Saturday, July 21, 2007

When, If Ever, Do Americans Grow Up?

Americans don't become adults until 40.

2 comments:

marxsny said...

I think adulthood is defined more by events than by numbers. I know people who had to become adults at very young ages and others who are over 40 and I still wouldn't call them adults.

Guitar's Cry said...

I'm 26, and I still feel like I'm 18...

I think we live in a culture that celebrates youth more than maturity. We don't want to grow old, because that means winding up in a "home" waiting for an all-too-rare visit from...anyone! The wisdom of age is being replaced by the charism of youth.

In some ways this is perhaps good; people can indulge in a "young" feeling long past their youth and not feel foolish.

But even the most elderly should have the freedom to feel that way anyway, I think!