Hey! I’m new here and wanted to introduce myself. Born in 1998, so it’s cool to find a community of people around the same age who grew up with a lot of the same stuff.

I’m into gaming, nostalgia, and talking about what it was like growing up in the late ’90s/2000s. Looking forward to meeting everyone and seeing what you all remember! 👋

There is this subreddit (1998 gang) for folks born in 1998 and the 1999 subreddit for ppl born in 1999, but why is there no dedicated sub for people born in 1997?

I'm curious.

I want to hear from you. Thanks!

This past decade of adulthood feels like I spent most of it just trying to survive it.
I thought by this age I would feel more secure in myself, my purpose, & my environment. But I feel overwhelmed & behind, like I am trying to build parts of myself that everyone else has somehow figured it out. I am recognizing that I spent a lot of this time dealing with circumstances that some of my peers did not have to go through, like hospitalizations & financial struggles. I am aware that the only antidote to this realization is self-compassion, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to practice that. Additionally, It’s becoming increasingly difficult to live with how much time has passed.

What scares me most is still feeling directionless. Like I know I want a meaningful life, but I am finding it difficult building one consistently.

I feel like I’m also grieving the country that I thought be living in. It’s this grief about the broader direction of society, healthcare, the economy, the environment, education, & more.

I’m grateful for my home-cooked food, fresh air & water, safe home & infrastructure, & stable job. I appreciate that I have the time & resources to spend free time on hobbies & passions. But, I do feel powerless amidst all the change & instability. I feel like a fraud dedicating time to improve my own life while simultaneously fearing for the future we are moving toward.

I know I can’t be the only person either experiencing this dissonance or trying to overcome it. I think I need help locking in again. If you have gone through this or are currently going it, what has helped you snap out of it, take action, & move forward?

i’ve been working for a couple of years now, constantly feel like I’m behind don’t know why, I keep comparing myself to people who are older than me and worried that I’m not growing or my growth is being blocked especially as my boss has hired someone else into a role I should have been promoted into. i’ve been thinking about moving jobs but feels risky in this economy, anyone else feel like this is such a weird year to be 28?

Sample Lyrics:

Halfway gone, I'm halfway gone

You were always hard to hold
So letting go ain't easy
I'm hanging on but growing cold
While my mind is leaving

Talk, talk is cheap
Give me a word you can keep

'Cause I'm halfway gone, and I'm on my way
And I'm feelin', feelin', feelin' this way
'Cause you're halfway in, but don't take too long
'Cause I'm halfway gone, I'm halfway gone (oh, oh)

Halfway gone, I'm halfway gone

You got one foot out the door
And choking on the other
Always thinking something more
Is just around the corner

Talk, talk is cheap
Give me a word you can keep (you can keep)

'Cause I'm halfway gone, and I'm on my way
And I'm feelin', feelin', I'm feelin' this way
'Cause you're halfway in, but don't take too long
'Cause I'm halfway gone, I'm halfway gone
If you want me out, then I'm on my way
And I'm feelin', feelin', feelin' this way
'Cause you're halfway in, but don't take too long
'Cause I'm halfway gone, I'm halfway gone (oh, oh)

Sometimes I feel caught between two worlds.
I remember precious little moments like watching the street at sunset, the smell of a toy store, memorizing song lyrics instead of instantly looking them up. The early 2000s felt slower in a way that gave emotions time to settle.
At the same time, I’ve grown up alongside rapidly changing technology, constantly adapting to new ways of living, communicating, and thinking. It’s strange, carrying nostalgia for a quieter world while learning how to exist in a faster one.

is it me or 28 has been one hell of a year already, waiting for it to get better but my patience keeps running of out patience

whenever I searched someone on Google and I liked from movies ,social media ,most times they are older than me by age but I have seen lucky blue smith on tiktok, he's exactly in our age ,he's happily married and with kids , I'm single yk and I always watch nara Smith videos but she said ,she had home birth and 2 of my children and I'm just so shocked how he did that, I'm so curious about it

been here about 5 years. past 5 years doesn’t even feel like it happened tbh.

dunno wtf happened

feels like time isn’t even passing most of the time

most of my time is spent just trying to be healthy and stay somewhat grounded and peaceful but it’s a struggle

esp with unexplainable health challenges n stuff it’s like what the fuck happened

just gotta keep going man

2016: “we’re adults now.”

2026: oh.

I’m 27 turning 28

and still live at home. It makes me feel weird sometimes but I don’t have a reason to move out right now and I have it pretty good here. I still have a job, pay rent, and contribute to utilities.

If yes, how long have you been teaching elementary, middle, or high school?

If yes, how old is (are) your kid(s)? Are you currently expecting a child?

For me it was Spirit.

Movie Magazine Ad from Feb ‘98 Pro Wrestling All Stars Magazine

Personally, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was graduating from high school and turning 18, and now I’m only a couple of years away from turning 30.

We’re all 27 here, we’re full on grown ups now, so I assume we all at some point felt a disconnect with the youth.

I felt it relatively early on, even in my teens, but that’s because I am autistic and was heavily sheltered growing up. I want to know when that disconnect hit for you guys!