Here’s What They Don’t Tell You About Growing Up

They don’t tell you that at times, you will find yourself at a crossroads and you will have to count on your intuition and your gut to lead you. They don’t tell you that even if you have all the signs in the world, if you don’t think a road is for you, you will have to walk another one alone. They don’t tell you that sometimes you will find yourself in the middle of nowhere, living a life you didn’t wish for, doing things you said you’d never do just to make ends meet, just to survive, just to live another day.

They don’t tell you that love gets more complicated as you get older, it’s not puppy love anymore or you and your partner against the world, it’s not the romance that will sweep you off your feet, it’s not the fairytale you imagined when you were fourteen dreaming of a white picket fence and a knight in shining armor. After a few heartbreaks, after a few broken relationships, your heart begins to change. You think too much before giving someone a chance, you’re always guarding your heart even when you’re falling in love, you’re always thinking about the moment they leave or the moment you have to walk away. You’re always hoping for the best but expecting the worst. You’re always second-guessing their feelings and your own. You’re always ready to be alone again.

They don’t tell you that you will suffer alone sometimes, that you won’t be able to share everything as you used to when you were younger, you won’t be able to throw tantrums and break things because you now have responsibilities, you now have commitments, you now have people who count on you for strength so you can’t really break, you can’t share your struggles, you have to always pretend that things are normal, that you are working things out, that you have resolved all your issues because you’re not sure if anyone can handle your burdens and their own, you’re not even sure if you can handle your own burdens anymore.

They don’t tell you that you will have to accept that certain things are over; the perfect job, the perfect relationship, the family portrait, the ideal friendships. They don’t tell you that things can change overnight and you will have to deal with the mess and the aftermath. You will have to change your plans forever. You will be forced to start over when you thought everything was already settled.

But they also don’t tell you that as you get older, you get better at healing, you get better at learning, you get better at facing it all without losing your mind. You get better at living. You learn that life still goes on without some people. You learn that you can get caught up in a hurricane and come out of it unscathed. You learn that you are a lot more resilient than you think.

They don’t tell you that growing up is a project you’ll have to work on for the rest of your life, but the good news is, you’ll always find within you what it takes to complete that project. You’ll always find within you what it takes to do it yourself.

They don’t tell you that growing up is a lot tougher than you think, but so are you.

They don’t tell you that at times, you will find yourself at a crossroads and you will have to count on your intuition and your gut to lead you. They don’t tell you that even if you have all the signs in the world, if you don’t think a road is for you, you will have to walk another one alone. They don’t tell you that sometimes you will find yourself in the middle of nowhere, living a life you didn’t wish for, doing things you said you’d never do just to make ends meet, just to survive, just to live another day.

They don’t tell you that love gets more complicated as you get older, it’s not puppy love anymore or you and your partner against the world, it’s not the romance that will sweep you off your feet, it’s not the fairytale you imagined when you were fourteen dreaming of a white picket fence and a knight in shining armor. After a few heartbreaks, after a few broken relationships, your heart begins to change. You think too much before giving someone a chance, you’re always guarding your heart even when you’re falling in love, you’re always thinking about the moment they leave or the moment you have to walk away. You’re always hoping for the best but expecting the worst. You’re always second-guessing their feelings and your own. You’re always ready to be alone again.

They don’t tell you that you will suffer alone sometimes, that you won’t be able to share everything as you used to when you were younger, you won’t be able to throw tantrums and break things because you now have responsibilities, you now have commitments, you now have people who count on you for strength so you can’t really break, you can’t share your struggles, you have to always pretend that things are normal, that you are working things out, that you have resolved all your issues because you’re not sure if anyone can handle your burdens and their own, you’re not even sure if you can handle your own burdens anymore.

They don’t tell you that you will have to accept that certain things are over; the perfect job, the perfect relationship, the family portrait, the ideal friendships. They don’t tell you that things can change overnight and you will have to deal with the mess and the aftermath. You will have to change your plans forever. You will be forced to start over when you thought everything was already settled.

But they also don’t tell you that as you get older, you get better at healing, you get better at learning, you get better at facing it all without losing your mind. You get better at living. You learn that life still goes on without some people. You learn that you can get caught up in a hurricane and come out of it unscathed. You learn that you are a lot more resilient than you think.

They don’t tell you that growing up is a project you’ll have to work on for the rest of your life, but the good news is, you’ll always find within you what it takes to complete that project. You’ll always find within you what it takes to do it yourself.

They don’t tell you that growing up is a lot tougher than you think, but so are you.