This is What Nobody Tells You About Growing Up

Look, there’s something you and I have in common that we don’t really think much about. But it’s something we do every single second of every single day.

Day after day. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year…

You and I? We’re both growing up.

Yeah, that's right. Whether you’re 22 (like me), 55, or coming up on the century-mark, time isn’t slowing down. And spoiler alert, it doesn’t slow down for anyone, no matter how much you want it to.

And for many, that’s a scary realization.

Because the thing is when you’re younger, you’re told exactly what to do. A map was laid out for you, in a sense.

Think back to when you were younger. You were told to be a good little kid and follow the rules. You were told to do your homework and get good grades in school. You were told to apply to college and choose a career at 18 years old. You were told to graduate and pick a job that interested you and finally enter the “real world.”

But then what? What comes after that?

Honestly, I don’t know. I’m still trying to figure that out for myself.

Because for the first part of your life, school only prepares you so much. And it only prepares you for your career. For the supposed “real world.”

But what about everything outside of your job?

What about how to manage your finances? What about how to handle your emotions? What about how to navigate your relationships and social life?

I don’t know about you, but school most definitely did not prepare me for these things. Nothing does, except your own experiences.

Here’s the thing. For the first time in my life, I feel lost and directionless. I have no idea what I’m doing or where I’m going. I feel like I’m just faking it until I make it. And I don’t think I’ll ever truly “make it” because there’s always this uncertainty about the future.

You never really know what will happen.

Which honestly, is a terrifying feeling.

It’s terrifying because for the first time in my life, I'm completely responsible and in control of what I do and where I go. And even then, nothing is guaranteed.

Whether it's what you decide to do tomorrow, where you'll be a year from now, or who you'll be with five years down the line, there's so much uncertainty about... well, everything.

So yes, it’s a terrifying feeling. But it’s also an incredibly freeing feeling at the same time.

Because for the first time in my entire life, I'm in complete control. I get to do whatever I want, whenever I want (well, for the most part).

I get to write the next chapter and decide how my story ends.

And that, my friend, is a beautiful thing.

Look, I’m young and I may not know much. But the one thing I do know is this:

None of us really know what we’re doing.

Yeah, I said it. We’re all just trying to figure out things as we go. As exciting as it is, the future terrifies us all from time to time. And we all feel a little lost and directionless every now and then.

And guess what? That’s okay!

Because growing up is a scary and beautiful thing. We all experience highs and lows. Heartbreak and euphoria. Ecstasy and despair.

But that’s just… life. It’s called living and we’re human beings for a reason, right?

Is the future uncertain? Yeah, it sure is. There’s no step-by-step manual. There’s no instructions or set path laid out for you. You have to learn and grow as you go.

But at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide what comes next in your journey.

You hold the pen in your hand. And you get to be the author of your next chapter.

Just be sure it’s one worth reading.

Never stop dreaming,

Connor “I don’t know what I’m doing” Flynn

❓This Week’s Question

When was a time you felt lost and how did you shake that feeling?

Feel free to reply to this email with your response. I’d love to hear!

💭 This Week’s Quote

📚 This Week’s Resource

20 Things Nobody Tells You About Growing Up

Nicolas Cole is one of my favorite online writers. He wrote this wonderful and quick list of 20 things no one tells you about growing up, which I think you’ll enjoy – especially if you're a 22-year-old feeling a bit lost in life (not just me, right?)