26
When I was 26 about 25 years ago I had moved out of my mom's house and had been living on my own for about 3 years in a house my grandmother owned about 2 miles from where I grew up. I was working full time and was happy coming home to my dog, Bandit, I had gotten from the shelter a few months after I moved in. I had this sense of freedom. I could have tacos for breakfast and pancakes
For dinner if I wanted to and nobody would look at me like I had lost my little mind and tell me I was completely nuts. I usually had a subway sandwich for dinner on Thursday's and visited my mom every Saturday. Life was good. I only had myself and Bandit to take care of and had plenty of money for bills.
Fast forward 26 years later. My nephew is the same age I was then now. He has never lived on his own and paid all the bills of the household. He works almost full time and lives rent free and practically bill free in an apartment shared with family. He has a car to drive when he wants and has the freedom to come and go as he pleases. The only thing required of him is helping to take care of his grandmother at night which basically only involves making sure she gets to the potty by her bed safely and as quickly as she can. I would say he is living a pretty good life. But, when you ate young sometimes you just think you would be better off doing other things even though you aren't quite sure what those things are. You listen to the "old" folks at work spinning stories of their youth and saying what they think you should be doing as in fun and living your life.
Then there are your 20 something old peers telling their short life stories and most of it is exaggerated but in your young mind its all true and you are missing the "good life". Stuck helping out the person who practically raised you. Restlessness sets in and dreams
Of driving your own little red corvette fill your waking moments and visions of a place, your own place, dance in your head as well. The thought of you not being woken up at 1 am to help a sick person sound like heaven to you. It all sounds good.
It sounds better then what it is. But nobody can tell you that. I know few people could "tell" me anything at that age and sometimes even now on occasion. So, I don't really expect him to get "it" not until one day he is 51 and sitting in a room with a 26 year old who is living pretty much like he is now and complaining how hard life is.
For dinner if I wanted to and nobody would look at me like I had lost my little mind and tell me I was completely nuts. I usually had a subway sandwich for dinner on Thursday's and visited my mom every Saturday. Life was good. I only had myself and Bandit to take care of and had plenty of money for bills.
Fast forward 26 years later. My nephew is the same age I was then now. He has never lived on his own and paid all the bills of the household. He works almost full time and lives rent free and practically bill free in an apartment shared with family. He has a car to drive when he wants and has the freedom to come and go as he pleases. The only thing required of him is helping to take care of his grandmother at night which basically only involves making sure she gets to the potty by her bed safely and as quickly as she can. I would say he is living a pretty good life. But, when you ate young sometimes you just think you would be better off doing other things even though you aren't quite sure what those things are. You listen to the "old" folks at work spinning stories of their youth and saying what they think you should be doing as in fun and living your life.
Then there are your 20 something old peers telling their short life stories and most of it is exaggerated but in your young mind its all true and you are missing the "good life". Stuck helping out the person who practically raised you. Restlessness sets in and dreams
Of driving your own little red corvette fill your waking moments and visions of a place, your own place, dance in your head as well. The thought of you not being woken up at 1 am to help a sick person sound like heaven to you. It all sounds good.
It sounds better then what it is. But nobody can tell you that. I know few people could "tell" me anything at that age and sometimes even now on occasion. So, I don't really expect him to get "it" not until one day he is 51 and sitting in a room with a 26 year old who is living pretty much like he is now and complaining how hard life is.
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