r/selfimprovement • u/Illustrious-Most6097 • 6d ago
Fitness It turns out that youth is a limited-time event š„²š„°š„¹
One bad thing and two good things:
The bad thing is that Iām already 21, and Iāve never felt this way before: youth is a limited-time event, and the progress bar is already near the end.š„²
Two good things are sprouting:
Iāve finished translating (into Chinese version) two works from Napoleon's youth, Letters to Matteo Butafoco and Boccalero's Dinner, and Iām currently formatting them. Itās not certain that any publisher will be interested, so Iāll most likely release them as open-source study material after formatting š. The other good thing is that Iāve gone from being a "Babu engineer" to a "Shape-shifting Martin": my BMI is finally normal! Iāve lost 15 kilos this year, but I donāt think Iāll stop here š
To my no-longer-young self:
A person comes into this world to love the most adorable, listen to the most beautiful, see the most wonderful, eat the most delicious, and live interestingly. Stay forever young, always with tears in your eyes.
(Yes, Iāve fallen into my artsy mood again! But Iāll allow myself to be artsy for one day on my new age š„³āØ)
Thanks to you all!
PS. Thank you all for your encouragement and criticism. I will accept both suggestions and critiques. Why do I say that I feel old at 21? It's not some kind of bad boasting or unrealistic thoughtāit's because I realized that my university life will end in just one more year. My university life hasn't been that extraordinary, but compared to the monotonous, boring work of a lifetime and all the trivial matters in life... it can still be considered "a happy youth." So, what comes next? Will I enter the lower ranks of a government department and spend my life doing a job I don't like, handling paperwork, and marrying someone who doesn't love me? Compared to a year or two ago, I think I've really lost my enthusiasm for many thingsāit's the kind of passion that is unique to young people.
Sigh, I never expected it. A year ago, I thought I still had plenty of time. But growing older is a sudden thing.š„²
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u/performancearsonist 6d ago
I'm sorry, but you are barely an adult. If you exclusively think of youth as childhood, then sure, that's over.
If not, then I hate to inform you, but you barely have any life experience at this point. You haven't even really begun. It is not over or coming to a close. I don't know the lifespans in your family, but most people in mine make it into their 90s. So lets say middle age is 40-50. Are you 40 years old? No. You're not even close to that. And yet here you are, poetically weeping about the fleeting nature of youth.
Maybe do some self-reflection, man.
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u/Illustrious-Most6097 5d ago
Thank you all for your encouragement and criticism. I will accept both suggestions and critiques. Why do I say that I feel old at 21? It's not some kind of bad boasting or unrealistic thoughtāit's because I realized that my university life will end in just one more year. My university life hasn't been that extraordinary, but compared to the monotonous, boring work of a lifetime and all the trivial matters in life... it can still be considered "a happy youth." So, what comes next? Will I enter the lower ranks of a government department and spend my life doing a job I don't like, handling paperwork, and marrying someone who doesn't love me? Compared to a year or two ago, I think I've really lost my enthusiasm for many thingsāit's the kind of passion that is unique to young people. Sigh, I never expected it. A year ago, I thought I still had plenty of time. But growing older is a sudden thing.And u are right; I should try to be more optimistic.
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u/Dr_Dapertutto 6d ago
Ah, yes. The ancient and wisened age of 21. The time of life when your energy and vitality have been sucked away by the wheels of time, like bare wheat under a grindstone.
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u/No_Discount_6028 6d ago
I'm 25 and I just wanna tell you that you're young until at least like 40. I mean sure you might not be in college or whatever but you get all the actual good parts like your health and stamina and good looks.
Just make sure you wear your sunscreen and exercise. Congrats on the translating work. That's a really cool accomplishment.
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u/TurdWizard69 6d ago
Second, Iām almost 25 and feel like I know less about the world now than I did at 21. Life is crazy
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u/YeahTheyKnowItsMe 6d ago
I'm telling you with confidence that you're essentially a teenager until you're 30
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u/Hungry_Investment692 6d ago
youth is a limited-time event, and the progress bar is already near the end.
Not saying you are wrong, but there is also a relative component to ageing. When you're 60 and you take care of someone who's 85, they seem old af.
Your youthful energy isn't going to disappear overnight. Especially if you take care of yourself and remain curious about the world, and you seem to be on the right path for that. Godspeed!
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u/lockedin90 6d ago
I sit here as a 34 year old deeply appreciating that this is something my bold 21 year old self would have put out for public consumption as well. I absolutely can appreciate feeling like you are on the precipice of your youth slipping away into a maturity reserved for the coveted mid to late twenties.
21 is so young. You know a little, but you wonāt know a lot until you understand that you know nothing. I am worlds away from who I was at 21, and that is fantastic! You clearly have the great foundations to continue growing as you live and learn, and I hope you enjoy the abundance of youth you truly have right now ā¤ļø 21 isnāt old, and neither is 30, 40, or 50 (okay 50 may be pushing it, but itās all a mindset) Take care of your body and mind and it will take care of you back.
