Rejuveniles
This morning after I hit snooze 6 times, cursed the world for making me open my eyes before noon, slipped on my fuzzy slippers, and trapsed through my apartment in my outerspace pajamas in attempt to get ready for work, I overheard a story on The Today Show about this book called Rejuvenile, by Christopher Noxon:
Once upon a time, boys and girls grew up and set aside childish things. Or so the story goes. Nowadays, moms and dads skateboard and download pop-song ringtones. Captains of industry pose for the cover of Business Week holding Super Soakers. The average age of video game players is twenty-nine and rising. Disney World is the world’s top adult vacation destination (that’s adults without kids).
It’s hard to imagine adults in previous eras so unashamedly indulging their inner children. But these are not the adults of twenty years ago. They constitute a new breed of adult, identified by a commitment to remain playful, energetic and fun in the face of adult responsibilities. Whether buying cars marketed to consumers half their age, dressing in baby-doll fashions or bonding over games like Twister or stick ball, this new band of grownups refuses to give up childish things they never stopped loving, or else revels in things they were denied or never got around to as children. Most have busy lives and adult responsibilities. Many have children of their own. They are not stunted adolescents. They are something new: rejuveniles.
As the author described these "adults" who act like children, I had two initial thoughts:
1. "THIS IS ME", and
2. "OH SHIT, IM AN 'ADULT'; WHEN THE F DID THAT HAPPEN?"
I've always referred to my own personal condition as Peter Pan Syndrome...I even carried a tiny plastic Peter Pan figurine around in my bag for years (I still have him, but he lives in my desk drawer now). What's wrong with this, and who says that watching cartoons, caring about concerts more than your job, eating chocolate cake for dinner, and sleeping with stuffed animals is for CHILDREN?!
I beg to freakin differ, son! I am quite happy, and I think that my lifestyle is the perfect combination of all things good in life. Not only do I get to drink alcohol, see R rated movies, and slather whipped cream on whatever I want whenever I want, but I can continue to do all the things I have always enjoyed such as play video games, watch cartoons, and shop in toy stores.
In my opinion, people that give ANY of this stuff up in order to be "responsible" have no clue! I pay my bills, I am a professional, I handle my own, but DAMN, do I know how to have fun! I recommend that everyone keep connected with their inner child. Just because I am 26 doesn't mean I have to suddenly start reading the NY Times in the morning while simultaneously drinking black coffee, ironing my white cotton underwear, doing my taxes, and bleaching the bathroom floor! That's for cartoon robots like Rosie on the Jetsons.....
Once upon a time, boys and girls grew up and set aside childish things. Or so the story goes. Nowadays, moms and dads skateboard and download pop-song ringtones. Captains of industry pose for the cover of Business Week holding Super Soakers. The average age of video game players is twenty-nine and rising. Disney World is the world’s top adult vacation destination (that’s adults without kids).
It’s hard to imagine adults in previous eras so unashamedly indulging their inner children. But these are not the adults of twenty years ago. They constitute a new breed of adult, identified by a commitment to remain playful, energetic and fun in the face of adult responsibilities. Whether buying cars marketed to consumers half their age, dressing in baby-doll fashions or bonding over games like Twister or stick ball, this new band of grownups refuses to give up childish things they never stopped loving, or else revels in things they were denied or never got around to as children. Most have busy lives and adult responsibilities. Many have children of their own. They are not stunted adolescents. They are something new: rejuveniles.
As the author described these "adults" who act like children, I had two initial thoughts:
1. "THIS IS ME", and
2. "OH SHIT, IM AN 'ADULT'; WHEN THE F DID THAT HAPPEN?"
I've always referred to my own personal condition as Peter Pan Syndrome...I even carried a tiny plastic Peter Pan figurine around in my bag for years (I still have him, but he lives in my desk drawer now). What's wrong with this, and who says that watching cartoons, caring about concerts more than your job, eating chocolate cake for dinner, and sleeping with stuffed animals is for CHILDREN?!
I beg to freakin differ, son! I am quite happy, and I think that my lifestyle is the perfect combination of all things good in life. Not only do I get to drink alcohol, see R rated movies, and slather whipped cream on whatever I want whenever I want, but I can continue to do all the things I have always enjoyed such as play video games, watch cartoons, and shop in toy stores.
In my opinion, people that give ANY of this stuff up in order to be "responsible" have no clue! I pay my bills, I am a professional, I handle my own, but DAMN, do I know how to have fun! I recommend that everyone keep connected with their inner child. Just because I am 26 doesn't mean I have to suddenly start reading the NY Times in the morning while simultaneously drinking black coffee, ironing my white cotton underwear, doing my taxes, and bleaching the bathroom floor! That's for cartoon robots like Rosie on the Jetsons.....
posted by Talia
@
11:34 AM
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