Anyone else miss being 18-25?

[Rolaskatox]

I live in Manchester city centre and just on my way home, young people out in their hoardes to the clubs. I was out pretty much every weekend at that age.
I'm only in my 30s but most of my friends are married and/or have kids, meeting for a coffee needs to be arranged about 3 weeks in advance.
That age has its downsides for sure. I now have more money, I've got more life experience, I've learned a lot, and I'm happy in my looks.
There's just something about having it all to come, going to uni etc.

Not for a minute, or would I want to be that age and part of generation rent now.

The spontaneity bit in part I agree with, not in my case for your reasons, but for things such as deciding to go to theatre, music or cinema, where other than daytime cinema, you are unlikely to be able to turn up and pay on the door as it were.

16 to 18 for me.The freedom of college after being at school, great new friends, pubs that didn't seem to care we were underage for drinking, fun waitressing job in a big hotel making more great friends. Not a care in the world, just excitement for literally everything. Never felt that feeling since, sad that it only lasted 2 years.

I loved those years whilst in them. Lots of clubbing, loads of friends, 3 boyfriends (married to one now), first degree, started second, two years abroad. It was a great time. But I wouldn't want to go back and do it again! I'm 33, happy where I'm at now and enjoying this stage (even if my DS is going through a horrendous phase right now after being ill).

Best years of my life 18-21 but I wouldn’t be without my children

Definitely not!

I had a great time in my teens and early 20s, also in Manchester. Legends, Hacienda, Pips, Berlin and even Rotters. It was fab!

But I found that my late 20s were better than my teens, my 30s were even better and my 40s the best of the lot. Early 50s were fine, but not sure about my late 50s.

Yeah of course I miss being in my younger years with little or no worries or responsibility in life, but I would not want to re-live my younger years in today's world obsessed with social media and camera phones. I'm happy I was able to let my hair down and enjoy my younger years in nightclubs without cameras and be able to enjoy £10 all you can drink deals.

Oh to be in my twenties again. Care free, so much energy. So many places to go

I get very nostalgic for the past, I don't want to go back and change anything and happy where I am now, but oh how I wish you could go back and relive a day from your past just to soak it all in!

God no. So much happier and more confident at 50 than I was then.

Generally no but I do miss having two fully functional knees and a back that didn;t ache every time I had to bend down.

Yes me! I spent a lot of those years travelling and clubbing, they were great days. 51 now, my 23yr old DD is currently having a fabulous time in Thailand and I so wish I was there.

No, they all look so young to me and I'm much happier at 37. Love how I look, tons of confidence, know who I am, whats important in life.
I was free-er then but so unsure of the future, felt like a child in an adults world, self conscious, didn't care about people as much ie self absorbed.
I see the groups you mean and all I think is "hope they have fun and stay safe" no nostalgic or jealous feelings at all.
Also that one day it'll be my little boys!

Maybe you're feeling like your life isn't fun anymore.. now my boys are 5 and 8 I've been going out again and living life fully.

I miss some things from that time. Less worries, etc.
But also I remember being very anxious, bad acne, breakups that near killed me.
I'm happy to be where I am now.

Should add 23-25 there were some REALLY good times. Almost the Halcyon days. And I still sometimes yearn for those. At the same time I think I loved them to the full and that's why I miss them sometimes.

Loved those days and look upon them with so much nostalgia and warmth - for me, it was London between 18 and early 30s. I wouldn't want to do it again though, I love where I am now at this stage in life, although I do catch myself looking at clothes the are way too young and inappropriate for anywhere I'm likely to go these days 😂

No. And if I ever start to get nostalgic I get DS, who is 24 to report back to me from his night out. It quickly reminds me that I'm only remembering the highlights and forgetting a lot of the tedium, discomfort and disappointment.
Plus, I still go on nights out now if I feel like it, so I'm not missing out.

I hated that time of my life. I was lonely, insecure, no social confidence. Would get drunk at parties to hide it. Had awful experiences with men where they took advantage. Just a shitty time.

25 onwards has been great though.

I went out last night for a Christmas work thing and we ended up in a nightclub for a short while. I did of a pang of jealousy seeing the beautiful 20 something girls dancing with their friends. I remember that age well and it was a happy time.

Not really, no.

Over my dead body would I be that age again.

30s are for the lessons
40s are to pay for the drinks

I am 53 and hate this too.

I work in a school alongside a lot of younger people and can definitely relate to what you are saying @Mezmer.

It’s the glazed look and slightly patronising / pitying smile and you know that in their eyes you don’t really exist, and they will have instantly forgotten the non-interaction.

(That said, there are some people who are genuinely lovely to everyone and they stand out a mile).

Of course I miss being young. I’m now nearing 70! I too lived in Manchester. We used to go clubbing and then back to Manchester to start work at 7.30 am. Don’t know owe did it or how we afforded it but we did!

No definitely not. I’m in my 50’s. I don’t miss those years although have great memories, but if I could go back to mid twenties id make much different choices. I definitely wouldn’t have children.

Yes and no, I love my life and exactly where I want to be, but I was carefree and single and having lots of fun exploring the world. But I also realised what a raging lunatic i had been behaving with men after I came off the pill. I’ll never go back on it!