Feeling Old
 

Okay,
So I haven't been posting on here in ages- yadda yadda yadda-
I realized I first started on GC after getting initiated in 2000 as a sophomore.
Since then:
I held various EC positions
Graduated college
Endured many trials and tribulations
Have held 4 positions at 4 different companies
Have had many experiences learning about dating and relationships
Traveled to more places than I had ever seen before in my life
Met some interesting, and some not so interesting people.

Now, I am getting prepared to take the GMAT so I can ATTEMPT to go BACK to school to get my MBA (Hopefully Northwestern).

I just feel so- old..
Like when did I become an adult? With bills and a car and stuff? A REAL job and all that hoo-haw.

Don't get me wrong, I am not old. I just feel like I am truly and adult now and that is some scary stuff! When did this happen? Just yesterday I was drinking underage.

ARGH!
At the same time it is really nice. I've learned to appreciate things. I appreciate and respect people and qualities I didn't before.

So, in this thread I say anyone that has already made this leap into the "REAL WORLD" give advice to those about to embark on their lives. I am sure there are people that can even give advice I would love to hear.

Don't worry, the feeling will pass (although you'll still feel old at times unfortunately :) ) as you get used to everything. When you go by a high school or college and everyone looks so young, stupid, and ridiculous than you'll feel better about everything. Getting old isn't all bad!! Think of it as a new adventure!

Two words
Crows feet.
I AM TOO YOUNG FOR THIS!
and for God's sake I weighed like 105-110 for forever! Where did this ass and these hips come from!
Why doesn't anyone warn us about this?

Sarah,

YOU'RE NOT OLD!!!!!

I'm not gonna lie to you. It only gets worse from here. All those people who talk about becoming better people as they age are stupid.

-Rudey

You are definitely too young for crow's feet!!! Do you (or did you) tan a lot?

There was an episode on Oprah not too long ago about these women who changed their diets, workout plans, etc and now they look so young!! Did anyone see that? Some of the women and their ages were incredible!!

Haha, you're getting old with wide hips, saggy tits and a pudgy ass. Face it, after the age of 25 the human body starts deteriorating.

Sis, Your mom tried to warn you. Remember: Don't make that face or it will freeze like that! You are what you eat! Wear sunscreen! Get off that couch and get outside and play! No dessert until you eat your vegetables!

I do understand what you mean. When my ex-husband and I bought our new house it felt like it was wayyyy too grown up a thing to be doing. I felt like we were playing house. When I had my first baby, the amount of responsibility overwhelmed me at first. I remember standing in front of the baby bottle nipple aisle at Toys R Us while registering for my baby shower and bursting into tears because I had NO CLUE which nipples to register for. It sneaks up on you slowly, so you're ready for the next step when it comes. In your 30's sometime, you suddenly realize you're very comfortable in your adult roles. They are no longer overwhelming and you are confident about them. You are comfortable with who you are and even when new things come up, you feel more prepared about how to deal with them. I changed careers completely at 35 and felt more confident in my first day at new job than I had felt on my first day of first job out of college. You simply get more comfortable with who you are, which is what makes the 30's a great time in life. Now I've entered the 40's. I look at this decade and think it's going to bring a lot of change. I'm dealing with taking care of a sick mother who won't make it until the end of this decade. By age 49, both my kids will be in college (hopefully living at school and not at home.. not cuz I don't love em, but cuz I think it's a good experience). The 20's are pretty insane. You finish school and leave your very comfortable "student" role which you've had for most of your life. You gain REAL independence and responsibility, many get married, maybe have their first baby. It's tumultuous. The 30's get more stable and, as I said, you're more confident.

You'll be ok :)

Dee

I'm going through the same thing. It's scary. :(

But whenever I start feeling old, I just think of my great-grandmother...she's in her mid-90s, and still going strong, so 24 suddenly doesn't look that ancient.

I haven't felt old yet, thankfully.

I don't either. I think many 20-somethings force themselves to grow up before they're ready. They think once they turn 22 and/or graduate from college they must get married, knocked up, an uber serious career, and take off the party hat. I sometimes feel like I'm committing some mortal sin because I'm taking a six month break between undergrad and grad school AND enjoying it like hell!

I don't plan on ever entering the real world.

I'm on the five year plan now. Applying to law school soon, and then going into the Army as a JAG officer.

Become an advisor. You can feel young and old at the same time.;)

I was thinking the same thing. I weighed 105-110 throughout college and now at age 33 I am about 130-WTF? I can't exercise right now b/c I have a ruptured disc and need surgery (does that happen at age 33?) I have bags under my eyes (I know this is from working overnights.) There was a student at the clinic the other day-I thought he was a high school student-turns out he is a 3rd year vet. student and is 23 years old. He looked like he was 16! I practically started crying-where did the time go?

And I bet you're still rockin the freebird.

But at the same time, you have those 20-somethings (and sometimes, even 30-somethings) who're living in their parents' basement and taking advantage of the "free" food and laundry and sometimes cheap rent.

Its called being an adult/responsible and trying to excell as best as you can. The earlier the start the better. You don't need to be partying like crazy when you're 23,24,25 years old. The people that party and live it up into their 30s are usually the people who don't get the life they want till they're in their 40s & 50s. I don't know about you, but I want the good life as soon as I can get it. Look at Valkyrie; she's old, un-employed, living in the middle of nowhere in a shitty state smack dab in the middle of the country, a law grad, a divorcee, a vegetarian and extremely liberal. How many people can you think of off the top of your head want to be like that? I can't think of one. :rolleyes:

It seems to me that the people that party and live it up in their 30s are already getting what they want out of life. :p Some people don't want to be corporate or rich or whatever. (And I think that a lot of the negative qualities you see in Valkyrie are quite admirable.)

