Absolute Write's blog chain this month is about Growing Up. Razib Ahmed went before me. Collectonian is coming up next.
So, I wasn't sure what I was going to write for this month. The idea of some whimsical anecdote about my childhood came to mind. Even something about never growing up, and staying a kid forever.
Instead, not.
While printing out a bunch of flyers for my book last night, I was watching Labyrinth. In the end, Sarah comes home after learning that she isn't an island, and a selfish child, and she grows up. The first thing she does is start putting away her toys and her dreams.
And I think that defines adulthood for Americans, unfortunately. (I can't speak for the adults in other countries ;) ) Being an adult means you stop having whimsies, and stop dreaming of the future. You buckle down and get serious. There's no playtime for adults.
Adulthood does mean being responsible, and doing things that have to be done before doing things you want to get done. I'd love to just stop working so I could focus on my writing, but I can't. There's bills to pay, my family to take care of, and food to eat. So I need a paycheck.
But I don't have to stop dreaming. I have to put on my dress clothes, and act nice to my customers, and collect my check, and pay my bills, and do grocery shopping, and pay taxes, and keep myself sane. I don't have to be just another wage slave. I can act like them, but inside, I'm still whatever I want to be.
I dream of a better life, and I want a better life, and one day I'll probably get it. In that way, I'm like a child.
Growing up doesn't need to be about putting away your toys, or conforming, or becoming another drone. I collect stuffed animals, amongst other things. My net of stuffed animals is ten feet long, eighteen inches deep, and eighteen inches high. It's a great big hammock of toys, because I think they're cute, and I like having them. It's not what adults are "supposed" to do, but it's what I do.
Being adult just means taking care of the responsibilities. After that, be yourself. Do what makes you happy. And keep dreaming.
To sum up my point, check out this comic from XKCD.
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The rest of our blog chain:
aimeelaine - www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog
AuburnAssassin - http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/
DavidZahir - http://zahirblue.blogspot.com/
FreshHell - http://freshhell.wordpress.com/
Simran - http://theglutenfreefoodblog.blogspot.com/
Proach - http://everythinghistorical.wordpress.com/
*RomanceWriter* - http://www.staceyespino.blogspot.com/
Breddings - http://breddings.blogspot.com/
laffarsmith - http://www.writersroundabout.com/
Sneaky Devil - http://sneaks-myfantasylife.blogspot.com/
leahzero - http://words.leahraeder.com/
razibahmed - http://www.southasiablog.com/
RavenCorinnCarluk - http://ravencorinncarluk.blogspot.com/
Collectonian - http://collectonian.livejournal.com/
