My Resignation From Adulthood

by Marelisa · View Comments

the simple life A Berlin Aging Study will soon be published in the “Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Science” which tracked 516 men and women ages 70 and over during a six-year period. The results of the study are based on interviews with the participants and their perceptions of various aspects of aging, including perceptions of how young they look, how young they feel, and how satisfied they are with the process of aging.

Researchers found that those who feel younger are less likely to die than those who feel older, given the same age and equivalent level of health. The verdict: in order to live longer, don’t act your age. (Source).

Today, January 12th, it’s a holiday in the Republic of Panama. So, instead of writing a post for today, I leave you with this resignation from adulthood which I stumbled upon while surfing the net. I hope you enjoy it.

My Resignation

(Author Unknown)

I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of an eight-year-old again.

I want to go to McDonald’s and think that it’s a four-star restaurant.

I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make a sidewalk with rocks.

I want to think M&Ms are better than money because you can eat them.

I want to run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer’s day.

I want to return to a time when life was simple, when all you knew were colors, multiplication tables and nursery rhymes, but that didn’t bother you because you didn’t know what you didn’t know and you didn’t care.

All you knew was to be happy, because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should make you worried or upset.

I want to think the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good.

I want to believe that anything is possible. I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things again.

I want to live simply again. I don’t want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive when there are more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness and loss of loved ones.

I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, mankind and making angels in the snow.

I want to play with my pets and my days of imagination to last forever.

So here are my checkbook and my car keys, my credit card bills and my 401(k) statements. I am officially resigning from adulthood.

And if you want to discuss this further, you’ll have to catch me first because, “Tag! You’re it!”

photo credit: rochelle, et. al.

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Mare

Hi Chris: Actually, I stumbled across this manifesto while surfing the net, but I've adopted it :-) Being young in spirit definitely does wonders for your health, and it makes life a lot more fun.

Hi Kim: I think that's true, people just act the way they think adults are supposed to act. That would be a good post: What's an adult?

Kim Woodbridge

For years I've wondered when I would feel grown-up. I asked my Mom about it once and she told me we all just fake it ;-)

That being said I don't remember my childhood being all that carefree - though I think I was kind of serious kid - more so than I am as an adult.

<abbr>Kim Woodbridges last blog post..4 Sites to Help You Decide What Book to Read Next</abbr>

chris zydel

Hi Marelisa,

I just adore your list!! I resigned from adulthood and have been living according to your manifest years ago . I highly recommend it! My life has been way more fun, interesting and playful and now I find it's also good for my health! Thanks for a great post!

<abbr>chris zydels last blog post..The ART OF INNER CLUTTER CLEARING: MAKING ROOM FOR WHO YOU REALLY ARE</abbr>

Mare

Hi Patricia: It sounds like your mother was young in mind if not in body until the age of 93. I haven't seen the Curious Life of Benjamin Button, but I've heard it's excellent. It's never too late to learn how to play :-)

Patricia

Well, I am finally here - I saw your title and wanted to come by earlier but my computer would not cooperate.

I need to say when my mum turned 91 she started to say "growing old is not for sissies" she had heard it at a health forum. At 93 she fractured her vertebrae in 3 places and she started to feel "old". She was gone by the end of the year.

I think I have never been a child and I don't know how to play.
I liked the movie the Curious Life of Benjamin Button because it made me
see the truth of my life.

<abbr>Patricias last blog post..Never Build on Your Food Supply</abbr>

Mare

Hi Marissa: It's not fair that little kids should get all the fun :-) And I love your motto.

Marissa

I loved this list! It's awesome to know so many people feel the same way about giving in to their inner kid. When I turned 40 a couple of years ago, I declared my motto: 40 is the new 10!

Mare

Hi Arswino: There's definitely a strong connection between the mind and the body. If you want to remain young, have young thoughts :-)

Hi Mitch: Today I was at my gym and I found a jump rope and started jumping rope. One foot at a time like I used to do in school :-)

Hi Joely: Glitter and glue are the best. It's great when you think you got all the glitter cleaned up and hours later you shake your head and glitter falls out :-)

Joely Black (@TheCharmQuark on

Great post! I spent this Christmas playing with my niece and nephew, making things with plasticine, glitter and glue. It was wonderful. I feel lucky that I get to play in my imaginary world all day, but it's even better to really be a child again.

