When I was younger, all I wanted to do was grow up. I wanted to be able to pay for my own things, drive my own car, pick my own clothes. Now, I'm at the age where I can do all of these things. And soon, I'll legally be an adult. Yet, I find myself yearning for the past. I miss watching my favorite shows on PBS. I miss making pillow forts at sleepovers. With college around the corner, I know I'll miss seeing my friends every day and coming home to my family.
What I've just described is the bittersweetness of growing up, a feeling that I think many people my age can relate to. In fact I was inspired to write this article because of how many nostalgic reels I was seeing on social media.
When I first stumbled across these reels on my For You Page, a sadness came over me. The warm portrayals of childhood—rays of sunshine coming through a kitchen window or a cozy Christmastime living room—made me wish I could travel back in time. But after some thought, I realized how grateful I am to have such wonderful memories to cherish, and that if I could go back in time or freeze it, I wouldn't be as appreciative of those carefree years.
As an introspective person, I also reflected on whether or not I'm happy with who I am today and if dissatisfaction with my current self is the reason behind my preference for the past over the present. I realized that I have a lot of room for improvement, and that's the exciting part about growing up—the future is ours to decide. There are so many opportunities in store for us to become the versions of ourselves that our younger selves would admire and respect. To seize these opportunities means we have to look forward. Of course, looking back isn't always a bad thing. But as The Great Gatsby cautions, we shouldn't let what was hold us back from what can be.
This summer—my last summer as a kid—I'm not trying to erase any feelings of longing for the past or fear for the future. I'm embracing them, recognizing that they're natural human emotions that will return—when I turn 21, when I graduate college, when I move into my own place, when I get married, when I have my own kids and grandkids. These emotions are a beautiful marker of the passage of time, which reminds me of another thing I've been seeing on social media lately: the "time passes anyway" trend. Time passes anyway, so you might as well make the most of it. Let go of your inhibitions and start going after long-term goals and growth.
Rekindle old friendships and ignite new ones. Revisit old hobbies and explore new ones. Rewatch a childhood show (Avatar: The Last Airbender will always be my comfort show) and start a new one (leave a comment if you find one worth sharing because I'm always looking for recommendations). Growing up doesn't mean letting go. Your inner child will always be inside of you, and they'll be watching you chase your dreams and aspirations, cheering you on every step of the way.
