I miss being a kid.

I miss thinking of the world as just being a big sphere full of people who somehow fall unconditionally and hopelessly in love with one another, who chase their dreams no matter how big they seem, who see hope, who have faith, who believe in magic and beauty, who laugh and smile when they actually mean it, and who are genuinely happy just being alive. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to know that along with those things, the world is a terrifying place filled with regret, disappointment, heartbreak, anger, and jealousy. I miss thinking that the most important decision you had to make was which color crayon was best suited for Hello Kitty’s dress. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to know that there are way more important decisions that come with life; decisions that can change the course of your life forever. I miss thinking that my biggest worry was being found and tagged it. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to know that some things are just way scarier than I could possibly imagine. I miss thinking mistakes can easily be erased. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to know that some mistakes define who you are and could easily break the person you’ve become.

And as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that the thing about growing up is learning the difference between thinking and knowing.