Kid forever here too.

<abbr>Joely Black (@TheCharmQuark on Twitter)s last blog post..This is a post about carrying somebody else’s fear</abbr>

Mitch

Lucky for me, the only concession I've made to adulthood is having to find new ways to bring in money. Well, that and getting married, but I actually like that. LOL

There are so many things I do that, later on, I ask myself "Are you sure you're on the verge of another decade of aging?" Probably the only thing I don't do anymore is put on the heavy coat, go outside in the snow (and we have lots of it), and do snow angels anymore. That's because the last time I did it, and trust me it was fun, I couldn't get out, as the snow was too deep, without my wife's help.

Other than that, and the physical pain changes, I'm going to remain a kid forever.

<abbr>Mitchs last blog post..My Big RSS Subscriber Contest!</abbr>

Arswino

Hi Mare, your article reminded us the power of mind. We will become what we think we will be. If we always think positively, positive things will happen to us. Negative thinking will bring about negative things.
Thanks for sharing, Mare.

<abbr>Arswinos last blog post..Achievement of Goals</abbr>

Mare

Hi Mark: I printed it out and put it on my bulletin board :-)

Hi Stacey: It is just a number. I know a lot of young women who act as if they were 100. They think it's "mature", I think it's dumb :-)

Hi Mark (Salinas): Thank you :-) Maybe instead of asking people "how old are you?", we should ask "how old do you feel?"

Mark Salinas

As Stacey puts it "age is just a number" Fantastic post!

<abbr>Mark Salinass last blog post..Your Journey</abbr>

Stacey Shipman

Enjoy your holiday. I love that and I want some! Here is to my resignation as well... :-) I have always believed age is just a number, and it's about how you feel, act and what you believe. As I get older I feel more energized, happy and satisfied than ever...sometimes I forget my biological age!

<abbr>Stacey Shipmans last blog post..Got Stress? Use it to Your Advantage</abbr>

Mark | 1st anniversary gifts

Love it! I think I'll adopt this as my new mantra.

Mark

Mare

Hi Patricia: Getting old is an attitude, just like you say. Let's all keep a young attitude :-)

Hi Juliet: That's a good point. This is a good time to be alive.

Hi Jayne: I did, I went and sat by the pool, thank you :-)

Hi Evelyn: I think it's good for kids to have parents that are young at heart. I just got back from the gym and I have to say, I'm in shape :-)

Hi Elaine: I'll count and you hide :-)

Hi Marita: I get excited by little things too :-)

Hi Shawn: Too bad, you're tagged :-) Thank you.

Shawn

Hey, no fair! I called time-out! Wonderful post Marelisa.

Marita Greenidge

Great find Marelisa! I love it! I'm still overly excited by the little things :-)

Elaine B.

Accepted and I join you!

Evelyn Lim

I welcome the idea of feeling and looking young forever!! More importantly, my health is maintained and that I am still as flexible as I have been ten to twenty years ago. Like Vered, being with young kids has brought out my playfulness even more!

<abbr>Evelyn Lims last blog post..Ideas For Soul Growth In 2009</abbr>

Frisky Librarian

Fabulous! Hope you enjoyed your day off , Marelisa.

<abbr>Frisky Librarians last blog post..Bump</abbr>

LifeMadeGreat | Juliet

All smiles...

If you think about how long one can actually live these days, middle age is probably closer to 60!

Juliet

<abbr>LifeMadeGreat | Juliets last blog post..What Are You Thirsting For?</abbr>

Patricia - Spiritual Journey O

3 older friends and I were talking just today about getting old and decided that it is an attitude that we are never going to have. I am the youngest of the 4 of us at age 57. The oldest is 70. None of the 4 of us is old and we love it.

