[Othesemo]

This just occurred to me recently, and I'm curious what other people think of it. I'm twenty something years old now, and yet I don't feel any different than I did as a 14 year old. More intelligent, more competent, perhaps, but no different. I cannot help but feel that one's age has little to do with who one is- it is simply a convenient benchmark of what the average man has accomplished by that point.

Anyone else have thoughts on the subject?



Note: I was originally going to post this in the psych subforum. I decided that philosophy would be a better fit, bit of anyone know's where this should go I'd be much obliged.

[Phaze228]

As I'm growing up, I'm becoming less grown up.
Gradually realizing professionalism and tact are just silly. Immaturity is way more fun.

[CrudeHypothesis]

Yeah, I'm still the same height and weight I was when I was 16, and my baby face is holding out too, so age seems like an irrelevant number to me.

[Alberto]

«People don't change».
However, since most of us are born with at least two drafts, a good draft and a bad draft, if you keep working on improving your good draft and decreasing your bad one, you may change - and yet you've not really changed, since all you have done is using what you already had.

People don't really change.

[Lilie]

As I've gotten older I've become much more capable and secure. That's what being a grown-up is all about, and I find the difference to be profound. I feel very different at 28 than I did at 14. The difference between 24 and 14 wasn't so big though. I got over the hump at 25-26.

I've gotten a bit fatter as well.

[Uncle Mort]

I don't feel any different from when I was 18. Though if I met my 18 year old self I probably would tell him to 'lighten up' (and get a haircut!)

[Bluestreak]

	Originally Posted by Othesemo To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I'm twenty something years old now, and yet I don't feel any different than I did as a 14 year old.

Only experience will change this for you.

Here's how it worked for me. I entered the professional world as a young 20-something. I held that job for many years (15). I had a lot of experiences with people - family, friends, co-workers - good times, bad times... some jaded me, many enhanced who I've become, too. Along the way, I learned I wanted to be a business owner (I have three businesses now). I went back to school more than once. My first education (engineering) became my profession. After that, I went back to "round out" who I was, as well as learn about my serious hobbies (music and automobiles). Today, I'm a multiple business owner/manager, engineer, auto technician... and I'm very stable and satisfied with who I've become.

But that was not always the case. The journey from 20-something to a near 40-year old businessman was very difficult and at times, downright painful. I made so many regrettable mistakes, I can't possibly count them all - some costly in a financial sense, some costly on a very personal level, and the worst lessons hurt on both those counts.

The experiences you have in the next ten years are what will help you formulate the goals you'll pursue the rest of your life, and in that learning process, through your decision-making, your personality will hopefully grow and mature.

[Bluesea]

Agree with the above post; experience shapes you, due to the changes in consciousness you have, if you learn from your experiences. If you don't learn, don't develop insight, and don't take more responsibility for who you are, you don't grow up, regardless of getting older.

That being said, I think there is also a timeless ageless self within, that is present all the way through, that we experience in our awareness and conscious consideration of the meaning of what we become aware of and what we decide to do about that. This aspect has a nature, and helps to guide our development but is not a product of it, nor changes its nature due to our experience, it just is. As we trust it more, it becomes stronger and more present within our consciousness, and this also happens as we mature.

[Zhen]

	Originally Posted by Phaze228 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	As I'm growing up, I'm becoming less grown up. Gradually realizing professionalism and tact are just silly. Immaturity is way more fun.

this.

[John F Kennedy]

	Originally Posted by Othesemo To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Note: I was originally going to post this in the psych subforum. I decided that philosophy would be a better fit, bit of anyone know's where this should go I'd be much obliged.

You can successfully formulate it as a philosophical topic: e.g. 1. Ontology: What is growing up?; 2. Epistemology: How do you know someone's grown-up?; 3. Ethics: Is a grown up person more moral or ethical?; Etc.

[nettneu]

	Originally Posted by Othesemo To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I don't feel any different than I did as a 14 year old.

Nor do I.

	Originally Posted by John F Kennedy To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	You can successfully formulate it as a philosophical topic: e.g. 1. Ontology: What is growing up?; 2. Epistemology: How do you know someone's grown-up?; 3. Ethics: Is a grown up person more moral or ethical?; Etc.

They all seem pretty much like semantics.

[Humble Bragger]

Can't relate, I feel I change every 2nd week.

[Dancingqueen]

I feel the same as I always did but now I can handle emotions better and I am much more stable/confident. Once I passed the teenage years and early 20's my psyche smoothed out. I'm not sure if I've changed though...at the core... but certainly I have mellowed.

[sunitaishot]

I am radically different in most senses as an adult to compared to a teen.

IMO, the whole essence of such is to be so.

As a teen, I was quite timid. Now at almost 33, I am resolute and determined. I also defend my interests, even with violence if needs be.

[Smacknrat]

I felt I hadn't changed at all until about 26. After that I felt I had changed and grown in noticeable increments.

It had A LOT to do with the naive and young notions that "I'm smart. I work hard." means rewards come auto-magically (coupled with experiences that _I_ KNOW should've been an asset in the business world). Just basic complexities, like relationships change over time, weren't evident until then (to me). Or that people DON'T LIKE YOU for no good reason and that what you know amounts to jack... Even if you do. Large scale emotional backstabbing and manipulation wasn't alien to me, but I didn't think it would ever be successful! Surely people were more reasonable than that! Nope. *cry cry* "Why are you mean?" Awesome. Just awesome. "Adults" that don't take the time to talk to you and spread rumors and misinformation instead.

As others grow, I'm forced my hand. This in addition to MY OWN personal growth and life. (e.g. friends get married while I remain single so I adjust, but at the same time I can afford to run new ventures and move to new cities). I guess up until the end of college, everyone was moving right on the scripted life path and then venturing off of it made me realize the growth that I had to endure to live off script a little.

[Polymath20]

Originally Posted by Othesemo To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

This just occurred to me recently, and I'm curious what other people think of it. I'm twenty something years old now, and yet I don't feel any different than I did as a 14 year old. More intelligent, more competent, perhaps, but no different. I cannot help but feel that one's age has little to do with who one is- it is simply a convenient benchmark of what the average man has accomplished by that point. Anyone else have thoughts on the subject?

I often feel quite child-like still. Sure I have a good job, a home, a dog, responsibility... there's a lot more I can do - more that I know how to do and more that I can handle - but I definitely don't feel any different than I did as a teenager.

Well, I have more old sports injuries and I'm a lot more stable (hooray for circadian rhythms!).