Adulthood
I felt that others, like me, had always expected adulthood to be a tedious affair.
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I never cared to be an adult, and it surprises me to see peers lament about not appreciating their childhoods as they happened. I felt that others, like me, had always expected adulthood to be a tedious affair.
I noticed most adults were emotionally and mentally immature. They had dubious morals and epitomized hypocrisy. Because of this, their age didn’t automatically make them credible to me, and neither did I consider them aspirational.
I would question their perspectives and conclude that being expected to concede to their views was a power play rather than a testament to the validity of their stance.
Many adults weren’t equipped with skills like emotional regulation, conflict resolution or financial literacy. Our education has, until now, focused on academics rather than practical, emotional, or social intelligence.
While it’s understandable to expect these skills to develop organically through life, dysfunction, transferred as generational trauma, is often the default in a society like ours.
My reluctance toward adulthood was further entrenched by my mindset. I was one of those kids who asked too many questions and thought too deeply. Through 5-year-old lenses, life already seemed taxing, making me suspect that the added responsibilities of adulthood would rather curtail the freedoms many people seemed to expect.
Adulthood brings the freedom to make your own choices, but with that freedom comes the full weight of responsibility. Every decision, whether mundane or life-altering, has a price, and when no one else is accountable, you’re left to bear the consequences alone.
This creates a paradox: the independence you longed for in childhood now comes tethered to the burden of ownership. Whether it’s career paths, relationships, or daily habits, adulthood dictates you think not just about what you want but also about the ripple effects of your actions.
Another challenge that comes with growing older is the expectations. The season of sowing is over, and suddenly, everyone—even those who never tilled the soil or watered the seeds—feels entitled to a share of the harvest.
You may have longed for this stage of life as a chance to break free from family obligations, only to find they don’t disappear. Instead, they evolve and expand, growing alongside you and demanding more in ways you never anticipated.
Now you are negotiating with loved ones on where to live, when, who and how you marry and whether you have children. Relatives you never knew make debuts in your life, and you take on black tax. You have to decide how much autonomy you can barter for these relationships to endure harmoniously.
In many ways, adulthood mirrors childhood. You are still constantly learning, unlearning, and confronting experiences that push your boundaries. What’s different is our adaptability.
We grow rigid, more prone to snapping under pressure than swaying with it. But isn’t the unknown the source of suspense that makes life exhilarating?
By preserving the curiosity of our younger years, we can see the uncertainties of life as opportunities for discovery and savor the thrill of each new chapter.
From late last year till now I have accepted the uncertainties of my existence, I do have S.M.A.R.T goals to have tunnel vision. Growing up under a single dad, I've realized my dad had anxiety over my future which caused him to adopt training methods after I clocked 5 for me to grow up fast
I wanted to attend kiddies' parties, cinema, parks…even when he took me there, I wasn't allowed to explore. He preferred me hanging out with him and his friends. This I think was his MO to have me grow up fast
Did I? Not exactly. Instead, I grew up timid, anxious, and ignorant of the hardcore experience of surviving. You can say this is my first time of being a human being
I love him still as I could blame his actions on PTSD and environmental factors, yet the intention in his heart was “love”. Yep! We are all in this together iterating our decisions one phase at a time. More honest digest from you, loving your run
Excellent visual art you've picked to spice up this read. This is becoming your Trademark. Shoutout to the Visual Artist too.
I have always wanted to be an adult, and since primary 3, I have considered 25 the beginning of adulthood. Now, I am on the brink of that which I have longed for, and my feelings haven't changed.
I wanted to be an adult because I figured I would be great at it—I am emotionally intelligent, resourceful, optimistic on most days, and social. But being an "almost adult" has shown me that sometimes it is okay not to be great at things. Some situations are out of your control and out of your current life XP level, and if you could control everything every time, you would never have room to grow and actually be great.
So yes, you're right, Kufre. 2025 is going to be about learning and unlearning what it means to be a well-balanced adult, accepting and adapting to the fact that the unknown is the source of suspense that makes life worth living.
Adulthood: 5/10 (would recommend).