Sledding.

"I walked over the hill where we used to go and sled. There were a lot of little kids there. I watched them flying. Doing jumps and having races. And I thought that all those little kids are going to grow up someday. And all of those little kids are going to do the things that we do. And they will all kiss someone someday. But for now, sledding is enough. I think it would be great if sledding were always enough. But it isn't."
-The Perks of Being a Wallflower

When you're young, sledding is enough. It's enough to get by in the world by just sliding down a hill feeling the wind in your hair; it's enough to race your best friend just for fun; it's enough to literally fly. You're carefree, and you're innocent. You're just a kid.

But when you're older, sledding isn't enough anymore. Instead, you have to get by in the world by playing the game of life; you have to sit down and accept responsibility; you have to do everything right. You have to keep both feet firmly planted on the ground, because flying gets you no where. You're stressed, and you're not so innocent anymore. You're an adult.

Holden Caulfield isn't a kid, but he also isn't an adult. He's torn between two worlds.

He has childish thoughts, like one he has about the snow -
"I went over to my window and opened it and packed a snowball with my bare hands. I didn't throw it at anything, though. I started to throw it. At a car that was parked across the street. But I changed my mind. Then I started to throw it at a hydrant, but that looked too white and nice, too. Finally, I didn't throw it at anything."

And he does childish things -
"The next part I don't remember so hot. All I know is I got up from the bed, and then I tried to sock him."

But Holden has also experienced adult-like things - such as Allie's death, living alone (well, with a roommate) at boarding school, or even getting a hotel in New York all on his own.

So which is he? Child or adult?
Neither.
He's caught in the middle, just transitioning; just like me.

I'm caught in the middle, transitioning.

On one side is the fun Jordan who cares about having a good time; the Jordan who laughs without a worry in the world; the Jordan who loves sledding and the feeling of it being enough to fix anything.

But on the other side, there is the responsible Jordan who cares about good grades; the Jordan who has seen pain and suffering from many angles; the Jordan who likes to go sledding, but knows it's not enough anymore.

Holden Caulfield is like that.
He's growing up; he's transitioning; he's just a teenager.
And as far as I know, sledding isn't enough to fix that.
But wouldn't it be great if sledding were always enough?