You know, I'm 24 years old. If I told you how many times I've been asked to grow up and mature I'd probably be the most mature person I've ever known. But the thing is, I'm not ready to "grow up." I'm not sure that I ever will be. And that's okay. I know I will always be a kid at heart, and I know that there will be times where I have to take on responsibilities that I'll need to acknowledge in a mature nature.
With that said I don't think anyone should grow up too quickly. I know numerous people around me that were forced to grow up and had no childhood that's worth remembering. That's pretty sad to me, because while my childhood wasn't the absolute best, I know that there were some really fantastic times that are worth remembering.
You're never too old to enjoy the things you used to enjoy as a kid. Disney is something that resonates with me because it's legitimately been a pivot for me when things get rough. I am always excited for the next animated film, I'm always excited to talk about Winnie the Pooh and if I could go to Disney World every day you know I would. As you get older you realize that there becomes much less time available for those activities, but there's no shame in resuming them when you have some extra time.
When you give up your childhood you give up a lot more than you think you do. If you're okay with settling with a job that you may not enjoy, but the pay is good, and you have no free time to participate in the little things you want to enjoy but can't, then that works for you. By all means do it, that could be what fulfills you honestly. I don't know what will - nobody but you will know what makes you feel whole. I don't want to make it sound like I'm criticizing you for wanting that sort of life. I mean that if you REALLY want that they be all means pursue it.
But for me I would be absolutely miserable if I did something I had no business in pursuing. I can't give up pieces of me that make me who I am for the sake of a job I can't stand. Which is where "not growing up too quickly" comes into play. If you grow up all at once you'll be stuck in a place where you are going to various corporations groveling for a job and end up there because you never found an interest in extra things.
It's okay to grow up slowly. It's okay to be a kid for as long as you can hold onto it. Never feel pressure to grow by your peers or family members or loved ones. You'll grow up at your own pace. Now that doesn't mean put off growing up for the sake of being a kid forever. There is a time where you will NEED to grow up, where you will NEED to be more mature and make adult decisions. Moving out, budgeting, finding a job, living independently from your guardians - are all adult decisions that you can't make on an impulse child-like decision. You'll end up in a bad place because you jump in all at once, and it won't go well.
For now, I'm fine with where I am. I'll hopefully have a job soon, and then I will learn how to manage my time and money (with the help of my family so I'm not going in blind). I'll still have a solid support system and I'll know how to live independently and take care of myself. That all comes in time and I know that, and you should too.
You don't necessarily have to grow up, but you will have to grow old.