<abbr>Patricia - Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworkers last blog post..Kindness---Why Is It Easier To Be Kind To Strangers?</abbr>

Mare

Hi Michele: I guess there's a theme to this Monday :-)

Hi Christopher: I'm taking my two little nephews to see Madagascar 2 :-)

Christopher

Yes!
I think one of the reasons I have so much fun playing with my two little daughters is it reminds me of the simple beautiful things in life - getting lost in coloring a picture or just laying on the grass.

<abbr>Christophers last blog post..National Day of Service</abbr>

Michele

Marelisa,

How awesome you shared this today! I enjoyed Amy Derby's guest post (for Liz Strauss' Successful Blog) called "Muppet Metaphors of Social Media" - it was amazing! There's a cool conversation going on in the comment thread, too. Then, I come here and we're resigning from adulthood. Best. Day. Ever. ;-)

*smiles*
Michele

<abbr>Micheles last blog post..Health: What is it Worth?</abbr>

Mare

Hi Alex: It's not about actually going back in time to when we were eight years old, it's about adopting certain attitudes we had at that time, such as a sense of wonder, giving people the benefit of the doubt, using our imagination, and allowing ourselves to have fun. But you know that, you seem to have created your own definition of adulthood.

Hi Vered: You're right, people are quick to get accustomed to things. I guess we just have to remind ourselves of how special the small things are, and try to recapture what it felt like when we first experienced these things.

Hi Mimi: I know what you mean. Sometimes I go visit my nephews just so that I can have an excuse to sit on the floor and color or make little figurines with Play-Doh :-)

Hi Natural: I think mini-mental resignations are a good idea :-)

Mare

Hi Bamboo: You and me both :-)

Hi Jay: I'm glad you liked it and you're right: children don't censor themselves the way adults do. In many ways adults need to watch children and imitate them.

Hi Quasar9: I guess we can ignore that we're getting older, but when we watch the children in our lives we can't ignore how much they're growing. So you're right, they are markers of the passage of time.

Hi Lance: Thank you for playing (I knew you would) :-) It's part of a parent's job to embarrass their children--it helps them build character--, so you go right ahead acting child-like.

Hi Carla: You can relive being eight years old, but this time do it your way :-)

Mare

Hi Barbara: I think we place too many rules on ourselves on how an adult "should" behave. Play and fun should be on everyone's daily to-do list :-)

Hi Davina: I used to love playing jump rope, we'd do at every recess in school :-)

Hi Kathy: I think we should take the best elements of adulthood and the best elements of childhood and mix them together. Why not?

Hi Robin: I was going through my swipe file looking for ideas on what to post today that wouldn't require a lot of work--and get in the way of my holiday--and I came across the research and the quote. Then I just thought: perfect, I'll just combine these two together :-)

Hi Karl: I came across a picture of a statute of Jim Henson and Kermit the frog sitting on a bench having a conversation. I guess that in his mind he did have a relationship with his characters and he would sit and "talk" to them.

Natural

I would love to resign and sometimes I do, mentally just for a day. I tell my kid all the time being a grown up is just overrated. It’s not all that.

<abbr>Naturals last blog post..The $64,000 Question</abbr>

Mindful Mimi

Marelisa,
I love this resignation. I have two small kids and love to have the excuse to goof around with them. In my yesterday's post I write about the simple things that are so great when you're a kid and that we seem to forget or find less appealing when we grow up and can actually spend all the time we want doing just that.
So let's goof around, dance in the kitchen to 80ies music, run around the garden aimlessly laughing...
Have a great week.
Mimi

<abbr>Mindful Mimis last blog post..Take the power to make your life happy.</abbr>

Vered - MomGrind

"I want to go to McDonald’s and think that it’s a four-star restaurant." Ido and I talked about this the other day. We are eating in the best restaurants now - eating better food than ever before - yet we don't necessarily enjoy ourselves more because we have come to expect so much more.

It's the curse of experience I guess... the less experienced you are, the more pleasure you will find in new experiences. The more experiences you have under you belt, the harder it is to find something that will make you go "wow!"

