In 2010, life felt like an adventure every day. In 2025, life feels like a test every single day.

Do you remember your old little self back in 2010?

How old were you? Were you still happy?

In 2010, you might still be running around, playing tag with your friends.
In 2025, you’re running — chased by deadlines, pressure, and family expectations.

In 2010, your dreams reached the sky.
In 2025, you bury those dreams quietly, one by one.

In 2010, life felt like an adventure every day.
In 2025, life feels like a test every single day.

And so you wonder, “I miss the 2010 version of me so much.”

So, here’s the thing…

You’ve been too much of an adult.

So, don’t.

Don’t be too much of an adult.

Don’t let the kid version of you die just like that. Bring them back to life.

Like, back then, you used to play alone with nothing but your imagination.
Now, you’re just drowning in endless scrolling, watching other people’s dreams come true instead of chasing your own.

Please, play again and let your imagination — now worn and forgotten — breathe again.

Imagine yourself in your favorite country, feeling snow for the very first time, watching the aurora dance above you in waves of green and soft pink.

Imagine this: your prayers are answered, your dreams have come true, you’re living in a beautiful, spacious home. Your days are peaceful. Your heart is calm. Imagine. Just like when you were a kid. Let that imagination bring you joy — and then, fight for that joy in the real world.

Back then, you used to believe: nothing is impossible.
Now, you believe: life doesn’t work that way, you have to be realistic.

And that’s not wrong.

But sometimes — just sometimes — don’t be too realistic.

Because if everyone stayed realistic, there would be no flying machines in the sky called airplanes. If everyone stayed realistic, there would be no smartphones — tiny pocket-sized computers that used to fill entire rooms.

Rule no. 1 of Being an Adult: Sometimes, don’t be too adult.

Let that little version of you live again.

They deserve to live, too.

Okay?

Hi, thank you for reading the whole thing, and, hi, it’s me, Alvi Syahrin, the author of ‘insecurity is my middle name‘, ‘loneliness is my best friend‘, ‘overthinking is my hobby, and i hate it‘, ‘sorry, my younger self, i cant make you happy… but i will‘. For now, it’s only available in Indonesia (and, sometimes, in Malaysia), but I hope it can be anywhere in this world… especially in your bookshelf. :)

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