I think it must be a rite of passage to hear “welcome to the real world!” at least 100 times as you become an adult. 
The particular time I’m thinking of is when I worked at the cube farm. I was venting about how unhappy I was, trading my time for money at an organization I cared nothing about. Guess what I got?
Yup. The head leaning, sympathy-oozing “welcome to the real world!”
Ugh. Politely, I bit my tongue and tried to keep my eyes from rolling.
Seriously?
Don’t welcome me to this hell hole. If the “real world” means exchanging my valuable time for money, at a place where I’m miserable, for people I don’t respect, selling a product I don’t value, then I want no part of it.
The real world can kiss my ass.
I don’t know why people think that the “real world” is supposed to equal misery. Like it makes sense that working a job you hate, struggling, doing what you’re “supposed to” versus what you love, is the real deal.
That’s…gross. I’m legitimately disgusted by the thought.
Maybe I take such offense because I’m a dreamer, forever living in my own idealistic world. Some may some I’m just not practical.
To that I say: what-ever! Idealism does not cancel out practicality. Plenty of people make a living doing what they love. Besides, how practical is it to live your life, the only one you have for now, doing anything other than living your dream?!
I understand that it can be hard to see beyond the “real world.” It’s what we’re conditioned to see and experience. It’s what we’re supposed to do.
It’s only fairly recently that I rejected the idea of living in the real world…It takes time, growth, empowerment and action to truly believe that you can live outside the box.
And that, my friends, is the alternative to this “real world” of which they speak: make your own world! Pave your own way. Discover your passion and live it.
Maybe your passion IS to go to college, climb the corporate ladder, get married. Fantastic! Go for it! But I have this nagging feeling that for most of us, there’s something else we’d rather be doing.
And that’s the point. Don’t give in to the “real world” just because it’s what you’re supposed to do. If there’s something else you’d rather do, make it happen.
Forget the real world. What’s your ideal world? Get out there and create it!
Peace, love and a steaming cup of Zen,
- K
Terrific post, Kaylee! You tell ‘em, girl! And you’re absolutely right, each of us has the responsibility to make our own “real world.” Great stuff!
Yup, you got it! And the beautiful thing is that everyone’s ideal world looks different. I love hearing about and seeing what other folks come up with…So I’m lovin’ the blogger’s club! Anyway, thanks for your support Bobbi!