Do you feel excited as an adult?

[stepintohannakey]

Okay, so this is an extremely privileged post. I am really sorry if this is a bit of a kick in the teeth to people living in very difficult times.

I order a new car and I am feeling extremely excited about it - it meets the needs of my family and it's lovely. It won't be ready to collect for a few months

I have realised, this is the first time in my recent adult life that I've felt any excitement?

I had terrible HG with my pregnancy time so didn't feel excited at all. Just relief and desperation for it to all be over! I was pregnant on my wedding day and was lucky to get photos where I didn't look close to death

I have come to realise I genuinely cannot say when the last time was that I felt ANY excitement

I have felt content. Which is logically far more stable an emotion

I know weirdly feel annoyed at myself for being excited and keep reminding myself this will all end and it won't be exciting anymore so to just quit whilst I'm ahead

It's great you feel excited about something that you're obviously really looking forward to.
I get very excited about quite small things, like when I discovered tinned napolina bean salad, and my corner shop reduced the price to £1.20 a can. And when I got a voucher for a hazelnut spread from Gail's worth a tenner last week 🤣

It's fantastic and a good sign about your nature to take joy in things you love. Whether it's a car in your case, or a tin of beans for me! (You should try them btw, rinsed, with added peppers and spring onions)

Enjoy your lovely new car x

I always feel excited when I'm on the way to the airport. Doesn't matter how many times I go on holiday I still get excited 😂

No but I can do you crushing dread?

I'd never be able to afford a new car but I'm happy that you can and that you are excited. It's my birthday soon and I'm going out for lunch (a very rare occurrence) and I'm excited about that. I also get excited about treating myself to a new plant, candle etc Since having to live off a very reduced income and massive lifestyle changes, I've lowered my expectations a bit and I really appreciate the little things in life, a nice meal, good series on TV. My ds recently set us up with a Firestick on the TV and I woke up all excited the following weekend planning a binge of all the Twilight films! Enjoy the excitement, half the time looking forward to something is the best bit!

I feel exited loads. I’m in my 40s

Feel exciting thinking about DC growing up and the new types of adventures we could have together as DC grew.

Feel excited about lots of “free” stuff like spring /summer coming & lighter evenings and warmer weather.

Feel excited about planning / trying new hiking / cycling routes.

I’m in a women’s sports group and we do lots of exciting things together.

I’m easily excited 😂

I find something exciting most days, I think it’s part of having small children who find joy and surprise is the most surprising things.

I still get excited about things - holidays, Christmas, days out, seeing a friend I've not met up with in ages, etc. I think it's fairly normal to feel a little flutter of "I can't wait!" when you've lovely plans coming up.

I reckon I feel excited daily. I get excited about dinner if it's something I really like eating. Today I'm excited about watching MAFS UK and tweeting along because it's fun. I'm excited about going to Oktoberfest this weekend and meeting a friend for dinner on Thursday night in London
Now I'm wondering if I am over excitable??

I think equanimity is a really solid way to live life. If you get excitement highs you may also get lows when that crashes. I don’t have equanimity, I got excited traveling to London today as I always find it exciting to travel, despite it being a not-particularly-exciting work trip.

I rarely feel excited. I got a new car last year and was very happy but not excited. I'm not entirely sure what it means as an adult to be honest.

I get excited all the time, haha.

I'm currently excited about getting my new phone delivered tomorrow, but earlier today one of the dogs I walk was so happy to see me that it got me all excited for to go out as his bum just wouldn't stop wiggling!

Sounds depressing that it takes a new car for you to be excited? Do you not feel excited about anything else in life? Even the little things?

I feel excited when I know I'm off work for a few days, I get excited when ordering a takeaway. Most recently I almost quite literally squealed with excitement because my favourite film announced a 7th release. I unfortunately have to wait until 2026 to watch it but still I'm excited. I get excited when I plan days out with my children or purchase something nice for myself. Little things excite me daily

I get excited all the time, it’s great for our mental health to have things to look forward to. I’m starting to get excited about Christmas but I have a holiday and some lovely events before then I love that little rush of excitement when I see them pop up in the calendar.

Hope you enjoy your new car, sadly that excitement is some way off for me.

I feel like this thread is showing you (and usually me) as a minority!

I don't know if excitement means different things to different people, maybe? So for me, the excitement I feel about the new car is like when I was 7 and told I was taking a trip to Hamleys to pick out some Baby Born stuff. I couldn't stop thinking about it all week

But I can't think of anything else that's made me feel that giddy

I think I'm going to 'try' and see if I can excite myself because it does seem very good for general mood and wellbeing

I am a VERY easily pleased person. I am quite minimalist and love and appreciate what I have. I don't like designer handbags or go on lunch dates. But I adore walking through a park and feeling leaves crunch, browsing a charity shop. A new book. First sip of a can of fizzy. Admiring my ironing

So it's strange that I don't feel excitement

I am a carer so I think a lot of my reality is stressful, hence me not getting excitement from events as I'm always caring

Love this reply! OP, enjoy your excitement! I have a mix of dread and excitement in equal measure. I got giddy about a pint glass a couple of weeks ago because it had red planets and an astronaut on it.

I dont tend to be excited either but I wish I was.

I think I mostly have anxiety. I can think of some exciting times but anxiety is the boss!

Yes I don't feel the excitement I did as a kid running through the fields at top speed and wind in my hair
It's different I think when you have responsibilities, are older, menopausal etc etc it's hard to shake it all off and be free 🤔 that's why I drink and go to the pub as I feel freer and can chat to random people with different lives as otherwise your own life gets intense. Do what makes you feel free xx

Same!

Me too!!!

I don't anymore. I've had 2 kids in recent years and I was just worried in the pregnancies. The most I can manage is content and proud usually about the garden at the moment! I was telling my 3yo about what happens at Halloween and he was so excited. I do miss the feeling.

I feel exactly like this. I’m 50. I enjoy lots of simple things in life. But I genuinely never get excited about anything now. Not holidays or eating out or buying things. I really really wish that I did. I miss that feeling. The older I get I wonder if it was just that feeling of not knowing what was going to happen and the possibilities that made life exciting. I can’t remember the last time I was excited. To be honest, I can’t even think what would excite me now. Maybe winning the lottery and knowing my kids would be financially secure in the future.

Good point @Doublevodka it's the feeling of not knowing and possibility. My life is very predictable and secure and that makes me lucky but exciting it is not. I know when I go with my friends to a nice restaurant we'll have a lovely time but I know exactly how it will go. I asked a friend recently if she remembered the last time we went to a house party where we didn't already know everyone and know most things about their lives. It was probably 20 years ago. I love socialising and i love new people but this element of life disappeared with age, since I had kids really. I could go to the most exciting place on the planet with my dh but it wouldn't really be exciting for me because I'd be with DH in our predictable relationship dynamic. That's not an insult to him just the way it is.

Yes. I get excited every time I see a picture or video of Evan Peters. I was excited to watch Mafs and the new series of Heartstopper. Excited to go out drinking with my friends. Excited to have a takeaway/ wine date with my husband. I'm excited for Halloween and Christmas because my kids are excited too. I'm happy with the simple things in life.