The other night I finished reading the book The Last Summer (of You & Me) for a book club. It was mediocre at best. Very cute and engrossing at times, but mostly predictable and anticlimactic. Rather than enjoying the characters or plot, one key moment effected me the most. One line made me completely re-think the book and create a new opinion.At last he sat up. "I had the strangest feeling before. Not strange, really. Probably natural. Just strange to me."
"What is that? said Alice, sitting up next to him.
"I held those little girls up, and in the time it took the butterflies to come and go, I changed from thinking of them as people I might once have been to people I could one day have. Do you think your past can change into your future that quickly?"
The book loosely touches on the aspect of growing up, of letting go of childish ways and accepting yourself into the adult world. That quote effected me because...when does it happen? At what moment did I become an adult?
I think it's important to move on. I think it's important to realize what you want and go for it and sometimes you have to leave some things behind. Some people who don't allow you to change. I think sometimes you yourself have to change considerably to learn who you really are.
I don't think there was an exact moment when I transformed. I think in a way I still am; it's an ongoing processes and rather than stalling it, of being afraid of it, i'm encouraging it. Because yes I was afraid at first. I was afraid that i'd become someone I didn't want to be, someone I didn't like. I was afraid that i'd lose everyone I loved and enjoy a million different things. But with strength, I didn't spiral, I went in a direction I was comfortable with. A combination of my past and future.
But even so, I know I'm still childish at heart. I know I'll still squeal at puppies and pick pumpkins in autumn. I'll still watch cartoons and drink chocolate milk. I'll still spin in a circle one time too many, making myself fall to the floor dizzy. Because those are things that are part of me. I won't become a stuffy adult who lives 9-5. I still want excitement and adventure because that's who I am. I want to always have this much fun.
Maybe I didn't change in an instant, much like a butterfly coming and going, but I did change. And in a way, even with my childish ways, I think my future is clearer because of that.
The book loosely touches on the aspect of growing up, of letting go of childish ways and accepting yourself into the adult world. That quote effected me because...when does it happen? At what moment did I become an adult?
I think it's important to move on. I think it's important to realize what you want and go for it and sometimes you have to leave some things behind. Some people who don't allow you to change. I think sometimes you yourself have to change considerably to learn who you really are.
I don't think there was an exact moment when I transformed. I think in a way I still am; it's an ongoing processes and rather than stalling it, of being afraid of it, i'm encouraging it. Because yes I was afraid at first. I was afraid that i'd become someone I didn't want to be, someone I didn't like. I was afraid that i'd lose everyone I loved and enjoy a million different things. But with strength, I didn't spiral, I went in a direction I was comfortable with. A combination of my past and future.
But even so, I know I'm still childish at heart. I know I'll still squeal at puppies and pick pumpkins in autumn. I'll still watch cartoons and drink chocolate milk. I'll still spin in a circle one time too many, making myself fall to the floor dizzy. Because those are things that are part of me. I won't become a stuffy adult who lives 9-5. I still want excitement and adventure because that's who I am. I want to always have this much fun.
Maybe I didn't change in an instant, much like a butterfly coming and going, but I did change. And in a way, even with my childish ways, I think my future is clearer because of that.
15 comments:
All of this and more we will discuss tomorrow when you come over ;)
But yes, I agree with you completely.
I hope I never grow up.
Ever.
Having nephews definitely did it to me. All of a sudden I had my lil guys asking me important questions like, "Why did you sleep on the couch with your shoes on?" and "What's a hangover and why can't I make loud noises right now?"
I started reading this book earlier in the summer, but never got around to finishing. I found too many other books that grasped my attention (and held it!).
Never. Stop. Spinning.
Seriously, it's these little moments that make life worth living. Being an adult only means now we have to be more creative about how we play.
I color in coloring books and jump in leaves and every once in a while, I convince my (also 22-year old) cousin to play pretend with me.
I refuse to go grow up completely.
i'm moving to neverland. stat.
No big surprise here, but I really like this post. I'm like you, childish and adult like at the same time. I like being a mash up of the two, being an adult is too serious and too much a full time job for me to tackle without some reckless, childlike abandon.
I think I'm a mix of adult and kid as well. I definitely haven't had a definitive moment that I could say is when I grew up, but I don't really want to anyways.
I wish my 60-year old aunt would read this entry. Even she could use leaving the past in the past in order to move forward.
I just went to Toys R Us yesterday.
and bought something for myself.
Please continue
Colure- Oh Riley. Why were you so pointless in the book??
Matt - I think I can help you with that. Let's find Neverland. Stat.
Narm - That's adorable and funny. I think you're right, though. You need someone younger to show you that it's ok to grow up. And have hangovers.
Somewhere In Between - Really, it's not worth finishing. Sorry if I ruined a part of it for you!
A blog of her own - I love your comment. LOVE IT.
Katelin - Haha. Tell Peter I say hi!
Kyla Bea - I can see that in you, being both childish and adult like. I really like to combine the two as well- makes life more interesting.
andrea - I wonder if people do. I think that's what i'm really interested in finding out.
Nilsa - Well said.
rs27 - Hahaha. Was it a Batman action figure? PLEASE TELL ME IT WAS!
I spend so much time being nostalgic for my childhood....it's hard to transition into adulthood for sure. It's so hard to let go of your youth! I think a great song about this is "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan
I really enjoyed this post, Lauren! I love picturing you drinking chocolate milk and spinning in circles.
I think I was always wise beyond my years, and should have probably let myself kick back and be crazy more often as a youngster.
Amy - What a Great song! Haha.
Mermanda - Thanks! I think, at times, being mature is better. However, you always have the Maple House toys to think about. :)
I read that earlier this summer, also for a book club and wasn't overly impressed. In fact, I was almost disapointed, bc I had heard really great things about it and just felt like it didn't live up to it at all. Such a letdown.
I'm not too sure when my transformation took place...maybe it still hasn't! I mean, I've lived on my own for five years, but still call my mother and ask her permission before I make a big purchase :) (not that I make many, but things like "oh, I need a new winter coat, should I buy this one?) Yes, she laughs at me.
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