#notwithstanding unavoidable life stuff/tragedy

[eversnark]

Learning how to handle myself. The feelings that seemed SO deeply rotten and life-consuming as a teenager? You can kind of gently steer yourself out of them.

(Today I got some really shitty news, but I knew exactly how much time I'd need to sit and process, knew that I then needed to get out of the house and distract myself, and so I did. And the news is still shitty, but my head is above water and I can actually be stable for other people. Whereas a few years ago I'd still be freaking out trying to handle myself and the situation and feeling like a failure.)

The gaping maw of a blank and limitless future? It starts filling up, lego brick by lego brick (and you get to choose the bricks, which is actually the fun part!) until you're like "hey I think I have a rough life-plan here, who would have guessed!" Self-consciousness and embarrassment just kind of fade, which means more energy for the things you actually like, yay!

Also, one morning I saw a video about knitting, so I bought needles and a ball of yarn and learned how to knit a square that very afternoon. Didn't ask anyone, didn't have any hoops to jump through, just thought "looks mildly interesting, why not try?" Actually hate knitting, but now I know!

Hey adults: Why do you like being an adult? What do you like about your life?

A couple weeks ago I told the kids at my work that "Being an adult is pretty nice, actually," and they looked shocked, laughed incredulously, and told me I was the first person they'd ever heard say that

So clearly we adults need to talk about this way more often

The past few years have been hard for a lot of people, me included. Covid sucked. I lost three relatives and three pets in one year. Right after lockdown ended, I got badly injured, and ended up housebound for six months and (much more) disabled for two years, and that sucked too.

And you know what? Literally all of that was easier and better than being a teenager.

I like being an adult. I like my life. Even when it's hard, it's mine, and I am building to the best of my ability the a life that I want to live.

I talked about a lot of why being an adult is something worth looking forward to in my last post, so right now I'll simply say this:

I love actually knowing who I am now. I love that I learned and am learning what I want and need. I love that I have independence and autonomy and don't get treated like a kid. I love the fact that I'm the one who gets to decide want I want to do and what I need. I also love that I'm learning to sew. I love that I've had pet rats, and next will have a pet cat. I love that I got top surgery. I love the way I've decorated my room. I love traveling to visit and crash and even just hang out and do work with my friends, when I can. I love that I started reading good news every day, and that I actually have hope for the future, and that I started this blog and have been able to help give so many other people hope, too.

So, here's a call to action for my fellow adults: comment or reply or tag what you like about being an adult. What you love about your life.

Let's give some kids some reasons for hope.