Having guilt abandoning/putting aside a language I studied for so long

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Navigating the labyrinth of language learning can feel like a dance with indecision, especially when the spark that once ignited your passion dims. At 23, with years invested in studying Japanese and Korean, you find yourself at a crossroads, grappling with guilt over abandoning a language that once held your interest. Your parents, seasoned polyglots, advise focus on one language, yet your curiosity beckons toward Mandarin and the tantalizing world of Korean that still captivates you. Is it ADHD nudging you toward novelty, or a genuine desire for growth? Many have paused their linguistic journeys, only to rediscover joy in new languages. Don’t let age or pressure cloud your path; it’s okay to pivot. Embrace the journey—your language adventure is uniquely yours. What will you choose?

long story short (also I have ADHD), I’ve studied Japanese and Korean on and off since middle school and high school, in levels I’m around N4/N3 for Japanese and beginner intermediate (?) for Korean.

I don’t know what happened but ive lost that spark/motivation to study Japanese (and I bought so many Japanese books 😔)… im 23 and my parents are polyglots and they’ve told me just stick with 1 language at a time.

ive been wanting to study mandarin and Korean (because I still haven’t lost my spark for Korean) and mandarin because I just find a lot of the medicines, and media, books and culture so cool.

im confused if this is just my ADHD searching for a new dopamine hit by starting a new language but I hate that I’m so indecisive..

a lot of people told me to just get to N2 and then use Japanese to study mandarin/korean, but I’m so confused I don’t know…

has anyone just stopped/put aside a language they studied for so long to start a new one and never looked back? im 23 and I feel so old and that time is passing by and I want to really make a decision.. any advice ? please and thank you

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#creative language use#language evolution#philosophy of language#humor in language#internet culture#social media trends#Japanese#Korean#language#mandarin#motivation#study#polyglots#N4#N3#learning#ADHD#N2#culture#books