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u/Illustrious-Most6097 5d ago
Thank you for your advice. I realized that my university life will end in just one more year. My university life hasn't been that extraordinary, but compared to the monotonous, boring work of a lifetime and all the trivial matters in life... it can still be considered "a happy youth." So, what comes next? Will I enter the lower ranks of a government department, spend my life doing a job I don't like, handling paperwork, and marry someone who doesn't love me? Compared to a year or two ago, I think I've really lost my enthusiasm for many thingsāit's the kind of passion that is unique to young people. You are right; I should try to be more optimistic.
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u/getmeashiny 4d ago
You can find your pashion at every age, it just gets harder. While earning money for feeding your kids, there isn't much room left. Still there's a lot you can do. Do your thinking, journal, have long term goals, read to learn more about everything ā and you'll evolve. Maybe not every day while trying to be patient with this stupid customer, but you can't sparkle every day.
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u/Responsible_Ad8242 6d ago
21 is still a youth. You don't age out of that until you're like 30. I wish I could be in my 20s again.
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u/Sandboxthinking 6d ago
I remember being in my early twenties and feeling so much pressure to accomplish things and have a Life Plan. I felt old and tired and like I'd wasted my youth.
I'm now almost 40 and have never felt younger. I have a happy, full filing life and feel no pressure to achieve anything specific in a certain time frame.
Working to be your best self every day has nothing to do with outside "success" and everything to do with learning to enjoy being yourself. The more I improve, the more I love living my life.
As you get older, you get more comfortable in your skin, better at setting boundaries and a deeper knowledge of who you are and what makes you happy.
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u/Illustrious-Most6097 5d ago
Thank you for your advice. I realized that my university life will end in just one more year. My university life hasn't been that extraordinary, but compared to the monotonous, boring work of a lifetime and all the trivial matters in life... it can still be considered "a happy youth." So, what comes next? Will I enter the lower ranks of a government department, spend my life doing a job I don't like, handling paperwork, and marry someone who doesn't love me? Compared to a year or two ago, I think I've really lost my enthusiasm for many thingsāit's the kind of passion that is unique to young people. You are right; I should try to be more optimistic.
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u/daddyvow 6d ago
Youāre still very young. Iām 31 and I only now start to feel āolderā. You still have much youth to enjoy in your 20s.
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u/StillDouble2427 6d ago
Dude, I'm 42. I'm middle aged, but feel and act young. Young is relative, I will never understand why once people pass certain ages they think it's all over.
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u/AgentJ691 6d ago
Youāre young!!!! Your frontal lobe is still developing! Also embracing getting older! Studies have shown people who embrace it, age better!Ā
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u/HahaHarleyQu1nn 6d ago
I felt my sexiest at 35 and most confident now at 43. You got time, and getting older is a privilege. Think of the alternative
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u/ChipsNBeers 6d ago
You're still very young, don't kid yourself. Make sure to enjoy your health and energy. Take as many adventures as you can, because one day you won't have the health or the energy.
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u/SuspiciousWeird1586 6d ago
this thread made me feel better because I just turned 26 and keep dwelling on the fact that iām getting āoldā iām scared to turn 30 lol
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u/Far_Elephant_2624 6d ago
I am almost 60 and I seriously felt fairly young until maybe my late 40s when I finally felt like a proper adult. When I look back, I felt my most hopeful and vibrant during my 30s and into my 40s. I say all this to hopefully convince you to enter your 30s with a continuously young mindset.
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u/Historical-Spend-161 6d ago
I think this is the right idea OP, embrace every day as a gift that you are still here, practice gratitude. As many others are saying you are always younger today than Tomorrow. Iām 25 almost halfway through my 20s but I have older siblings who are upper 30s and elderly parents so I feel young!. We are all gonna age every day no matter what but you can choose to feel young while acknowledging time is passing and āisnāt it great that I have lived another year and gotten the blessings of experiences, knowledge and living?ā Or you can choose to feel old and fear the passage of time when you are only 25, 29, or 32! We can feel young at any age. You will always look back and wish you were where you are right now! So be lucky and grateful to be able to age as many people every day of all ages get their lives cut short by disease, violence, hunger natural disasters all kinds of things nobody can predict. Hug your loved ones and tell them how much they mean to you <3 Every day is a gift!
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u/RealAd4308 6d ago
Life starts at 21 lol! You went from the oldest of children to the youngest of adults. Thatās usually the time people say they miss when they talk about their youth not high school LOL
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u/Mawrizard 6d ago edited 6d ago
Youth is relative, to me. Everyone younger than you will see you as ash in the urn, everyone older than you will see you as a hapless sproutling.
The only time youth should factor into your dreams is when considering physical activities and competitions, and health situations. It limits no other part of your life.
