Why is it that we have a world full of twenty-somethings feeling that time has already passed them by? Is it because more and more people are getting their 15 minutes of fame nowadays via reality-tv casting shows, social media etc, and most of these success-stories happen to consist of very young people? It seems that todays stars are made at almost pre-pubescent stage.
When was the last time seeing a famous singer, actor or an athlete make it big way before they're even twenty made you feel old? In my case, witnessing these movie-like breakthroughs and triumphs of people not even out of high school, hasn't got as much to do with feeling old as it has with feeling like an underachiever.
I have a peculiar habit of looking back (that sounds pretty ludicrous coming from anyone under 50 or anyone not on his deathbed) on my achievements, my accomplishments in life, and comparing them to the ones that people I admire had achieved at the same age. My "timeline" pales in comparison, and every passing year the things you found promising in yourself make you more anxious; your capabilities, your talents, have to come into bloom soon, or else they'll become a mere reminder of what could've been.
I tell you, it can be a rather unpleasant hobby if you don't happen to have a big-buck recording/publishing deal, renowned film roles or... well, anything under your belt. Anything big, lasting, respected, admired, adored. Cause that's what young people are always aching for, right?
This modern identity crisis of the twenty-somethings is, still, a really, really weird phenomenon. A lot of people I know seem to share this. Some fifty years ago we maybe talked about "a midlife crisis", then, suddenly it was the thirty-somethings who couldn't cope with growing older...and now, we have people just past twenty with the same problem? How did we get to this point? Isn't it just a tad bit absurd?
Funny enough, this brings me back to my longing for decades I haven't even lived in, my nostalgia of no grounds. Back in, let's say the 50s, 60s, maybe even in the 70s, 80s, there probably weren't such problems. In the early 20th century there wasn't yet any "youth culture". Teenagers dressed like their parents, and people didn't dream of becoming famous. Basic goals in life were a lot more simple. To make it, to have a family and to be able to feed them. In a way, life had a purpose back then. Today people are maybe clinging to their youth - or the idea of youth - because it gives them more time to avoid decisions, to avoid setting goals.
Shit, it's getting somber. On a lighter note, glad I'm not 23. Geez, just think how old those fuckers are!
When was the last time seeing a famous singer, actor or an athlete make it big way before they're even twenty made you feel old? In my case, witnessing these movie-like breakthroughs and triumphs of people not even out of high school, hasn't got as much to do with feeling old as it has with feeling like an underachiever.
I have a peculiar habit of looking back (that sounds pretty ludicrous coming from anyone under 50 or anyone not on his deathbed) on my achievements, my accomplishments in life, and comparing them to the ones that people I admire had achieved at the same age. My "timeline" pales in comparison, and every passing year the things you found promising in yourself make you more anxious; your capabilities, your talents, have to come into bloom soon, or else they'll become a mere reminder of what could've been.
I tell you, it can be a rather unpleasant hobby if you don't happen to have a big-buck recording/publishing deal, renowned film roles or... well, anything under your belt. Anything big, lasting, respected, admired, adored. Cause that's what young people are always aching for, right?
This modern identity crisis of the twenty-somethings is, still, a really, really weird phenomenon. A lot of people I know seem to share this. Some fifty years ago we maybe talked about "a midlife crisis", then, suddenly it was the thirty-somethings who couldn't cope with growing older...and now, we have people just past twenty with the same problem? How did we get to this point? Isn't it just a tad bit absurd?
Funny enough, this brings me back to my longing for decades I haven't even lived in, my nostalgia of no grounds. Back in, let's say the 50s, 60s, maybe even in the 70s, 80s, there probably weren't such problems. In the early 20th century there wasn't yet any "youth culture". Teenagers dressed like their parents, and people didn't dream of becoming famous. Basic goals in life were a lot more simple. To make it, to have a family and to be able to feed them. In a way, life had a purpose back then. Today people are maybe clinging to their youth - or the idea of youth - because it gives them more time to avoid decisions, to avoid setting goals.
Shit, it's getting somber. On a lighter note, glad I'm not 23. Geez, just think how old those fuckers are!
Arsi oot joissain jutuissa niin mun soulmate..
VastaaPoista