@JohnnyNoir Thank you for answering. Have fun!

@JohnnyNoir I'll try that soon... think of myself as ten! Thanks! I'll try to connect with my old self to capture that energy haha it's not my style but I like the idea! I already feel a smile coming on!

@Poppies awww Thank you for the confirmation !!

@exexec that just means you want to have fun even as you're aging

@loulou22 great attitude. I'm not sure everyone can see themselves as a growing learner. Some people act like they know everything.

@SleepingWithGhosts you sound happy about that!

@Mindful It's both very happy and very hard at the same time.

@SleepingWithGhosts yes, growing is sometimes followed by the word "pains"

@Mamapolo2016 that's because you're open to learning and growing... never in denial.. I think there are aspects in my life where I have lived in denial and some of that is being revealed to me as I age... some of it, I was blind to, but some of it I think I turned a blind eye to. I didn't have siblings to tell me guess I didn't have enough people that cared enough to let me know? I hope I'm not being too serious for you.

@Mindful No, my friend. Playful is fun. Being serious is also a big part of living.

As Mr. Rogers often said, it’s you I like.

I was born blind, in the sense we’re talking about, mostly in the best ways, but a few not so good.

I lived in a protective bubble until college. Not because my parents were over-protective, but because many social issues simply did not exist where we were. Almost exclusively white. Almost nobody rich enough to put on airs. I never saw bullying happening.

I had good loving parents who never let us know about grownup struggles. We had everything we needed, and sometimes what we wanted, but less often. Not until adulthood did I look back and wonder how they did it. Six children who never felt poor, because in all the important ways, we were rich.

I was lucky. I walked into adulthood expecting wonderful things, and I noticed when they happened, because they were new to me, not things I thought I deserved.

My age never changed things much.

@Mamapolo2016 your upbringing sounds beautiful to me. I was also sheltered from many stressors as a child, we were loved, at least I felt very loved and felt as if I had everything even tho we were poor... but... now when I encounter stress/obstacles, I tend to feel overwhelmed. When I was younger I was much more resilient. I love that somehow your youth experience made you notice wonderful things in life and even thru adulthood.

@Degbeme that a great attitude!

@Livingwell yes as I'm aging I'm realizing I need to focus on how I handle my emotions

@Mindful it was when my sister was murdered when i was in my freshman year of highschool. she was my only actual friend and pretty much the only person who had ever really looked out for me. after she died one of the main abusers got out of jail early to come to her funeral and i knew he would start his shit again. considering he was violent and pretty obsessed with me(they also gave him a place to sleep in my room) i kinda couldnt deal with it. up until then i told myself i could kinda let it be, but he started acting creepy as usual, asking if i would be sleeping in my room that night, the usual and i ended up going to my guidance counselor and telling her what was going on. She called children and youth services and they took me straight from school. it was a LOT. but that person did what they did for 7 years, including stalking. but it does not count the more than 30 others who did the same. this part of my life is the part i get to control on my terms

@DancingStarGoddess my mind is blown. I had no idea and little awareness something could would happen so frequently to one young person. It's truly aweful. I'm taking a moment to let it sink in and I have nothing more to say than that. I'm glad you're here.

@Mindful Thank you

@Explorer I hear ya, sounds about right!

@ninalanyon *growing into the new me* I like that phrasing

@BrandNewMan sometimes it's embarrassing sometimes it freeing.
Pas thanks for answering

@Mindful Absolutely .. if you aren't embarassed or humbled once in awhile, there isn't much real growth or change happening