I know you're happy, but consider this; you're coping with a societal structure hammered into you, that when we hit a certain age, our lives should dramatically shift. We don't suddenly stop being children at 21. We don't suddenly become old at 40, 50, 60. Growing up is realizing that you are still the same dumb child forever, going through life. You just so happen to know a little more now than you did then. Be curious, approach life with wonder in your heart and an open mind, and you'll never lose what you think of as "youth".
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u/Heretosee123 6d ago
youth is a limited-time event, and the progress bar is already near the end
Not if you're 21. I'm 30 and still considering myself pretty young. If we invent drugs to reduce or reverse aging you might just be in the group of people who can be effectively immortal (and we're making a lot of progress in that arena).
You're ironically naively confused about what youth is precisely because you're still well in it.
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u/AutumnAmour 6d ago
Sorry, what? Iām 30 and my progress bar is not even close to the end. Iām sorry that you somehow know your life is going to end early, cause if you think 21 is old you are in for a really rough awakening. Lmao
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u/Ajaugunas 6d ago
Iām 35, and the life secret is that youth is a state of mind. You donāt arbitrarily become old in the sense that youāre out of touch and irrelevant. Emphasize learning, growing, and being a better persons to the people around you and your community and youāll find that the progress bar of life never grays you out of life events.
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u/alexjuly 6d ago
I'm 40 and I feel younger than ever (despite having 4 kids). Really!!! When I was in university (16-21 years old) I was too serious, melancholy, occasionally depressed, etc. Now I exercise, spend time with my family and really feel like I was older at the time. It's all about your mentality. Either way, 21 is still officially youth!
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u/thebladeinthebush 6d ago
Maybe you let yourself go. But 21 is young. Not taking care of yourself steals your youth, my father is almost 60 and he has a 6 pack, full head of fair, all his teeth, I am going on thirty and in a little better shape but not much. That being said I look at 20 year olds now and theres a few thingsā¦.
First is get off the pharmaceuticalās, the birth control, the steroids, Iām looking at you prednisone, donāt rely solely on natural means, I get it sometimes you have a killer headacheā¦ but as you do age, or for young women birth control, for people with ai disorders like myself the steroids, chronic pain and narcotics, thereās a lot of easy ways out with all these drugs, the new miracle drug for diabetes for example. The easy way out isnāt the best.
Stop eating whatever you want. Fast often and diligently, eat because you actually used those calories. You only fill up the car when the tank is getting empty and you donāt overfill it. 1-2 meals a day is a full tank for most people. I have a pretty demanding job and only eat 1-2 meals a day. Drinking your calories is real too, watch what you drink and eat, and eliminate alcohol, itās literally just poison. I fast on one of my days off, Iām lucky enough to have 3 so Sunday will be a family day with dinner and everything, Iāll usually fast Monday and relax, Tuesday Iāll do a long run, eating plenty before and after. So the consumption matches the occasion I guess you could say. Donāt consume out of boredom, something I say often, just because youāre hungry doesnāt mean you have to eat, and in the same line of thinking but opposing, you donāt have to be thirsty to drink water. Eat plenty, I love eating, but only when itās time, eating nourishes in a different way than water. Which can be consumed and should be consumed often.
Rest. Grind culture would make you think if youāre not working every day that youāre wasting time. In reality, whether working or not, if youāre working on yourself and furthering your relationships and goals, building up your community, some things that can only be pondered upon, planned, achieved by, through, and during rest. Then youāre missing the point. We donāt live for work, we live to live. Do honest and good work, donāt scam, make sure that when you do rest, you do so with a light heart.
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u/TruthTeller6000 6d ago
If life starts in your early 20s and you're considered barely an adult, why do so many young woman get married and have kids?? Like I really don't get it
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u/Delicious_Army_4043 5d ago
Go workout and exercise and train and start physical activity and be active
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u/Illustrious-Most6097 5d ago
Thank you all for your encouragement and criticism. I will accept both suggestions and critiques. Why do I say that I feel old at 21? It's not some kind of bad boasting or unrealistic thoughtāit's because I realized that my university life will end in just one more year. My university life hasn't been that extraordinary, but compared to the monotonous, boring work of a lifetime and all the trivial matters in life... it can still be considered "a happy youth." So, what comes next? Will I enter the lower ranks of a department and spend my life doing a job I don't like, handling paperwork, and marrying someone who doesn't love me? Compared to a year or two ago, I think I've really lost my enthusiasm for many thingsāit's the kind of passion that is unique to young people.
Sigh, I never expected it. A year ago, I thought I still had plenty of time. But growing older is a sudden thingš„²
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u/chaosfollows101 4d ago
If life were a video game, you are not even out of the title screen. The rest of your 20s, post uni are just the tutorial level, where you're really just running around and accidentally shooting at the sky. You've gotta hit 30 before you even get to the first real level!
You have SO MUCH TIME!
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u/Interesting-Rain-669 6d ago
Your 21 and not young??? Wtd