Teenage experiences are all shit. Everything is way better as an adult.

>>34303437
In every way - socially, intellectually, sexually, general happiness - my 20s were MUCH better than my teens, and my 30s are looking even better.

It's a bit like pouring ketchup out of a bottle - nothing happens and nothing happens and suddenly everything opens up. As Hamlet said, "The readiness is all."

>>34303437
I don't think you can have teenage experiences as an adult. When I think of my teenage years, I remember school, learning to drive, video games with my friends, not having to work, school dances that felt pointless, and actually dancing with a girl ONE TIME.

Sure some of these things (like playing video games with friends) can be done as an adult. But certain similar experiences just will not get the same exact feeling. And that's okay. We aren't supposed to relive the past or try to get the things we missed out on.

Speaking of teenage things I missed out on... I missed out on going to house parties and underage drinking. You know what? I'm fine with that. Maybe it would've been fun to make out with a girl on the bleachers at the high school football game or something. I don't know. The weather outside was usually too cold to be comfortable where I live, so maybe I wouldn't have enjoyed that so much. I'm not actually that sad I didn't do that. I'm sad I didn't ask a certain girl out, but maybe I wasn't meant to. Maybe I'm supposed to find a different one. There was a girl in middle school who would chase me around for hugs. Pretty too, but I liked my space and didn't like unsolicited hugs. She got knocked up in high school and I'm glad I wasn't the one who did that. Nothing really against her, just the situation. I didn't want to be an expectant father in high school. Maybe if I dated her she wouldn't have gotten pregnant at all. Who is to say? I enjoyed my 20s more than high school anyway and in my 30s I am thinking about some things I could've done in my 20s. Oh well, can't change it. Look forward to what you have now and what you can do.

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>>34303448
It's probably because your teens you're not really independent and then when you reach adulthood it's you calling the shots and the master of your own destiny.

>>34303462
Sorry about paragraph 3. I forgot to line break because I'm hungry.

>>34303437
>could you catch up on these in your 20s? Did something finally happen to you
To some extent. I have made s little bit of money since then increased my confidence massively and lowered my anxiety by a lot.
In terms of social life and girlfriends i really don't have anything, but that's common and should be fine.

>>34303469
>In terms of social life and girlfriends i really don't have anything
so nothing ever happened

>>34303437
I got my first gf and lost my virginity at 27. I'm now 34 with my second gf. Also my mental and physical state is much better than it was between ages 16-26. And I make a lot more money. You be the judge of whether that's "catching up" or not. Generally speaking, I'd say "catching up" is a bad phrase. You're not in a race with anyone else, whatever the rat race grindset sigma male trash on Instagram says.

>>34303489
The mental stuff is 10x more important. What's in your head matters more.

>>34303437
20s were better than highschool by miles

>catch up
you can't catch someone if they're on a different path, dumbass

>>34303437
>cool stuff
Experiences are only 'cool' later, in the imagination of those that fantasize for creating their own myths. Some philosophers even write about this phenomena.
Nostalgia is literally, pain, and fake nostalgia, the most pathetic of emotions. The past doesn't exist, only remains what you learnt to be better, and most people learn nothing. Try to be the one that learns, also most lessons only come from suffering, as pleasant experiences don't make people change.
So, have experiences, try those things you think are hard to accomplish, because those are the ones that will make you better.

>>34303437
I'm not fucking dozens of women or anything, but I am dating, I have my own hidey-hole of a rented room, and I like my job. Life is good.
I'm split between wanting a wife and kids and just going full alcohol-and-whores.

>>34303523
It's hard to not compare. I don't subscribe to Instagram trash. I hardly use the website and don't use the app. I'm 32 and felt like I was in a place to start dating around 25. Covid happened, then my life got real shitty due to family deaths. I've lost 3 immediate family members in that time. One was actually kind of good to have happened. Still lots of change, lots of growth. I feel robbed of a section of my life where I was feeling confident enough to start trying to date and now I feel really behind. I still can't decide if I even want to date.

It does sound like you're in a good place. Money is nice. Having a healthy relationship is nice. So I hope your 2nd gf is a healthy relationship.

>>34303701
>I'm split between wanting a wife and kids and just going full alcohol-and-whores.
In the good old days you could just have both. Secret: you can still have both.

>>34303706
It all comes down to biologically wanting to father children but having to face up to how fucked up I am. I should be a serial killer but I'm not. I haven't killed anyone, but I don't want to accidentally pass on my personal brand of psychosis. I'm pretty sure my major malfunction is due to trauma, so I don't think it's inheritable physically, but I don't want to just serve as a sperm donor. Kids deserve better than being manufactured to appease the instincts of their parents. Unfortunately, that will still be the majority cause of child production in the future.

>>34303725
Just have the kids. Don't worry about them having a bad time or whatever. Everyone has bad time.

>>34303732
Guess I can't argue with that

>>34303437
>could you catch up on these in your 20s?
That's not how it works, retard. Life is not a video game with a list of achievements you need to go back and finish if you "missed" them. Your only options are to live your life from now looking forwards or looking backwards. Most people choose the latter and lead miserable lives because of it.

>b-but i never had a teenage romance or whatever
Then go have an adult romance, the fuck are you expecting?

>>34303704
Comparing is a natural thing to do, but you only know 5% of the life of the people you're comparing yourself to. Do you know how many of them are alcoholics or abusers or just lost their mothers or their kids are disabled etc etc

>>34303742
It's media-brain.
>Oh you didn't experience <thing that happened in media>?
>Oh your life isn't like <life as portrayed by media>?
No I didn't and no it isn't. People aren't even just keeping up with the Joneses anymore, they're trying to keep up with fictional Joneses, which is as retarded as it is impossible.
That shit isn't real. You didn't need to have boned a chick at the high school prom to qualify as a man, for fuck's sake. It really is just people demanding to be seen out of the hopes that that will somehow give their life meaning.
Just enjoy life however you live it, and live it the best as you can. That's the only thing you can really do.

>>34303437
100%. I was a big fucking dweeb in high school. I had one ‘relationship’ (if you count getting molested), didn’t go to homecoming/prom, the usual. Wanted to kill myself like half the time. Even in college, I didn’t really do anything; no clubs, no new friends, no parties, just in and out. My saving grace was actually COVID - all my old friends got together and made a Discord, and I was able to reconnect with and meet some of the most wonderful people in the world.
It’s not perfect. I moved across the country for a guy who cheated on me twice, I still live with my parents, and my resume isn’t great, but I’ve also found people who make it easier to get up in the mornings, I’m in a field of study I’m passionate about, and I genuinely look forward to each day. Being an adult is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Sure, I’m still bummed I never got that innocent teenage love, but I’d so much rather have a relationship where we can talk about our issues like grown-ups instead of throwing a pissy fit because we didn’t fall asleep on call together or some other inane bullshit.
If nothing else, not having to get up at six in the morning just to take an exam is nice.