I appreciated the introspection. It's funny to think about "former me", and how little I knew, and yet how some of the same thought processes were there, like when you read your old blog. I've had similar experiences: I like this guy, I think to myself, but I bet I could help him understand the world a WHOLE lot better.
I'm pretty confident that age 13 was near the bottom for me too, probably 1-2 mental health wise, with some entire days of 1's not uncommon.
That is such a rough age for so many people and my experience was that there was zero discussion or understanding of any mental health component to it at the time. I'm glad we survived it to become these different older versions of those selves.
Yeah. Mental health in the 80s was basically "don't be a wimp!" So toxic and so dumb.
We thought we were creating a generation of tough humans, but instead we created a bunch of broken semi-functional humans who have never come to terms with their issues. Yikes.
Also, nonsequitur: I'm not sure who thought middle school would be a good idea.
LOL ... middle school is terrible. My brother is the only human I've ever met who had just a simple great experience of that time. Weirdo :)
I was thrilled to see how much attention to mental health is available on my new college campus and how many students are taking advantage of that. I went to an info session and there were a lot of students from other countries and cultures ... ones who have often experienced very recently something like that 1980s mindset you mention ... so things are shifting.
I imagine it was even tougher for males. I mostly skipped school to watch terrible talk shows and read teen magazines that at least were addressing some of this stuff albeit in a super exploitive way
Thank you for sharing photos alongside your musings, it's the second time this week, on Substack, that I appreciate seeing the child version of the adult I am connecting with.
Most creative age would have to be 8 to 11 and now, 50; most mentally well would be now; least well was 16 to 21 (although like you I had no idea what it was), and 26. Least creative age was all the in between, when I was fiercely resisting the pull of writing/creating!
Thanks - it's fun to look back at those kid versions of ourselves and others!
I remember when trying to pull myself out of depression in my late twenties, I read or heard somewhere to try the things that you liked as a child around the ages of 8-10. There's something special about that age creatively for a lot of people. It was what brought me back to crochet which played a huge role in my healing journey.
Yes, things were perhaps more simple, in the sense of not overthinking the value of what we created, and still having the awe of discovery. I remember at that time I simply had to write, there was no other choice, but noticing grown-ups view of the precarity of creatives, I started to question myself, and wrote more secretly often thinking I should be doing something productive instead...
It's interesting how one suggestion can kickstart something in us, very glad you found what you needed.
I appreciated the introspection. It's funny to think about "former me", and how little I knew, and yet how some of the same thought processes were there, like when you read your old blog. I've had similar experiences: I like this guy, I think to myself, but I bet I could help him understand the world a WHOLE lot better.
I'm pretty confident that age 13 was near the bottom for me too, probably 1-2 mental health wise, with some entire days of 1's not uncommon.
That is such a rough age for so many people and my experience was that there was zero discussion or understanding of any mental health component to it at the time. I'm glad we survived it to become these different older versions of those selves.
Yeah. Mental health in the 80s was basically "don't be a wimp!" So toxic and so dumb.
We thought we were creating a generation of tough humans, but instead we created a bunch of broken semi-functional humans who have never come to terms with their issues. Yikes.
Also, nonsequitur: I'm not sure who thought middle school would be a good idea.
LOL ... middle school is terrible. My brother is the only human I've ever met who had just a simple great experience of that time. Weirdo :)
I was thrilled to see how much attention to mental health is available on my new college campus and how many students are taking advantage of that. I went to an info session and there were a lot of students from other countries and cultures ... ones who have often experienced very recently something like that 1980s mindset you mention ... so things are shifting.
That's really great to hear, and a lot better than the "therapy" of watching Revenge of the Nerds so our egos could be soothed.
Very problematic that movie is.
I imagine it was even tougher for males. I mostly skipped school to watch terrible talk shows and read teen magazines that at least were addressing some of this stuff albeit in a super exploitive way
I didn't have the guts to skip! But yeah, it was like this:
8th graders with full beards, and 6th graders who were still prepubescent children. The bullying... my god.
Thank you for sharing photos alongside your musings, it's the second time this week, on Substack, that I appreciate seeing the child version of the adult I am connecting with.
Most creative age would have to be 8 to 11 and now, 50; most mentally well would be now; least well was 16 to 21 (although like you I had no idea what it was), and 26. Least creative age was all the in between, when I was fiercely resisting the pull of writing/creating!
Thanks - it's fun to look back at those kid versions of ourselves and others!
I remember when trying to pull myself out of depression in my late twenties, I read or heard somewhere to try the things that you liked as a child around the ages of 8-10. There's something special about that age creatively for a lot of people. It was what brought me back to crochet which played a huge role in my healing journey.
Yes, things were perhaps more simple, in the sense of not overthinking the value of what we created, and still having the awe of discovery. I remember at that time I simply had to write, there was no other choice, but noticing grown-ups view of the precarity of creatives, I started to question myself, and wrote more secretly often thinking I should be doing something productive instead...
It's interesting how one suggestion can kickstart something in us, very glad you found what you needed.
Glad you’ve come back to writing!!
Thank you!💚