i feel that, to some extent, as an adult i can put myself in situations and places to gain experience i need, to refine myself, to polish myself, to work out flaws and become stronger and have the important experiences we need to grow up, as grown ups.

it's not the same with childhood. childhood is shorter, and those formative experiences - silly journaling, coloring, summer classes, swim lessons, camping, learning that the world is grand and big and full of places and opportunities - these aren't things i had as a child, and aren't things i could have learned then, and are things i don't even realize fully that i need to learn now.