forewarned

LINK: forewarned

Currently listening to: You’re On Your Own, Kid – Taylor Swift

From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes
I called a taxi to take me there
I search the party of better bodies
Just to learn that my dreams aren’t rare
You’re on your own, kid
You always have been

What is something about adulthood you wish you were warned about?

Prompt snagged from: TCMC

If I could go back in time, I’d warn my younger self that adulthood isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. As a kid, all I wanted was to grow up because adults could do whatever they wanted. Freedom. No curfews, no homework, no parents telling me to clean my room. Life, I thought was going to be pure bliss.

That illusion didn’t last long. My first taste of adulthood came at 15 when I got my first job. I remember getting my first paycheck and feeling rich until I realized taxes were a thing. Half of my paycheck vanished before I could even blink. Then came the overdraft fee because apparently my “treat yoself” Taco Bell runs with friends were not in the budget. Damn you, Taco Bell and your supreme tacos. *shakes fist*

No one warned me that being an adult is basically doing chores forever. It’s a never-ending loop: laundry, groceries, dishes, cooking, cleaning, buying more toilet paper, repeat. I remember when weekends used to be fun. Now they’re just “catch up on everything I didn’t do over the week” days.

Outside of work, half of the time I have no idea WTF I’m doing. I thought turning 18 (21 at the latest) meant that I’d suddenly have it all figured out—career, confidence, and direction.

Instead:

  • my insecurities worsened
  • heartbreaks hit harder
  • losing people hurt more
  • friendships fade
  • it’s harder to connect with others
  • work burns me out
  • insomnia occurs at the worst moments
  • my metabolism has turned on me
  • I’ve become more introverted
  • I’m never satisfied

There’s no blueprint for adulthood. I just improvise and hope I’m not completely fucking up. I’m out here winging it, acting like I have it all together and trying to do my best. That’s gotta count for something.

Le sigh. At least I can stay up as late as I want now. I just… don’t want to. Because I have work in the morning.


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19 responses to “forewarned”

  1. Jesse Pallante Avatar

    Being an adult is not for the faint of heart. It can be tough, but it is fun because you can do what you want when you want to, unless you are at work. You can get off work and nap if you are ahead of yourself on things you need to get done, just plan ahead for certain items. Then, you can relax and do what you want to do.

    1. justrojie Avatar

      prioritizing and planning are key, it seems like. Thanks, Jesse! I just wanna do everything all at once lol but it’s not working out too good for me.

  2. Jesse Pallante Avatar

    Sure that could work if it is necessary to do everything at once, just saying.

    1. justrojie Avatar

      lol it’s def not necessary… i just wanna try everything

  3. Jesse Pallante Avatar

    Ok that’s understandable

  4. Sia Avatar

    Haha so true😂 we all thought we’d have it figured out by now, but nope, just guessing our way through.
    same here, just trying to keep it together day by day. that’s gotta count right?

    1. justrojie Avatar

      That’s all we can do!

  5. Dee❤ Avatar

    Being an adult is not easy between trying to juggle work and living and comparing yourself to people who have a semblance of having their life figured. It’s a lot

    1. justrojie Avatar

      It sure is!! Idk why I thought it would be easier when I was older 😆

  6. ianmdudley Avatar

    Yeah, then go and have some kids. You think adulthood is stressful now, just wait! 🙂

    1. justrojie Avatar

      Lol noooooooo thank you!! 😂

  7. Info-Man Avatar

    Adulthood is hard . Nothing else to say ,reminds me of Taylor’s another song Never grow up .

    1. justrojie Avatar

      yasss!! it’s the worst hood lol

  8. Edward Ortiz Avatar

    I totally relate to your story. I was shocked by my first paycheck and how much money they took out for taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. I was like, “Where did my money go?”

    1. justrojie Avatar

      it def was a rude awakening! smh

  9. Violet Lentz Avatar

    I was the same age when I was more or less emancipated- but I have to say I was very prepared- how I just knew what to do- rent an apartment get the utilities turned on open a Bank account etc- it was just second nature- and in my case soooo worth it!

    1. justrojie Avatar

      my dad taught me lots of things when i was a pre-teen but not about how tough it could be to be an adult.

  10. ibarynt Avatar

    We can stay up late but we also can’t 🤣

    1. justrojie Avatar

      lol i hate that for us!

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