Wasting teen years
Does anyone ever feel like they’re wasting their teen years? I’m 17- almost 18- and I’ve never had a boyfriend, a first kiss or even a proper friend group. I have no proper teenage memories or ‘experiences’ like everyone else, and all I can say is that I was lonely. I moved around schools a lot so never established any long lasting friendships, so all the friendships I do have, they all have other friends who they’re much closer with. It just feels like times running out and I’ll regret everything, but there’s also nothing I can do!! It feels like everyone around me is in the perfect friend group with a perfect boyfriend and a perfect life and going to parties. I feel like I’m just rotting away by myself. I really don’t know what to do I can’t live hating myself like this any longer.
Hello there,
It can feel really pressuring and frustrating when your peer group is going right on ahead with many “milestones” while you’re not there. I know it is hard to believe that there is a lot of time in the future to figure out your life, but remember that many people find love even in their 60s. As for friendships, I didn’t have many friendships that I got along with and no deep friendships until in college. I was just thinking about different things compared to my peer group until later on in life. Additionally, what seems like perfection on the outside may not actually reflect what’s going on in the inside either. There may be toxic dynamics that they don’t even see or even abuse in some situations. Healthy relationships come in time, especially when you’re working on yourself and giving yourself some grace for “being behind”. I have faith you will find your people in the coming years. You’re not a “loser” or “lost cause”; you’re just building yourself up for the friends you know you deserve, so when they come to find you, they’ll resonate with you quite easily.