The section of the textbook I was learning today was about insurance and pensions. I also took some notes and did some pension calculations. In the long, this is definitely worth it, but I don’t know how I could ever make that much money. Many people around me don’t, either — they are in debt, or burnout.
When I was in college and just graduated, I couldn’t even imagine thinking about retirement. There was a concept called “NEETs” (the lost generation). It looked like this: people couldn’t find stable jobs, or if they did, the pay wasn’t enough to cover things like rent; they felt like they wouldn’t live long enough to retire (working while being physically and emotionally exhausted); there was a housing bubble (oh sorry, should I say “capitalism”?); global warming (descriptions of apocalyptic weather like floods, hurricane, etc.); violence and war (why war?). The combined emotions were very oppressive and nihilistic.
(This sense of lost wasn’t just about retirement. It also extended to topics like marriage, work, and everything else on the internet, always thinking of the worst outcomes. It’s emotionally draining. If you add what people talk about now — the online polarization and the rise of AI — it all feels even heavier.)
To be “a kid at heart” means keeping the curiosity, wonder, and openness of a child — even as an adult. It’s not about being childish or naïve, but about holding onto the ability to be amazed by new opportunities, to explore without bias, and to feel alive in the moment.
Children don’t think too much about “career trajectory,” or “whether it’s worth it.” They do things because they’re genuinely interested. That’s the spirit adults often lose when they feel trapped by pressure, comparison, or loneliness. When they face something they truly love, they run on passion alone — finding reasons to believe in themselves. They have faith, staying focused even in the hardest moments. Most importantly, they know how to tune out the noise around them.
So yes — for someone who feels lost or tired of life’s expectations, trying to be “a kid at heart” can be healing (especially if you are not in debt). It means:
- Letting yourself play again — draw, workout, ride a bike, watch the clouds, or listen to music without turning it into a “goal.”
- Allowing curiosity — read or explore something just because it sparks your interest, not because it’s “useful.”
- Feeling without judgment — when children are sad, they cry; when they’re happy, they laugh. Adults often suppress feelings to “stay composed,” but that only deepens numbness.
- Being open-minded toward new things — for example, TikTok can be a source of great ideas, and AI is an essential work worth exploring. Focus on its positive, creative side.
Of course, not everyone has the time or freedom to dream — sometimes just surviving another day takes everything you have. But maybe, that’s exactly why holding onto even a small spark of curiosity matters. In a way, being “a kid at heart” is rediscovering your capacity for wonder, even after disappointment and burnout.
I searched some statistics online and suddenly realized that someone who can contribute a consistent pension over many years is already a very successful person. I’m still focusing on studying and taking notes, and I’ve been posting my posts on TikTok this past month. I need to study this more. I also need to read some books on family wealth statistics.
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