Riding my bike like I’m too young to drive;
Careless and free, like it’s 2005.
Had to chill the f@6k out, take a trip outside;
To have fun with my friends, like I’m young and alive.
Bazzi.
Am I the only one that this music touches this way? We live in a world where you are expected to grow and get mature way before your age. You get to experience circumstances that will alter your entire perception of life. Many of us have been robbed of our childhoods, and many of us did not even make good memories, for childhood was a place where all the bad memories were made. Until they became old enough to leave it all behind.
Childhood should be a happy place, where we can be carefree and without all the headaches that come with responsibilities. As we grow older, we get entrusted with more and therefore we become more accountable to the people that are placing their trust in us. And as responsibilities grow, we reduce the things we do that would not have impact in our lives. We would focus on being more mature.
There was a time when the right age for measurement of success was the late twenties and thirties. Back then, if you were twenty-five and still living in your parent’s house, there was nothing wrong with it. At that age, your biggest problem would be finishing school so that you would get a job. That was the biggest issue then when the world still had some sense.
But now, everything has turned on its head. Now, you will see twenty-year-olds going into depression because they are yet to make it in life. I am always perplexed when I see young people feeling like a failure just because they have not bought a car or they are not using an expensive phone. Like, life is not like that at all.
And when you think about this, many of them do not want the cars because they genuinely want to own one for driving around. They just need it because they have to “show” that they have the car. They want to oppress their peers and show that they too have finally fallen into lots of money.
And it is this mindset that has driven many youths into different lifestyles that are nothing to write home about. Many have gone into fraudulent acts, some into straight-up prostitution, then we have armed robbery, kidnapping, and money rituals… people are going to extreme lengths just to get the money.
But then, if they are willing to go to such lengths, why not just channel it into making the money the right way? Do people have to be hurt before you can make money? The answer to the question is that youths nowadays are no longer interested in the process, all they care about is the result. The end justifies the means for them, so the side that is more likely to get them the money faster is the one they will most likely pick.
And many times, it is usually the illegal route.
But then, we are young and we are alive! This is the best time for us to actually do something with our lives that will stand the test of time. People seem to forget that when you are young is the best time for you to make mistakes and take risks.
This is especially when you are still under your parents and you have a cushion to fall back on if things go bad. Now will be the time to open as many businesses as possible, let them all fail, it will be a lesson for you. Now is the time to take risks, what are you scared of? As long as you are not doing something illegal, there is no form of loss that will cripple you.
The thing is that as we grow, we would keep losing this advantage. If we can’t take risks with our money now that we are young and free, is it when we get married and start having children that we would start having the time? Then, we would be looking for risks and we would not see. And this is because the time has passed.
Everyone works on a different timetable, take your time in doing your thing. There is no rush, there is no pressure. Just do what works for you and see it blossom. Stop trying to do things to get the validation of others, you are your own person and that is how it is meant to be.
Well, I guess this is where my fifteen minutes would end.
I chose this topic mostly because of the insane competition I see between youths these days, people wanting to have so much wealth when they’ve not even left their father’s house. And then, the length they are going for it. If I had the opportunity, it would be a talk I would give.
Thank you for reading. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below, I would love to know what you are thinking.
This post is inspired by the second topic for this week which is Talk. Feel free to take part.
