in accepting the nature of man and the impermanence of life. I'm saying this filled with hope and acceptance but the "good old days" are as much of an illusion as the "best that's yet to come" and they both stem from selfish desires. I believe that reaching "adulthood" should make you more capable to love and nurture, and that's what i think is most important in this life. Loving your parents, your significant other, your pets, your friends, your neighbours or strangers in the street. As a poet from my country said (Eminescu) "We've been preached to love for 2000 years and we jump at each others throats". Anytime i see an "adult" not being loving, kind compassionate i see a child that has not yet grasped love in its depth. And doing evil with good intentions is a painful thing to witness. Love you guys

 

[Ulteria]

This might seem like a really weird topic but I kinda wanted to see what people thought about it. Been watching Naruto lately and I'm near the end of Shippuden and really the final arc in it is very interesting IMO. Without spoilers I think it fits the theme of what it is to grow up that the series has had and it kinda made me think about this and something in my life.
Like I've always been afraid of distance growing between me and people I know/knew but this kinda made me think that no matter what that's going to happen at some point and that no matter what the real ones will always be there even if it's not all the time like "the good old days".
Maybe I went off topic, I'dunno but what do you guys think? I think accepting change is a really good thing to have for someone to "grow up".

growing up is learning the world is bigger and more terrifying than you know.
The thing you say about distancing from dear ones? I don't know about that as i was never really close to anyone and distancing always happened in a very short time.
Figuring out you are either cursed or something, because no matter how hard tou try something, it never turns out good (for you at least), or that no matter how good you do something, no one eill ever thank you for that.
It's a interesting experience tho. You either learn to steel yourself or be stomped, and to play the game where everyone loses.
It's a pain. it's a chore, but keep at it, there are good things out there, even if other people can't see it. for me, its games, they keep me sane, and looking forward.

 

[Karnik]

It's a interesting experience tho. You either learn to steel yourself or be stomped, and to play the game where everyone loses.
It's a pain.

Welp, what cosmic pessimism! Come on pal, don't overdo it: this will discourage the lad/lass. Much also depends on the country in which you live, on its habits and customs, on the opportunities it offers, and on the presence of a state welfare system, etc.

 

[dropsmegamega]

What a strange thread. For me growing up is simply coming to a deeper understanding of how the world works. Only understanding the world, the material reality and your own conditions and limitations you can actually decide for yourself and deal with things in a more reasonable way. It's why I feel some people never grown up while others are forced to grow up early. It's not responsibility in a moralist sense of doing the right thing or whatever like media loves to propagate, but rather taking conscious decisions and being conscious of your surroundings.

 

[Yousef]

Growing up is:

1. Having the desire and capacity to accept a high level of responsibility.
2. Being able to effectively and consistently respond to change in a way that leads to positive development for you and your loved ones, even when the source of that change is negative.
3. Getting generally slower and gradually developing more aches and pains.

If you can do all that of, congratulations — you’re an adult! Can you drive me to the mall later?

I can

 

[AnonymousCookieMonster]

For me, growing up is less about choice and more about survival; Alas school that is suppose to equip you with the knowledge and skills seems woefully inadequate in important areas, like money management, basic cooking, priorities, job hunting, etc. School (at least in the US) is more on memorizing answers; Most of which has little or no effect on your everyday life when you turn 18.

We often don't choose to grow up, instead a new chapter of your life is often thrust on you and you take the mantle of responsibility for yourself in order to proceed. That responsibility often involves buying your own food, paying your own rent, paying utilities, etc needed to get you by.

The stress involved in managing everything in your life is difficult at first, and most probably don't have to worry about responsibility, and it being suddenly thrust on them may be too much all at once.

When you have to do it yourself with little or no help, you grow up fast and do what you need to do; When you are pampered and never have a need, you might not grow up. And if you never have a job, your view of time vs money vs effort is skewed as well. Those that don't transition to growing up will eventually have a tougher time when their life-long support is ripped away.

To note: I'm autistic. Social problems are several times worse than for normal people; But when i saw the job options in front of me would lead to nowhere and there was no future for me, i joining the military. In a prolonged period being out of my element (about 8 months) i was forced to change, crawl out of my introverted shell and finish growing up. Damn it, it wasn't easy. But sometimes, you just have to man up and do the things you hate.

 

[RetroLaw]

I honestly didn't think that much when I was a kid, I mostly wondered what kind of console we'll get in the future.

 

[Ikagura]

Growing up is probably accepting that no, you're not special, you won't become the best because of how many people there are with various talent and ambition.

Growing up also means that if you think you got punished for unjust reasons or being disadvantaged compared to others you deal with it instead of complaining or whine over it but keeping the head up, accepting it and trying to go on.

Having the desire and capacity to accept a high level of responsibility.

I understand that being responsible requires more efforts and time to allocate but I'd argue that in fact not everyone is meant for that. At work there are a lot of (talented) worker that are simply poor at managing or people not made to be a good parent (despite being able to have children).

Managing a team requires some natural talents as well as being willing to accept punishment if one of your member ends up making a mistake (which is what some boss tend to avoid).

 

[moonbits]

Doing laundry and paying taxes/rent and barely having any time to enjoy your hobbies. Coming in terms with your traumas, becoming a better person to create long lasting relationships oh and.. Work.

 

[Strange Hero]

It feels like I'm reading a movie scripts, great description man!

Thank you so much!

 

[retronerdgamer]

Honestly seeing some interesting stuff here. lol

I'm not really sure what to add but I have to say I think responsibility is a very deep subject because some have less than others.
It's kinda hard to say what I mean by that but I'll try. I think it varies depening on family, job, and other stuff you decide to do. It's a variable scale I guess.

 

[Smiley Cat]

Honestly, I believe the most important thing is an understanding of discipline.

Discipline can come in many forms, such as sport, dance, music, etc etc. But the main thing is whatever discipline you learn, you will grow to understand that defeats = lessons which make you stronger.
Your persistence in the face of things which seem impossible, your overcoming of frustrations and defeats, your acceptance of training from people who know more than you (even when they criticize you) will ultimately result in you having strong mental fortitude. A vital component of "growing up".
And also it will result in a skill that will help you through your life journey.

 

[Teone]

The more I grow the more I believe that growing up doesn't mean much... it's just an accumulation of experiences. Then your experiences and how you evaluate them deppends mostly from your environment, what is sad since we're in an extremely individualistic era to be alive.

 

[ATenderLad]

The more I grow the more I believe that growing up doesn't mean much... it's just an accumulation of experiences. Then your experiences and how you evaluate them deppends mostly from your envoirment, what is sad since we're in an extremely individualistic era to be alive.

Can't help but agree, you tell children that it's responsibility, or some understanding of people and the world, but a grown man can live much the way he did as a teenager in one instance, while a kid can have to be responsible for their family at a young age in another.

Growing is just getting older, hopefully you learn something.