What did you love as a teenager but gave up or toned down to fit in?

[wherethemonkeyssing]

As I get older and less inclined to give a shit about what people think of me, I've been reflecting on the things I really loved as a teen but either gave up or hid my enjoyment of to fit in with friends at the time.

Also influenced by watching Stranger Things and the Lucas storyline (no spoilers here!).

Mine are;

Music: I bloody love metal and rock. Most of the friends I met at uni liked indie or pop so I never really mentioned it although kept listening to it. At school I was in with the 'alternative' crowd but the boys in the group really dictated what was "cool" and Metallica was definitely out. I now work out to thrash metal wearing my band t shirts and the kids are subjected to my playlists on the school run.

Fantasy / Sci-Fi: Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things, Star Trek. Bloody love all of it. Currently re-purchasing and re-reading of the Tolkein I gave to the charity shop in my early 20's.

DH is currently painting a massive Warhammer army and is bloody amazing at it after giving up when he was a teenager.

Would love to hear other things people have rediscovered their enjoyment of as they get older.

I liked Sylvanian Families at 13 / 14 / 15 but obviously would never admit it. I used to "help" my little sister play with them.

Also, at 37, I have finally admitted to myself I enjoy history. The reason I denied it for so long is complicated!

Aah I am also rediscovering my love of Sylvanian families now my daughter is old enough to enjoy them!

And history is absolutely fascinating! I'm a similar age so perhaps this is when the give less or a crap attitude starts to come out.

Cheesy romantic comedies. Like Wimbledon, Love Actually etc. My DH is hugely scathing of them. To be honest, real life is so depressing sometimes (Brexit, Ukraine, Climate Change etc) I just like watching something where people get along and there's a happy ending....

On a similar note, the Film Summer Holiday (Cliff Richard, so obviously hugely uncool.) But I watched it religiously as a teenager and used to dream about driving around Europe with my friends in a double decker bus....

I gave up choir, they weren't cool then! Recently gone back to it after a 30 year hiatus

There was nothing I gave up but my interests were very mainstream: athletics, playing the flute (a lot of people played instruments at the schools I went to), pop music, parks. If I'd been interested in something really obscure it might've been different.

Metallica here too. I knew that riff in stranger things within 3 notes, kids keep asking why I keep playing Master of Pupets in the car now 😂

I'm definitely dressing more grungy these days. I have less fux to give now. Might re-pierce my nose later 🤔

Arguing

Tree hugging!

I'm actually a complete hippy at heart but there were a couple of horrible bullies at my secondary school and any deviation from the norm would have seen me crucified.

Sad though that I think I really only feel able to be more open about this aspect of myself because so much of it has gone mainstream now!

I loved the same things as you
I feel quite lucky that I didn't hide them and I'm now dating one of my old role play buddies! We actually played this weekend just gone. I'd always encourage teens to embrace their inner geek!

I kept being gay secret. Did not come out in high school, at all. It wouldn't have been worth it (unfortunately). Things are probably different now.

Nothing. Zip. Zero. Nada.

Being smart. I dumbed down a lot (around friends, I still got good grades).

im not really sure why it was seen as so bad to be smart and to genuinely enjoy school and learning. I’m only now doing my masters at 28 because my husband has really built up my confidence!

Classical music and dolls' houses.

Thank you for this, I have now messaged a club that I enjoyed as a teen to see if their senior section is running

Reading books and eating vegetables. Both no go's in the school I went too.

Hip hop music. I love it, always did. I'm mid-40's now and still love it. Some people are so snobby about hip hop and rap, it's kind of looked down on.

Amazing! I hope you get to rediscover something you love!

I really have no idea if I will like it, I'm just emerging from 20+ years of parenting and have no idea what I like anymore so revisiting what I used to like is a good place to start

I still do it. I have pet snakes and I always cringe if it comes up because I don’t like to tell people. I also come from a working class background but now live in a big house in a posh area and hate it when people find out where I live. I hope I feel less bothered by other peoples prejudices in the future.

Agreed
❤️❤️❤️
classic

love this so much and Q Tip is so cute ❤️❤️❤️

Embroidery, quilting and general "needlework". I loved all of it but kept it a secret until my mid-20s when I signed up to an evening class to learn it properly. My best friend at the time laughed herself silly at the idea of me doing an evening class in sewing, but I've now ditched her and continued with the sewing, so a good result all round!

I also loved Lego far more than I would ever have admitted- again I've got back into it now!

@WeRTheOnesWeHaveBeenWaitingFor I keep Royal Pythons. Most people don't understand why, I don't either, but I like what I like and don't give a shit whether others approve or not. Just to add, the amount of times the conversations I've overheard about other people's hobbies has made me realise there are many people out there that are willing to openly discuss subjects I would find 'boring'and my 15 year old self would have been mortified at😄 so be glad you have something cool to share!

I liked going to Guides but gave up when it became clear it wasn't cool anymore. Probably not one I can take back up now!

@aniceuniqueusername - Girl Guiding would welcome you with open arms as a volunteer Girl Guiding Volunteer