Immersing yourself deeply in something alone. Spending time together with someone. Everyone has their own way of living and their own way of holding onto memories. Having lived through my teens, twenties, and now thirties, what I realize is that even when doing the exact same thing, there are memories and experiences that can only be truly savored during a specific decade of life.
Whether it’s going to the movies with a friend or visiting a theme park—for instance, experiencing these things and making memories with peers in your teens, versus doing the same in your thirties, results in entirely different experiences and a distinct quality of memory.
There is no hierarchy in these differences. An experience in your thirties is not “inferior” or “superior” to one in your teens. It’s not just about being wild in your teens or enjoying “adult” pastimes in your thirties; there is a fundamental difference in how that time is spent. More importantly, there is a unique quality of memory that can only be forged within the social circle of that specific age group.
During my own teens and twenties, I didn’t show much interest in socializing. It wasn’t just a lack of interest; in my case, it was a sense of inadequacy. I struggled with interpersonal relationships, and there were specific, complex circumstances that I cannot fully detail here. Many strange things happened, and even now, I feel the possibility of a “normal” social life back then was non-existent. However, even considering all that, I still feel I should have made a greater effort to collect a wider variety of memories. That is how immensely valuable the difference in the quality of these memories truly is.
Perhaps there are others who, like I did, feel a sense of inadequacy. Or perhaps you are dealing with various personal circumstances. Some might feel that, no matter what is said, “what’s impossible is impossible.” Especially in your teens, the school environment occupies the vast majority of your life, and being confined to that space tends to narrow one’s perspective. Consequently, some may worry that their current situation will persist indefinitely.
There is no use in mourning the time that has passed. Just as there are things only possible in your teens and twenties, there are memories that can only be savored in your thirties. This likely remains true as you move into your forties and fifties. Nevertheless, the difference between one’s teens or twenties and the older decades is stark.
It may seem somewhat abrupt, but I felt a strong urge to convey this to those currently in their teens and twenties. No matter how small the act may be, I hope you cherish the memories that can only be created in this very moment, at this specific time of your life.
