Sometimes...sometimes you feel like the world is falling on top of you. I know I'm a 'teenager' and I'm prone to thinking that the world revolves around me and blowing problems out of proportion.
At a church event, a leader made a timeline on the chalkboard. There were 14 'sections'. Each stood for 7 years. The first segment was from birth to your 7th birthday, the second until you were 14, and so on, adding 7 years to each segment. The third segment, from ages 14-21, was 'the most important'. Now stop and think about this. You'd think, at least I did, that it would be the 4th or 5th. Or possibly the 10th. During the 4th and 5th you're building a family and a career. In the 10th, you see your posterity and that's pretty important. But I bit my tongue and let him explain. And as he explained, I began to agree.
A short time before the third segment starts, your 14th birthday, you're surrounded by peer pressure and decisions. When you're 14, you start going to high school. You are surrounded by a LOT of opinions, a LOT of decisions. You start dating shortly after. You pick your friends. Many people pick a spouse at the end of this segment, which is a big deal. You're choosing who to spend the rest of your life/eternity(if you believe in that) with.
Are you starting to see the significance?
With all the pressures from ALL sides, it's hard to figure out who you are. It's HARD to avoid peer pressure. It's HARD to pick good friends. It's HARD to decide who to date. It's HARD to be a teenager. Some people use this as an excuse for stupid things they do. We all abuse that. I'm surely guilty of it. But that's not my point. What I'm saying is, that we as teens make a lot of pivotal points at this age and THIS segment affects our life more than ANY other segment of our lives. If you hang out with the wrong people, you could wreck your life. I don't mean that in a BAD way, but I'm saying...if you spend your time with druggies...your life doesn't look super promising. I'm not judging, however. You want to do that, go ahead. I'm not stopping you.
This is not a post about how the world revolves around me. This is not a post about my complaints. This is not a post about my excuses. This is a post about my views and my opinions.
As aforementioned, sometimes your world begins to crush you. This is usually RIGHT around the time when I feel like this. It's finals. I'm stressed. Aren't we all? I'm worried about money because college is just around the corner. Aren't we all? I'm worried about my friends, for multiple reasons. I'm worried about decisions I've made. Stupid ones. Good ones. Things I regret. I'm starting a job, and planning for that takes time and stress. Oftentimes, we feel as tho there are MANY things crushing us. But when my lovely headmaster pulls up the slide in class that says, "FINALS", I groan loudly and hide under my desk. I don't want to face them. I feel super accomplished at the end of finals, especially when it means 4 1/2 months of freedom. However, EVERY problem that comes up at this point feels like it's blown out of proportion. A lot.
Can't everyone put the drama at the BACK of the top shelf and shut the door? Can you just walk away? Would you STOP complaining about your life? I know I'm one to talk. My problems aren't that big, in retrospect. My problems are just as big as yours. They may be different. I might not be able to relate too well. I really shouldn't get angry for you having blessings that I don't have, because I have blessings you don't have.
But I digress.
I'm at a crucial stage of life. I'm 17. I'm dating. I'm forging friendships. I'm deciding what to study. My habits, in exercise/eating/time management/studying, will stick with me for the rest of my life. I'm already stressed. When you realize that you might just be messing up your life and hurting your future, it adds to stress.
This past week, starting last monday, has been one of those weeks. Where I can reeaalllyyy feel the stress of my relationships, study habits, and EVERY THING ELSE just beating down on the back of my neck.
Summer, please come quickly.
And while you're at it, I wouldn't mind the beginning of stage 4.
Hey you. Its allll gonna be just fine. Kay?
ReplyDeleteI promise.
Stress never stops. School never stops. Decisions never stop. Crap never stops(eveerrr) but...
There are those moments when you're in crawdad canyon and you stop thinking of the past the present or the future. You sit on a rock and stare at the water as it rushes by. Embrace this time that is coming to detox your mind and spirit.
I love you Aurora. Its all going to be fine. Specially when you get an epic hug from a certain someone *cough, cough*
I've got to say stage 3 is the most important. not only do you decide your habits but you decide your education and the kind of money and people you'll interact with later on.
ReplyDeleteBut stress doesn't go away, you'll be 50 and still working (unless you retire early) and be stressed about how you do your job and if your going to be laid off and and such.
So keep in mind, that even if it's stressful there's a bright side to everything.
that friend that has been there for you through it all will still have your back, that schooling you took 5 years ago will help you get that amazing job you've always wanted, and so on.
it aint all bad.