Do you ever remember reading Peter Pan? Actually let me rephrase that, do you remember watching Peter Pan? The well-known story about a boy who never grows up and doesn't want to grow up. The story seems like an ideal fantasy, the dreams of playing and acting as a kid forever with no responsibilities and all in all having fun and doing what you want. It's funny because while I remember the happy part of the story, what affected me the most was the tragic part of the story. No matter what, everyone grows up.
As i've already mentioned, possibly countless times, I have just finished university and today my younger brother started his first year of sixth form. Even though my education has ended and his has begun, we have both moved onto different strands of adulthood. When I finished uni I realised that I can no longer say i'm a student, I can no longer say I don't know what I want to be when I grow up because I have grown up. And at the same time, my brother has a whole load of 'adult' decisions to face such as what he wants to study at uni and where he wants to go. Because of all these decision we both are having to make, I think we lose our childhood. Now, my brother is 16, tell me is that an appropriate age to completely lose your childhood? Because I think that's ridiculous.
I'm not saying act like an immature little kid all the time. But a lot of adults these days and a lot of twenty-something's seem to act way above their age. And while I do say 'please treat me my age' I mean treat me like i'm 21 years old, not like i'm 20 going on 30 which is how some people react to me! (I am not saying 30 is old!) When did 21 become the new 30? Hell, when did 16 become the new 21?
Growing up is great. It has some amazing benefits such as being able to go out whenever, driving, clubbing, drinking and whatever else comes with adulthood. But sometimes I feel like I forget what it's like to be a kid again. Sometimes a person doesn't need responsibilities or work or the life of being an adult because they just want to have a little bit of fun being a kid again. So I say it's ok to act silly and like a kid once in a while. As long as it's not all the time and at appropriate times then why the hell not? We all need to let loose once in a while and get in touch with our inner child again. That inner child who only saw the innocence of the world and had fun all the time, even if it is just for 5 minutes. So scream, shout, dance around, go to theme parks and ride all the scary rides and kiddy rides, sing because you can and be happy while doing it because you can do it. You're allowed to be a kid once in a while.
Peter Pan may not have had it completely right. He should never have chosen to be a kid forever because he missed out on some wonderful adult things. But I do agree with one thing; sometimes growing up isn't what you always wanted. However we're not in a storybook. This is real life. It doesn't mean that you forget though, so even if it's for 5 minutes of the month, Remember, dig deep and find that inner child and give the kid a chance.
“Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.” J.M.Barrie, Peter Pan