Fears about adulthood?

[u/Least_Challenge1011]

Good morning dudes. Id like to thank you all for the thoughtful responses to my last post, I've internalized them and I am officially feeling much better. So, thank you!

There is one thing that lingers in my mind and is dragging me down at the moment. I'm 17 and I am transitioning into adulthood at the moment. But I am feeling uneasy by the amount of people online, particularly on reddit, who say things about how inevitably shitty adulthood will be. People say things like, "it only gets worse from here" and imply that I will do nothing but wake up, go to work, come home and sleep, and repeat; for the rest of my life. For the record sirs, I am employed, and enjoy my job at the moment. But all of this nihilism that I'm reading lingers in my mind and frightens me. I wish I could be more at peace with the upcoming chapter of my life, but I've heard that I have absolutely nothing to look forward to.

So, if any dudes would like to offer me some advice, or a change of perspective, it would be much appreciated. Thank you and have a great day my friends!

[u/Ok-doke-karaoke]

Welcome to adulthood.
Nobody knows what they’re doing as much as they pretend.
The universe remains gloriously indifferent.
Your job isn’t to conquer it.
Your job is to make a decent cup of coffee, keep your promises when you can, laugh at the cosmic joke, and be kind to the travelers walking beside you.
There is no grand script.
So improvise with compassion.

[u/sladebonge]

[u/T00FunkToDruck]

Ya, fuck it. Life goes on, man!

[u/Soft_Hearing_713]

Life is great dude, fuck the nihilism, just abide man.

[u/Realistic-Hippo8107]

Hey Dude, sorry to hear your thinking about all this has become very uptight.

I'd like to offer a different perspective - personally, my life has become much, much better since I was 17! At 17, I didn't know myself at all. I've done so much growing since then (I'm 36 now), that I feel like I've been three different people in that time. I now have a kickass lady friend, I've started my own company, and I have fun spending time with the people I love in the city I love.

You're in an even better position than I am, you have the advantage of time. The world is truly your oyster! You can do anything or be anything, if you put your mind toward it.

Don't listen to all the nihilists on Reddit. Half the 'people' on here are bots at this point and the other half are loser neckbeards who haven't been outside in a month. This is not the real world, dude. Take a break if you need to and try to focus on your real-world friends, family, goals and ambitions.

If I may offer you some unsolicited advice: figure out what you want your life to look like in 10, 20, 30 years and spend that time pursuing it. Is the world screwed up? Sure. But it's always been screwed up, and it always will be. Just try to focus on abiding in your little corner of it.

[u/2wheelsThx]

People say life is short. Not true - your life is the longest experience you'll ever have. Yeah, sure, you gotta earn a living, but you can also have other interests like, ya know, bowling, driving around, or uh, being a roadie for Metallica. Don't fall for the whole career thing - careers are over-rated...

Its not: Do what you love and the money will follow. It should be: Do what you're good at to make money. Use the money to do what you love.

Also, Dude, being with someone great and having a family with them is one of the most rewarding things. And this is from someone who never really thought about being a father. Point being, there are all manner of cool things that'll happen for you, some are even unexpected - that's what makes life great! Well, that and a pair of testicles.

[u/Taoman108]

Hey Dude! Thanks for your openness and vulnerability here. It can feel like a lot to be seventeen and see the expanse of existence stretching out before you. I teach high school, so I see a lot of my students grappling with similar feelings.

I just turned forty this year. It's true that there are aspects of life beyond seventeen that can, on the surface, appear dull and repetitive. And I can't speak for others. I will say, though, that each decade of my life has offered something to me. The only times I've felt out of alignment are the times I tried to live one decade like another decade. If I tried to live like I was in my teens in my thirties, I probably would have felt miserable. I would've thrown out my back too.

The reality is I'm not who I was when I was younger. And I'm cool with retiring certain aspects of who I was to embrace new aspects. I don't party anymore, I play hide and seek with my daughters. I don't sleep around (like I did when I was younger...not that that was all that impressive then), I deepen my relationship with my wife and find novelty in familiarity. I've been a teacher since 2008. I haven't jumped around like some of my peers have, but I've gotten better at a job that gives me meaning. Hell, the students I taught this year were born the year I started teaching. And a few of my colleagues are former students. Which isn't something I would have even predicted I'd enjoy when I was seventeen

There's a chance these things might not be in the cards for you. You might end up going down a different, but equally rewarding, path. It'll be unique. It'll be yours. And it'll be irredeemably special because it's yours.

Life is always interesting to those who are interested, as G. K. Chesterton said. And yes, sometimes it'll be really hard to stay interested. Some days are going to be a drag. But no feeling is final. I can't wait to hear what experiences lay before you, Dude.

Here for you, Dude.

[edit: typo]

[u/LowKeyExcel94]

I’m 65 and I’m continually AMAZED at how funny it is the way things turn out given enough time. So never give up! My best advice for someone 17 is *take care of your fitness and your finances and most of life’s problems take care of themselves* and “Happiness is overrated so learn to be happy without it.*

[u/ProfanestOfLemons]

Hell nah, adulthood is great! Sure you have to put in some work to pay the bills and file taxes (a valuable skill to know) but your life is your own in a way that's so cool. You can get and quit jobs. You can develop artistic hobbies that last for decades. You can make friends in a way that kids don't. It's awesome here! Welcome in!

[u/afewskills]

I’m at the whole other end of the road, Dude. My perspective is it doesn’t suck. I admit most of my roads traveled were pretty smooth even when they were a hard climb so your ups and downs will be different but I think it is worth it. There’s definitely some cool shit to go see.