Adult Prom for the Win

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Me and the lady participated in Adult Prom recently with one of our couple friends. Adult Prom is exactly what it sounds like. We dressed up super fancy, exchanged corsages and boutineers, went to a nice dinner, and then Ubered (I know we should have gotten a limo) out to Prom. It ended up being absolutely nothing like I thought it would be and I wouldn’t change a thing. I knew the night was going to be a little weird when the Uber driver couldn’t find the address. What Prom ended up being was essentially a block party, in a barn, beside a lake, on someone’s property. We were some of the youngest participants and it seemed more like a 30-year class reunion. I feel like too many people would show up to something like this and immediately decide that it wasn’t what they expected or wanted it to be, so they would leave, disappointed and upset. Why is that? What makes us so dedicated to these perfect ideals of what life should be? What makes us so afraid of anything that strays from some perfect image?

For all of the things that I could have expected, this Prom exceeded every one of them. “The Hit Machine” (yes, there was a live band) were insanely talented musicians that played a great mix of songs from the 80’s and 90’s; anything from Prince, to Journey, to Bruce Springsteen. It was almost like we were living in a movie representation of Prom. There was zero separation from the crowd and the band. The singer was in the crowd dancing and singing like the rest of us. If you know me, I’m not much of a dancer. I’m pretty reserved in most unfamiliar situations. I couldn’t have seen myself even staying at this Prom when I was younger, much less laughing and dancing around a room of complete strangers. At some point, I realized life is way more fun if you just dive in. We ended up introducing ourselves to a few people that let us know that this was an annual event they looked forward to year after year. One person told us that this was her first prom, ever! It was undeniable how much happiness this night had brought her. There was not a single moment during this Prom that we felt unwelcome, even though it was obvious that our group was not expected. Everyone was smiling, dancing, singing, and laughing. We were surrounded by some of the nicest, genuinely happy people. I believe happiness is contagious and we should all try to spend more time with people that celebrate it.

As the night was winding down, we had the opportunity to meet the host of the Prom. She explained that the reason she started doing this event was because she never had the opportunity to go to Prom because she was pregnant with her oldest child. Coincidentally, that same child was attending their own Prom the very same night, at the exact same time. The rest of her clan were the ones passing out drink tickets, pouring drinks, and making sure the guests were having a great time. Through this person wanting to give herself and others like her the opportunity to attend Prom, she was finding her own happiness and being the source of so much happiness, at the same time. For many, the event brought a welcome sense of nostalgia of simpler times. A time that we can’t realize is as care-free as it is until it’s already passed. Last night was a nice reminder of the fact that we don’t always have to live this ideal version of life. No matter what age you are, you should never forget the childish pleasures life offers. If things aren’t the way you expected them, give them a shot and find the joys of the moment. Give yourself expectations but don’t adhere to them so much that anything but perfect ruins your night. Dance, laugh, and live like a kid at Prom whenever you have the chance.

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A version of this post was previously published on Gofindyourhappy.net and is republished here with permission from the author.

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