A millennial man has left internet viewers in hysterics with his relatable video showing all the things from his youth that he has said goodbye to.
After turning 40, Ron DeLancey has decided it is time to start a new chapter of his life and to turn the page on the youthful lifestyle he once led. Gone are the days of being full of energy, eating anything and everything, and functioning on very little sleep, as the millennial (people born between 1981 and 1996) is leaving all that in the past.
It wasn’t easy to wave goodbye to the good old days of his youth, but DeLancey, who resides in West Virginia, told Newsweek that the most difficult one was probably “having a lot of energy.” He will always remember those days fondly, but life looks very different now.
The hilarious video of DeLancey closing the door on his youthful memories was shared on Instagram (@de.lan.cey). In just a matter of days, the video of the 40-year-old saying goodbye to his youth has generated more than 9.1 million views and over 290,000 likes on Instagram. The caption layered over the clip reads: “40-year-old me saying goodbye to the things of my youth like …”
DeLancey said: “Recently, I’ve said goodbye to the lifestyle that led me to where I am now; mostly saying goodbye to things that I don’t enjoy doing anymore, and also staying up past 10 p.m.—that was nice.
“I hoped it would make someone smile. Visually representing some of the difficulties of getting older makes it a little easier to process for myself sometimes, and I hoped someone else might see some positivity in it.”
In the amusing video clip, DeLancey closed the door on evenings that start at 10 p.m.; wearing stylish yet deeply uncomfortable sneakers; drinking caffeine all day long; and also caring what other people think.
Some people might ask: why now? Turning 40 doesn’t have to lead to big changes, but when asked why he is saying goodbye to his youth, DeLancey simply said: “Life made me do it.” Nowadays, the thought of drinking excessive amounts of coffee, meeting up with friends every night, or eating anything he wants without facing the consequences is simply unthinkable.
While he might feel some nostalgia for the glory days of his younger years, DeLancey is proud to start this next phase of his life and looks forward to the new memories he will create.
“Being 40 has honestly been amazing. I’ve said goodbye to some things, but I am welcoming a lot of great things, too. I’m so thankful for the people who are joining me on the journey,” DeLancey said.
He added that he has been delighted by the positive response to the video since it was shared online, and loved seeing so many others relate to the idea of being an “aging millennial.”
Evidently, it certainly isn’t just DeLancey who struggles to get up off the couch or who requires several days to recover from one evening out. Indeed, it is no surprise that many people in that generation are shunning the party scenes and preferring the more tranquil “granny hobbies,” such as doing the gardening.
With more than 5,200 comments on the viral Instagram post, plenty of millennials related to the clip, and some even joked about what they have had to say farewell to.
One comment reads: “I miss drinking caffeine at all hours of the day. Now I have to be careful my 1 cup of coffee is before 9 am or I’m up all night.”
Another Instagram user wrote: “Don’t forget nasty hangovers from not even drinking a lot.”
“I’m in my 30s and I felt this,” posted another person.
However, not everyone agreed, as one Instagram user commented: “We’re 40 guys not 80. You’re only as old as you feel.”
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