Locket Angel

1

14. Fourteen. One four. Before fifteen, after thirteen. Another year of youth, another birthday.

To many, turning fourteen meant taking a step away from childhood and closer to adulthood hence becoming a woman soon. Expectations from the environment around such individual shall be given (or, rather, forced) more. They may notice that their little basket of memories and responsibilities has become much more heavier as time goes on. They shall either react in an understanding way, taking that extra weight and handling it in good use; or they might react the opposite way, for that added weight in the little basket could heap up, leading the poor little one into a state of worry and depression.

Perhaps one may see a birthday, another anniversary of them being brought into this world, as foreshadowing of the basket's future and it would be their choice to make it their demise or not. Small children would typically be unaware of such events and enjoy their special day, but as they get older, they would be sure to notice even the slightest things contributing to their little "life basket" getting heavier. Perhaps those who never noticed may have been forced the mindset of "staying a kid" (the poor little ones!).

Or, perhaps, it may be a positive thing to others because some would notice in their lives that the older they are, the more socially acceptable they are. Throughout their lives, they become surrounded by judgement and generalization, and no one seems to do anything to stop such horrible things from continuing. It feels as if living like so is the perfect way of living. People must feel better about themselves by degrading others, no matter their race or gender, age or nationality, anything. It's simply horrible if you think about it.

Whatever it be, the coming of an age should not be seen as a disadvantage to the individual. It should be, rather, celebrated as it should be. Let the weight and the baskets be whisked away as well and the generalization and all that is bad and wrong in this world. Let us celebrate regardless.