You do not have to do something (like getting married by xx age. or at all) or stop doing someting (like a hobby, ie gaming, etc) because of societal pressure.
I grew up seeing people my parents age looking like everything that was enjoyable was sucked right out of them while they'd say "I'm too old for x"
So I refused to do that growing up.
I'm almost 40, and I'll get excited over something for 10 year olds because I'm practically an uncle to all my friends kids.
"You got a new Lego set? Heck yeah let's go!"
Meanwhile when I was 10, I'd hear "huh, new legos? And how is that going to prepare you for life? When I was your age I was working three jobs already."
My wife describes this exact behavior as her favorite aspect of my personality. She says she loves seeing me get exited like a kid for the things which bring me joy or for which I am passionate.
I, too, refuse to have joy sucked out of me because the generations before mine had the idea that “you’re too old for x” beaten into them.
My father tells a story about being younger and enjoying to draw. Some of his peers mocked that and he stopped drawing. My father is a very creative person who was never allowed to develop that skill, because someone predetermined that that’s not what was age appropriate.
If my joy for the little things offends someone, I politely remind them that they have a choice— they don’t need to be around me, if they don’t like how I behave.
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u/a_model_citizen_ 13h ago
You do not have to do something (like getting married by xx age. or at all) or stop doing someting (like a hobby, ie gaming, etc) because of societal pressure.