Enjoy your day off. :)

Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome

Mare:

It's funny. I read the resignation from adulthood and shivered wondering why *anyone* would want to go back to being 8 years old. You have very little control over your life, you and the people around you are learning to socialize and so can be evil, and everything interesting is for "when you're older."

That being said, in 2006, I gave being a traditional adult, choosing the artist's path instead of the normally prescribed path, so I totally understand what the author of the resignation was going for, even if I wouldn't have written it the same way. ;)

Carla

Great poem! I definitely need that reminder to not give in and forget who I am and what I want out of life. I don’t know if I want to feel eight again (at least in MY childhood) but to not be so bogged down with everything is nice.

<abbr>Carlas last blog post..Does Eating Organic Mean Going Broke?</abbr>

Lance

Hey Mare,
I tagged you back (wait, are there tag backs?). Wait, I'll get someone else...there's a bunch of people playing here today! Then they can tag you!

I love acting like a kid (why is it my kids, the older they get, the less they think that is "cool"). Oh, I know - because we live in an age where our kids grow up too fast. I'll keep doing it though, someday they'll appreciate it!

New game! Duck Duck Goose! And you've just been "goosed"!

<abbr>Lances last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day</abbr>

Quasar9

Well they do say
one is only as old as one feels
or as young as your partner makes you feel.

I think children add tears on
as they inevitably grow up (age) before our eyes
Living proof that time stops still for no man

<abbr>Quasar9s last blog post..Blown Glass</abbr>

Jay

I love it Mare! The child within us all is so full of hope. There is no "I Can't" or "I Shouldn't" as a child. There is only action. And to hold on to the imagination of a child!! Oh what glory our lives would contain. I tell you one thing that is happening today- I am getting Mcdonalds. :-)

<abbr>Jays last blog post..The Sunday Ponder</abbr>

Bamboo Forest - PunIntended

Adulthood is overrated. I'm never growing up :-)

<abbr>Bamboo Forest - PunIntendeds last blog post..Our Identities Finally Revealed</abbr>

15 Minutes to Riches!

Love the one about McDonald's... LOL. :)

<abbr>15 Minutes to Riches!s last blog post..Garbage Disposals and Money in My Pocket</abbr>

Karl Staib - Your Work Happine

We need to keep watering that child from within, making sure s/he doesn't die out. Otherwise we become some grumpy adult that takes life too seriously. I think it all starts with our imagination and letting it run wild every now and again. The person I think of who never let their child from withing die is Jim Henson. He made sure to always stay in touch with that innocence. If we do the same we can also life a adventurous life.

<abbr>Karl Staib - Your Work Happiness Matterss last blog post..Surviving Layoffs</abbr>

Robin

That's interesting research, Mare!

Sounds like fun being 8 again (hope you are coping with McDonalds okay) - have a good holiday!

<abbr>Robins last blog post..5-Year Plan For This Blog</abbr>

kathy

My husband and I have this resignation letter tucked away on our computers from many years ago. Both of us have toyed with the idea of actually using it as part of an official letter because it reminds us of the value of fun and play and to not take ourselves so seriously. Not bad ideas for our workplaces.

Funny how we can't wait to grow up and be adults. Then when we get here, we want to go back :)

<abbr>kathys last blog post..I Sleep, You Sleep, We All Sleep | How Sleep Improves Your Life</abbr>

Davina

Hi Marelisa. Thanks for sharing this passage. I've been stuck at age 25 for almost 20 years. You've reminded me of hide 'n seek, hopscotch and jump rope. Remember double-dutch? And, I could get into a good game of hide 'n seek right now. Have a great day Mare.

<abbr>Davinas last blog post..Blog + Comment = Win</abbr>

Barbara Swafford

Hi Marelisa - Enjoy your holiday. I think it's great when we act "childish", in a playful way. It's a great way to forget about our adult problems and have some fun and laughs. Thanks for sharing the resignation quote. It's filled with lot of truth and ideas for us who want to "think young". :)

<abbr>Barbara Swaffords last blog post..When Non-Blogger Friends Don’t Get It</abbr>