Oh I so didn't 'mis-spend' my youth! I was the swot of the class, I always did my homework, hardly ever misbehaved and never fell in with a bad crowd. I was in the school choir, acted in school plays and did well in exams. I wasn't allowed to mis-spend my youth - my parents didn't let me go out very often, not even to the cinema (I've been overcompensating on that one ever since!) and in fact didn't even let me listen to much pop music or wear fashionable clothes. With all the fuss these days about parents being paranoid about their children's safety I now realise my own parents were ahead of their time. I do wish that I had had more freedom as a child, though I've always been serious by nature and always enjoyed school and even homework and so was never really a candidate for 'mis-spending' my youth.
Things changed at University though I didn't mis-spend my time there I certainly had a good time. I joined lots of University societies, ones that were socially useful but also had a good social life (Student Community Action Group for example had me volunteering with dementia patients but also going to some brilliant parties, while Friends of the Earth were as famous for their pub nights as for their conservation work). I also worked hard but not too hard and passed the exams that mattered. I think I had the best possible time at University.
I only discovered live rock music in my 20s and clubbing in my 30s (thankfully a lot of people in the goth and alternative scene are older than the stereotypical clubber) though apart from the late nights and the sometimes controversial music, its not time mis-spent really, goths (in Edinburgh at least) are the nicest, most polite clubbers you can find and I can't drink alcohol when I'm dancing.
I'm glad I didn't 'mis-spend' my youth, though I do wish I had seen more films and listened to more music when I was a teenager, I feel I miss out on too many cultural references.
21 comments:
When I thought about misspent youth I was actually thinking whether I had studied too much - that, to me, is misspending it...But I don't regret it, studying was my job back then, so I did what I had to do. Not that it lead me anywhere after university...
I think you're a good example of how it's not too late to discover new things, even after the teens are gone. :)
I think it is awesome that you were on top of it!!!
I also think it is awesome that you are enjoying life now!
Great post.
what a great way to spend your youth. Your parents sound terrific and it's nice that you don't really regret being a good kid! :)
I was not a great kid but I wasn't bad! My parents gave me a lot of space. Suppose my older brothers helped there!
However everyone knew, I won't misuse the freedom given to me. I spent my money on books. Music, I did not have to as my brothers bought those. I am a rock music fanatic even now.
Reading your posts, I think you are one of the best persons I know in the blogosphere!
Fantastic post. I have really enjoyed reading everyone's Promt this week.
I can really relate to your take on this prompt. I discovered live music in my 20's and 30's. Looking back, there were so many great 80's and early 90's bands I missed out on by listening to only middle of the road top 40 radio. Interesting how our tastes evolve and improve with time and wisdom.
Herb - isn't it just!
Gautami - thanks! Its good to be trusted not to mis-use freedom.
Lucy - I'll tell my parents that! I don't regret having been so good.
devil mood - my studying in a sense didn't lead anywhere after University, but I've done evening classes in languages so I've just kept right on studying!
Shawna - thanks!
that sounds like a well spent youth, and a well-spent now too! your school days sound pretty similar to mine! except my parents were quite liberal with what i chose to do, partly as i didn't choose to do mad things! and fashion has spent its life passing me by so far too!
what have been the best live gigs you've seen?
...it was lots of fun reading this, btw!
have a good weekend!
na - thanks! We're going to a gig tonight and I'll write about it tomorrow and link to my old post about my favourite live bands!
Nice post.....thanks to boys and music I was a girlie swat who found it hard to concentrate (grin).
Learning is something that goes on forever, I think. And like the old saw - you can never be too rich, too thin or too learned. (I added some to that!)
Your youth sounds suspiciously like mine - I sometimes wish mine had been a bit more "mis-spent":)
I'm trying to make up for it now - in my own very good girl way, of course!
Although perhaps a bit more restrained than you would have liked, at least you're able to enjoy it all now.
as long as your not stuck saying shoulda' woulda' coulda'... i guess its all right....
I know what you mean about goth clubs... they can be very relaxed.
wordsmithgrrl
Like you, I think my youth was well spent! Great post, and it's never too late to catch up on movies.
I think you have a good head on your shoulders!
I was a goth (albeit an ‘ethereal’ rather than ‘rock‘ type of goth) in my teen years and early 20s, and the time was not mis-spent at all! I studied hard and got good school and university results, while still dressing in black, having a very silly haircut and going to a good number of gigs (which I was very lucky to have caught at that particular time, 1986–94). Looking back, this is unsurprising, as goth is a generally intellectual, middle-class, suburban, well-behaved sort of subculture. In fact I remember there being something in the news about this, which I have dug out with the help of BBC News Online: Upwardly gothic
Golebnik - thanks for the link, interesting article there. I wasn't a goth back then, I discovered the whole scene through my partner.
Wordsmith girl - can't they just! The best places to dance!
january - definitely! I should watch more older movies though, but there are so many good current alternative films out there, never know when I'll find the time!
Secret Agent mama - thanks!
paisley - I don't have any regrets of that type, no...
patois - yes and the thing is I'm now old enough to know my own limits and so can party without the risks that may have gone with it if I was partying so much when I was a teenager.
becca - yes i think you and I are quite alike on this!
tumblewords - yes indeed.
Jo - lol!
I guess nobody mis-spends their youth if they don't feel regret for the youth they had.
Post a Comment