It's not just your age that's changed over the years. You've matured in more ways than one (physically, emotionally, even mentally). You've maybe suffered a few heartbreaks on your way to being who you are now. The changes in all of our lives has mounted up over time, and how you reveal yourself to the world also reveals your journey to this current moment. No matter how strong we are, or how tough we think we might be, change is unavoidable, and actually a bit terrifying. My dad always used to say, "The only two things in life that are for sure is death and change". While someone might invent a serum that banishes the idea of death, change is always going to be here. Are you the same person you were 10 years ago? Hopefully not. Are you the same person you were last week? Maybe not. Change is constant, always present, and will always nip at your heels. Think about yourself 10 years ago: who were you? Here are some things you may look at differently now compared to "younger you".
1. Leftovers
When we were all single-digit ages, who remembers how disgusted we were to see leftovers on the table for dinner again? I myself remember being in a particularly grumpy mood when I saw the same meal I had last night reappear in front of me a second time. Leftovers now are equivalent of ambrosia, food fit for kings, and something we'd all like our refrigerators to be filled with.
Recommended for you
2. "If a boy is mean to you, it means he likes you"
LIES. ALL OF THEM LIES. If a boy was mean to you, that meant he had some sort of affection for you. No. I'm not going to give boys the benefit of doubt and say "Oh, they're just not good at expressing their feelings". I could've told you that a LONG time ago. Back then, boys were just mean. It dodn't mean that they liked you. Now, if a boy is mean to you, he really doesn't like you. Or is just a dick in general.
3. Money from your family
Getting money from your family back in the day usually funded your stuffed animal collection/action figure collection/Tamagochi collection. Money was still awesome to get back then, but not as awesome as it is now. Expect now, you're usually spending it on gas/electric/grocery bills.
4. Naps
Why on earth did I kick and scream and beg not to take a nap when I was younger? Why did I pout when my dad told me "someday you're going to miss this"? Why did I angrily put my head on a pillow and wait for sleep to wash over my pissed-off little brain? Now, if I have 13 minutes to nap, you bet I'm making use of that time. College is a place where you can sleep for days and still be exhausted. As I type this, my eye continues to twitch as it has been for the past week. Stress? Probably. Fatigue? Hell yes.
5. Your relationship with your parents
My dad was the only thing keeping me going for a while. He has been my rock and my angel since the day I started growing in my mother's stomach. My dad has never done me wrong, and has been my hero for as long as I can remember. I miss my dad a lot, and I'm not afraid to call him the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. Since coming to school, I've felt our relationship shift into something a bit more mature and adult. I don't feel like "the child" anymore, even though I still respect boundaries. I feel as though I'm gradually working up to being on the same level as my dad. Our conversations are different and we carry ourselves around each other differently. I don't know if it's because I've matured more and more since being on my own, or if he just sees that I'm ready for more adult relationships and repsect. Either way, I know we all noticed a change in our relationship with our parental units. I woulnd't change it though. Not one bit.
6. Drugs/Alcohol
Do you guys remember that D.A.R.E programs? "Dare to never do drugs!", or something like that? Views on drugs and alcohol have change significantly these past few years as a result of our environment and who we hang out with.
7. How much you care
This is not to say that as you continue to age, you stop putting your best foot forward, or you stop being so ambitious or excited about things. It's more a fact of caring what others think about you. As age increases, it has a direct relationship with the lessening amout of f***s you give. Science.
8. Your relationship with friends
College does seem to weed out the good from the bad. Many high school friends will maintain contact through the years and stay close for many more years to come. But most seem to fade away. Occasional texts begin to dwindle more and more, to the point where Snapchatting becomes scare between the two of you. High school friends aren't bad friends, and they'll be people you remember the rest of your life. Even friends you made in middle school or elementary school don't become figments of the past. They remain with you throughout your life, but some stay more involved than others. College friends are the ones you have for life. College serves as a stepping stone into "the real world", and these friends you make will be the ones that support you in your path to the real world. When you graduate, these will be the people you tell stories about to your kids, or invite to your wedding, or go on vacations with. These are the friends that are the most likely to remain a big part of your life.
9. How you see yourself
Perhaps the most significant change I've seen in myself is my confidence. I've always been a little "out there", and I was never afraid to say what I was thinking (or what everyone else was, for that matter). I'm not shy. I'm no wallflower. But I really did suffer through years of insecurities and low self-esteem (middle school, anyone?). I've gotten so much better in the fact that I'm in a good place in my life. I'm happy, I'm content with who I am, and I'm really loving the person I'm becoming. I feel like a few years ago, not all of us could say that. Some of us may still be on that journey now. But the eventual self-acceptance and self-love does come for everyone, and it will honestly have been worth the wait and struggles.
We're all just beginning the journey of life, and still have masses of change to endure, maturity to gain, and we all still have an abundance of experiences to be had. We will all continue to change, and who knows- maybe 10 years from now, you'll look back at college-you and think "How silly/immature/naive was I?" We never stop learning, growing, loving, evolving. Change is a good thing though, and as long as you approach it with open arms and an open mind, life will open many doors for you.
