Do you remember how you envisioned your life when you were a child? You probably had tons of plans and goals and dreamt about how great your life would be. In your mind you saw yourself living in an amazing house, probably with a family, being successful in your dream job, and, of course, with tons of money. Somehow we all envisioned ourselves living the life of a suburb adult of the fifties. Naturally, as we grow up, all those images start to fade away and reality starts coloring our plans and dreams with grayish tones.
You know what? Forget about your childhood plans for the future. Do you remember how, during your teens, you couldn’t wait to become an “adult”? You felt that once you had an ID you’d feel so free and in power of all your decisions. Oh, those good old times. It feels great to go back to those times when you didn’t have to worry about paying bills, going to work, and just having to attend school and have fun with friends. Well, actually I wouldn’t go back, things have gotten much more interesting nowadays. However, I’d really love telling my younger self not to believe in those idiotic idealized goals and unrealistic schedules. In that way, my first attempts at becoming an adult would have been less stressful.
I bet that these lines were actually quite relatable, and that’s because we all grew up having those huge life expectations. Not to enter in huge political dissertations about gender inequality, but as women, those goals are even less approachable, since we have to face so many obstacles and fulfill all society’s beauty, moral, and behavioral standards. In that way, illustrator Planet Prudence creates comic frames depicting the real life of a woman fighting as she can against adulthood’s checklist.
Through a blue-haired alter-ego called Prudence, this artist portrays very relatable everyday moments all women experience at least once in the week. Her cute and comical illustrations are a cathartic experience to ease with the desperation and weariness of life. Well, not that dramatic, but kind of. From simple situations like the discomfort of having your period, to not being able to stop eating, Prudence shows us that learning and embracing these issues is part of growing up, but more importantly, it’s part of ourselves.
In this violent and raging world we live in, Planet Prudence’s illustrations are like a breath of fresh air. Not only does she satirize women’s everyday situations, but she also shows us how to love ourselves as we are. We always want to compare ourselves with others and we end up losing our essence. In other words, we lose what makes us unique and valuable. Not only can we relate to Prudence’s breakdowns and happy moments, but we end up picturing our own.
We’ve got to stop planning our lives based on old stereotypes and patterns, and start living without any attachments. How many times have we heard people telling us that by the time they were our age they were already married, with a house, and whatever number of children? Do you want to be single? Enjoy being single. Do you want to spend your Friday watching movies in your bed and eating all the snacks in the world? Do it! That’s actually the best part of adulthood, that you start living for and by yourself.
**If you want to see more images depicting your life, ahem… Prudence’s life, check her Instagram page: @planetprudence