Tuesday, April 23, 2013

King's Speech: T is for TEENAGER

Regular readers of The Shellshank Redemption know how much I enjoy a good quote (see Motivational Mondays) and that I’m a huge fan of Stephen King (see the King of All Days Part I and Part II.) So, for the 2013 A-Z Challenge, I decided to combine the two, using some of my favorite King quotes about reading, writing and life in general. Enjoy!

*****

If you liked being a TEENAGER, 
there’s something really wrong with you. I hated being a teenager.
If I could’ve skipped ages 13 through about 18, I would’ve been thrilled. 
Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all terrible. 
I had some good friends and some good times, 
but overall, I was miserable inside. 
(Stephen King)

I was constantly filled with angst and confusion and fear. My thoughts and ideas and dreams seemed so different from everyone else’s. I didn’t feel I fit in where I was, but I didn’t know where I would. I clung to the belief that things would be better when I got older, that I would finally feel good in my own skin.

During those times, books and my imagination and my writing helped a lot, and I made it through. Barely. 

20 comments:

  1. Overall, I did not enjoy being a teenager. I echo your sentiments.

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  2. Yeah, I have no desire to return to my teenage years. To me a high school reunion sounds like the worst kind of hell.

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  3. 13-18 was tough alright. As much as those years were a struggle, I do look back on them positively. Like King, I had some good friends and some god times, and that was enough more times than not.

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  4. MJ - I think there's a lot of us out there... :)

    Julie - who thought high school reunions would be a good idea?

    Tim - I agree, I had some good friends and good times, too. It's just the overall feeling and experience of those times for me was full of heartache and confusion.

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  5. Mostly, I think I had some pretty happy teenage years, but looking back on it, I realize that I was always dreaming about how much better life would be when I grew up. I wish I'd stopped to enjoy it more.

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  6. Amen. (And now I must dash--I've A through ...um, what comes before T? Oh, yeah. S!)

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  7. I longed to fit in somewhere during those years too. I struggled with ocd
    and depression. My books and notebooks saved me. I did a lot of reading and writing.

    I love your theme :-)

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  8. Kate - that's a good point about having stopped and enjoyed those good times more.

    Cathy C - you are too funny! And thank you for all the comments! :)

    Doreen - thank you! I'm glad you came by The Shellshank Redemption.

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  9. Ditto Stephen.

    Ditto Madeline.

    It would be wonderful if all the teenagers of a generation who feel that way could find each other.

    Barbara
    T is for Triple Play: Two Teasers and Time's Running Out
    The Daille-y News

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  10. I wasn't miserable, but not a chance I'd go back and do it again!

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  11. I liked it for the most part, but that insecurity over friendships and what people think of each other can be so invasive!

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  12. Barbara - I think we kind of already have... :)

    Alex - I wonder if anyone would really want to? Is there anyone whose teenage years were amazing?

    Stephsco - hopefully we learn how to deal with those things better when we're adults. :)

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  13. Adolescence is one of the scariest life changes; it has a lot to do with an identity shift, changing from being a child to a young adult - it's not easy to do. And separation anxiety is felt on the part of the adolescent and the parents.

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  14. Something is wrong with me. But then anyone who knows me would have told you that.

    While there were some rough patches during those years there were good times too. Many happy times.

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  15. I was writing throughout those ages so my angst was thrown onto the page - I started my teens writing a teen romance about a girl who discovered her cousin was a singer in a boyband (modelled on New Kids on the Block, if I remember correctly), and I ended my teens writing about a painting that came to life. I probably should have stopped writing at some point!

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  16. My Rite - good point about the identity shift.

    Jai - I really am glad those were happy times for you! :)

    Annalisa - my angst want onto the page, too. :)

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  17. Ok, don't judge, but I LOVED being a teenager. It was awesome. I had a great group of friends and my parents were really cool too, so that made it easier. ;)

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  18. Ugh... My oldest is headed towards teenage-dom. Not looking forward to it at all!!

    Hugs!

    Valerie Nunez and the Flying Platypi

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  19. I liked the teenage years in some ways. But I think I'm probably blocking a lot of stuff out. You know how when women have babies and swear they'll never have another cause of the pain. And then a few years later, that's all forgotten. :)

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  20. Lisa - there is no judging here at TSR! I'm glad those years were so good for you. :)

    Valerie - maybe your oldest will have a great teenage experience.... :)

    Suzi - hmm, interesting point.... :)

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