I Failed at Adulthood Last Tuesday
Look, I’m gonna be honest. I failed at being an adult last Tuesday. It wasn’t pretty. It started with a forgotten appointment (which, honestly, who am I kidding? I always forget appointments). Then, I tried to make it up by rushing to the place on 5th for a coffee with an old friend named Marcus. Let’s call him Marcus because, frankly, I don’t want to embarrass him.
Marcus, he’s this kinda guy who’s got his life together. Like, alarmingly so. He’s got a spreadsheets for his spreadsheets. And there I was, with my crumpled to-do list and a stain on my shirt from lunch. I mean, who even does that? Adults, that’s who. Or at least, adults who aren’t me.
So, we’re sitting there, and Marcus is telling me about his latest diy projects home decoration project. He’s all excited, showing me pictures on his phone. And I’m just sitting there, nodding, thinking, ‘I can’t even keep a plant alive, and this guy’s building furniture.’
Why Can’t I Be Like Marcus?
I asked him, ‘How do you do it, Marcus? How do you keep it all together?’ And he just laughed. ‘I don’t,’ he said. ‘I just focus on one thing at a time. And sometimes, I fail. Like, last week, I tried to make a lasagna. It was a disaster. But I’m not gonna let that stop me from trying again.’
Which… yeah. Fair enough. I guess I’ve been trying to do too much at once. Like, I’ve been trying to exercise more, eat healthier, finish that book I started in 2019, and learn how to code. And, surprise surprise, I’m failing at all of them. Or at least, not succeeding as much as I’d like.
But here’s the thing: I’m not alone. I talked to a colleague named Dave about this. Dave’s a bit of a mess, honestly. But he’s a lovable mess. And he told me, ‘Look, I’m not gonna win any awards for my committment to self-improvement. But I’m trying. And that’s gotta count for something.’
The Myth of the Perfect Adult
I think we’ve all bought into this myth that adults have it all figured out. That they wake up at 5am, meditate for an hour, then go for a run. That they meal prep on Sundays and never eat fast food. That they have a budget and stick to it. That they know how to fold a fitted sheet. (Seriously, who actually knows how to do that?)
But the truth is, adults are just as messy as the rest of us. They just hide it better. Or maybe they’ve just accepted that it’s okay to not have it all together all the time. I mean, I’ve seen Marcus’s apartment. It’s not some Pinterest-perfect showcase. It’s lived-in. It’s real. And honestly, that’s kinda comforting.
So, I’m gonna try something new. I’m gonna focus on one thing. Just one. And I’m gonna give myself permission to fail. Because, frankly, I’m tired of feeling like a failure just because I can’t keep up with some imaginary standard of adulthood.
A Tangent About Laundry
Speaking of failing, let’s talk about laundry. I hate laundry. Like, I really, really hate it. I don’t know why, but folding clothes just fills me with dread. I think it’s the monotony of it. The endless cycle of washing, drying, folding, putting away. It’s like Sisyphus’s boulder, but with socks.
I tried to make it fun once. I put on some music, lit a candle, the whole nine yards. But it didn’t help. I still hated it. So now, I just do it when I have to. And sometimes, I don’t do it at all. And you know what? The world doesn’t end. My clothes might get a little wrinkly, but I’m still here. I’m still alive. And that’s what matters.
I think that’s the key to this whole adulting thing. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being real. It’s about trying, failing, and trying again. It’s about accepting that you’re gonna have off days. That you’re gonna forget appointments. That you’re gonna burn the toast. That you’re gonna hate doing laundry.
And it’s okay. Because that’s what being an adult is all about. It’s not about having it all together. It’s about figuring it out as you go. And sometimes, that means failing. And that’s okay. Because, honestly, who’s counting?
About the Author: Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m a senior magazine editor with more than 20 years of experience. I’ve written for major publications, and I’ve learned a thing or two about adulting along the way. Mostly, I’ve learned that it’s okay to not be perfect. So, let’s embrace the mess together, shall we?
