Oh, I understand; indeed, we've all stood there before. But this is a bitter-sweet realization, and one you must come to eventually. And I'm afraid you've gotten me waxing philosophical, so up on the soap-box I go.

We, as humans, are mortal; we live and we die. This is something that some dread and fear, but which I have come to accept. Not because it is the "natural order" or any silliness like that, but because it is a reminder to savor and enjoy all that we have in life. And besides, while I am more then willing to take actions which will prolong my life, it will inevitably end, and so it seems little use to spend the time I have worrying about it.

Part of this mortality is that we grow older, and we grow up. However, let me be the first to tell you that even as we grow up, we never need to truly grow old. As they say, you're never too old to be immature. You, like most of us, will have opportunities to do wonderful things; perhaps you will advance a career you find rewarding, or produce inspiriting art, or raise good children, or even simply bring smiles to others. But all that, all those wonderful things we want to do as children come with the cost of responsibility and risk. As we gain the ability to do more, so too do we gain the responsibility for our own actions; what we do soon rests only on our heads. This is a change from the irresponsibility of childhood, but not a bad one; so to do we have more control over ourselves. Don't see this as something to escape, but a motivation to move forwards, to keep yourself aiming at the dreams you still carry.

Things will not always be joyous. You will have sadness as well as joy; hardship as well as plenty - and indeed, as the universe is quite arbitrary, you may be saddled with quite a bit. Indeed, even with a mere sixteen years, you no doubt already feel that you have experienced sadness and hardship, but you should still expect more. But alongside that, there will be more joy. And there still remains more for you to discover, to do, to explore, to experience, and to think then you can possibly fit within your lifetime. Do not dwell upon your sadness when it comes, but savor it; this too shows you are alive.

Life is hard, but rewarding. Like Dwarf Fortress. Let your dreams continue to inspire you, but grasp for them with your own hands.

Still, don't worry too much about wasting time; sometimes it is that "waste" which becomes the thing you will miss most. A few moments spent walking in the grass, the taste and texture of cold root beer on the tongue, the sound of rushing water, the heavily-perfumed hug of a grandparent, or even a silly pun thread here on this very website - do not be afraid to enjoy them while you can. Life is temporary; don't let others chide you for doing what you enjoy (morality providing, of course), so long as you don't loose sight of the goals you make for yourself.

And remember, even if you and I are growing, and shall die, and even if we are insignificant in the grand scheme of things, even if everything we know, love, and leave behind are eventually lost to the ages, or even the ravages of an expanding sun, we are here. We, in our insignificance, in our temporariness, are here. We yet live.

And knowing that we aren't forever, how much more is each moment worth to you? Each and every second we have is something unique to be savored which will never come again.

So yes, you are growing up. And yes, you may dwell upon the things you can't do, or the things you will miss, and all else which we term nostalgia, even this young, and you may fear what is to come. But better to go on and live then to stay unchanging.

After all, this life is yours; do you really want to spend it dreaming about what was?