Adulthood is basically one big series waiting for us to see, “wait… that’s not true?!” There was a time we assumed adults had it all figured out, money was endless, and naps were a form of punishment (after all, naps are for babies), then we became adults, and it laughed in our face.
The older we become, the more we realize life isn’t a perfect storybook. As it turns out, Santa wasn’t the only fairy tale we were fed as children. In fact, there are a good number of childhood beliefs that not only get shattered as adults but also crash, burn, and take your sanity with it.
“Adults Know What They’re Doing”
Wrong – they’re just better at pretending, with a better vocabulary and worn-out knees. When we were kids, looking at adults was like finding them capable; they seemed to have a plan and looked like they had all the answers. Then you somehow reach your mid-twenties and realize that we’re all just making educated guesses. The scariest part about growing up isn’t all of the responsibility that we take on; it’s the understanding that none of us are actually qualified to be in charge.
“You Will Understand When You’re Older”
Well, now we are older and understand none of it. Most of the adult wisdom thrown around was simply confusion sprinkled with a little misplaced self-confidence. Still, somehow, we all thought that with getting older, life would get a lot less confusing. Turns out, getting older just means looking up your symptoms on Google at 2 am and hoping your taxes add up. Wisdom doesn’t come from years lived but rather is bestowed upon you through things like therapy, broken relationships, and questionable self-awareness.
“Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness”
Though it’s true, let’s face it; it sure as hell buys peace and comfort. Growing up as kids, it was drilled into our heads that love and laughter brought happiness, and then came our first bill, our rent, our groceries. Then we worried if we would ever be able to pay off our student debt while trying to create comfort. Sure, money won’t save your soul in the long run, but it can save you from misery between sadness and complete mental collapse while sweating in a cramped, nonexistent air-conditioning.
“Friends Last Forever”
We signed yearbooks saying “never change” and really believing it, and then, well, we changed. Life happened, people move, marry, have kids, priorities change. Some friends will still stick with you, but most won’t. One thing adulthood teaches you is that it is not about who’s your friend for the longest, but about who shows up when life gets tough. Life is not about who is forever; it’s about who is consistent.
“Love Conquers All”
We thought love could fix it all – distance, trauma, emotional absence, etc. Then we grew up and realized that, actually, love isn’t a magic solution; it needs work! It is all about communication, compromise, and sometimes walking away from something your heart is still in. Love does not conquer all; boundaries do. The hardest part of growing up? It is realizing that sometimes, even the right love is just not enough.
“You Can Do Anything and Be Anything You Want”
Technically correct… until adulthood finds you with rent, monthly bills, and health insurance. Yes, dream big, but being an adult comes with something called realistic compromise. Sure, you can chase your dreams if you add a bit of imagination to it, but the system is not going to make it easy for you. It turns out passion won’t pay your student loan payment. So, it’s not that you can’t do anything you want; you just need to have to do it with three side hustles and a caffeine addiction.
“Hard Work Is Always Rewarded”
Ah, yes, the good ol’ cliche: “hard work is everything.” But here we go in adulthood with a reality check – hard work does not equal anything, and sometimes connection, timing, and a bit of luck are far better variables than hard work. You have probably worked yourself to the bone only to see that co-worker you never thought could get promoted to manager just based on ‘better cultural fit.’ Hard work is a great work ethic, but capitalism does not give gold stars – just exhaustion and “growth opportunities.”
16 Subjects They Never Taught Us in School (But Should Have)
These are the classes that should have made the syllabus but were crowded out by mitochondria facts and Shakespeare soliloquies. Here is a list of school subjects that don’t exist anymore (or never did)… but honestly, they should’ve.
16 Subjects They Never Taught Us in School (But Should Have)