What surprised me the most about growing up

I'm not done growing up, but so far I've been surprised that:

• People don't care all that much.

About your mistakes, what you're wearing. People care more about themselves and aren't too bothered about what you're doing.

• You don't always have to be grown up.

You can let loose and still have fun, holding on to your inner six year old.

• It's not as good as it looks.

More responsibility, pressure, work, etc...

• Your life is yours to own.

People can't make your decisions for you, you have to do that yourself and you've got to be independent.

• "You've got to get the rain, to have a rainbow."

Basically you can have to trawl through crap to get to a good place and find happiness. Life gets hard and throws some bad stuff at you, but you can get through it and be happy once again. I think that may be an original quote.

• You don't have to be defined and grounded.

You can change yourself, be more spontaneous and don't have to tolerate a lot of stuff. You can go to different places and re-define yourself.

• You don't change that much.

It's not a massive transition, it's important but you don't really change massively or quickly.

• Nobody knows everything

I used to think adults knew so much (some of them do) but I realised they don't have all the answers.
 

• Jealousy and envy are petty and futile.

As a kid I thought if I begged and got angry because somebody else had something I didn't have, I'd get it. It looks stupid, petty and it is and it doesn't work especially when grown up.

• You have to search, to get.

You aren't going to get everything delivered on a platter to your door to be happy, you've got to work hard to get to places and to reap the rewards. Make your own time and craft a life around through obstacles and problems.

• Kindness doesn't cost and you've got to be kind.

To get by you need to be nice to people and to get on with them. People have to like you and kindness, being genuine and caring are the things that really matter to get along with people.

• Family and friends are the most important things.

Still. They always are, to me. You can work as hard as you want but even as you grow up and you feel you can break away from them to be independent and that you don't need them as much but I was surprised that you really do.