Just because you're enjoying yourself in your 20's doesn't mean you're irresponsible. No where in my post I said to live off your parents.

Amen. I soooooo don't want to be coprorate. I'm cool with being rich as the next person. But, there's more than one route to getting rich besides working in corporate America. I don't think my personality would fit into that type of environment even if I wanted it to. If it wasn't for those damn insurance policies (oops, I mean lack there of), I would not mind working as a bartender/server/substitute teacher and traveling everywhere througout my 20's. I've never been outside the midwest and south dammit. As long as you are supporting yourself financially with this "unconventional" lifestyle, I see nothing wrong.

Yea, but living off of credit/loans when you're 23,24,25 is being responsible? Riiiight.

Heh. I bet you're a democrat, you either don't make much money at all or you're un-employed. Those people who think they're getting what they want out of life wake up, if you will, later on in life and think to themselves....."wtf have I been doing this whole time?"

It's funny I stepped on a scale and it read 125 and I freaked- but I am dealing with that now.

I have a good job and a stable life.
I am also freaking about going to get my MBA. There are a few select schools I am going to apply to (Stanford, NYU, Northwestern, UCLA, etc.) and these are all VERY competitive. What kills me is many of these places want 5 years work experience and I am thinking DEAR GOD! Already! I've already been out of school THAT LONG! WTF!

I also had to laugh because in less than 3 years I will be attending my high school's 10 year reunion. The trips me out.

There are some pluses to being 25.
Dating is a lot more fun and easier. I know what I want in a partner and now know I don't need to settle just for the sake of settling. I'd rather be single.
And the men I date are stable, intelligent, and have confidence- they aren't worried about where they are going in life or what they want. They've already made those decisions and are now achieving their dreams.

Eh- I know it will get better/worse/better. Having a kid would REALLY freak me out.
Right now I am just tripping on "dear God I hope my 401 K does okay!" and "Bastards, don't use up my social security!" and I never thought I would EVER say "Uncle Sam get your grubby fingers off my damn money!".


Ah- the joys of "the real world".

How come you applied to such different schools?

And you should consider getting a fake ID saying you're 18.

-Rudey

You know cash, I only see that you're jocking me because someone quoted you -- I have you on ignore. You've been jocking me for a long time, homes. Remember this? There's more too, but none of it is really interesting enough for me to waste my time quoting. I'm sorry I never returned your advances, dude, but maybe it's time to move on and start jocking someone who actually finds you remotely interesting.

too funny :) he he he he he

There's no dash in unemployed, baby. It's just one word.

Amen, Dionysus and valkyrie. :)

Because they are all top twenty ranked schools and I really don't care where I live.

Advances? Ha! Never! I just thought you looked like Anne Heche 3 years ago. If you thought those were advances then you've been in that shit-hole of a town waaaaaayyy too long.

When was the last time you took your medication?

It's just that Kellogg on marketing and also has good connections with management consulting comps like McKinsey. Stanford has more of a connection to business strategy/VC types. Stern would be more helpful to finance with smaller firms in the NYC area.

Either way, unless you apply to Tuck I think you'll be happy wherever you live :)

-Rudey

I don't feel old either. I take good care of myself and nothing on my body is hurting (sorry :( for those of you who have started hurting). After graduating from college at first I had noticed the difference from being active on campus (I use to walk to class to save gas) to being not so active and I saw that I had gained a few pounds.

So I started walking my dog and making sure I exercised for about 30 minutes for three times a week. It's not that hard to find a little time to work out. (10 minute workout are good to). I also started eating better (fruits and veggies).

I make sure I wear sunscreen, drink water, laugh daily, and try not to stress. I believe stressing out makes you look older. I try to enjoy life and remember that life is too short to stress and worry. As long as I am taking care of all my responsibilities then I say why not celebrate life.

So for right now getting older is not so bad. It's just another chapter in the book. (Yeah I'm also an optimist which also keeps you younger :).)

Re: Feeling Old
 

I feel that exact same way, and I believe, by your post that we are about the same age. When DOES it happen ? I mean just a bit ago it felt like college would never end. On the other hand I want to be a kid again... on the other hand I feel like I'm not ADULT enough, like my apartment still looks like a college kid lives in it, and I still go out all the time and I still make stupid mistakes sometimes.. SUCKS... not quite sure how to deal with this stage of my life at all.

Re: Feeling Old
 

It's all about balance. You need to remember you are an adult. You need to make sure you don't neglect your adult responsibilities. But don't fall into the "I'm too old for that" trap-- you need to enjoy your life and have fun.

No matter what life brings you don't forget who you are, the person that got you where you are today. Don't let that person get locked away in your memories-- let her live --- just balance the two sides of your life.

Wow... Ummm.. I guess I should go hang my head in shame now because I'm still working on the stable self confidence and where exactly I want to go in life. :(

I date guys between 30-32 so that makes a LITTLE difference- dont get me wrong they are still pretty much boys trapped in a man's body, they just have better taste and more confidence than they used to!

Yep, my oldest sister (she's 36) says that men don't really start growing up until they're 30. :p

WTF ever.



ETA: whats your idea of growing up?

Your sister is wrong.

Oops, sorry. She said it was 35. My bad. :p