legovanan
As we grow older, we supposedly mature. But is maturity synonymous to realism? Becoming more acquainted with the cruelties of society? Jaded?

When we're young, we see things that we like because they're pretty, because someone's nice; gives you candy (ehehe i still think they're nice because of that) but we don't see their flaws, and if there are, ulterior motives.

Younger people are more likely to believe in idealistic theories and solutions, like the THEORY of communism. Older people have seen the tides rise and fall, no longer believe that any of it will make a difference, or know it won't. They know that life will continue no matter what happens; the wheels of Time won't wait for you.

Even with music/media. You see flocks of 12 year old girls screaming "NICK!!!! I LOVE YOU NICK!!!!!" and "MARRY ME JUSTIN!!" and all sorts of nonsense to boy bands. I still adore my boy bands (BACKSTREET'S BACK ALRIGHT!!!!) I still love Brian, but as we grow older, we fall less for the cheesy love song sung by someone with the softest ballad voice and sweetest greenish-blue eyes, though some people (COUGH KRISTINA) still faint at the faintest echo of the word "love" heheh. don't hurt me! tis the truth! But that's only a few of us who still retain their childlike belief. As we grow older, we don't believe it when people say they love us; we don't want to accept help, or when we do, we still have a certain degree of suspicion, when someone offers to help/be a friend. We think, "Why are they doing this?" Never once stopping to think that it might just be out of the kindness of a person's heart. We stop believing in the fairy tales, Prince Charming (steven gerrard WILL come for me!), happy endings, best friends forever, etc.

But is this maturity? Is maturity something beyond physical changes like the deepening of the voice and certain people gaining facial hair? Emotional maturity is seen as being more able to accept the pain and disappointments, yet is it really? Does the pain of loss, disappointment, and regret ever lessen? Do we become immune to the pain? Do we WANT to be immune to the pain? We learn not to throw a temper tantrum in public (some of us yet to master it. hehe). We learn to hold in tears until we reach a safe place/breaking point where they pour over. Yet the tears never go away; the pain never becomes easier to bear. So does maturity mean that you've grown tough? Can take the pain? Or is it merely that you can masquerade your feelings? Can put on a facade for the world to see?

Hmm... Andy get on so we can discuss! Camron should read this too...

Masquerade
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade
Hide your face so the world will never find you...