Embracing adulthood

We always had ideas about what it would be like to be 'grown-up'. When we were 'grown-ups' we could do whatever we wanted, not have to worry about parents, not be scared of teachers, and definately no homework. Now that we are grown up, we realise that we can do whatever we want, but we don't. We do worry about parents, and instead of teachers, we have bosses to contend with. And of course the consequences of not doing homework were much easier than the consequences of not performing at work. Having to live by your own boundaries and parameters is much more demanding than having to live by the rules.

What does it really mean to be an 'adult'? I mix in a group of peers around the same age as me, and while you could say that by 25, you've crossed the quarter century mark and should be well on your way in life, actually this is the time when reality just about becomes real to you. I find that people face real problems - relationships become more difficult to work with because we're more perceptive of subtle issues and consequences. Work is not anymore a dream career that we are working towards, it's also a means of livelihood. We've had that defining moment when we realise our parents are human, and our parents realise we are adults. Its not always pleasant, but necessary in every person's life. We're playing a balancing act between work, family, friends, and hobbies. We are all actively or unconsciously looking for that one person we want to spend the rest of our lives with. Money is not only for fun anymore, its also for investment, long term planning and paying off loans.

Being an adult actually does fulfill all the careers we wanted to have as kids. To be an adult is to be a juggler, an actor and an adventurer as well as a doctor, a soldier and well, maybe not so much a pilot. We juggle all the things that mean the most, trying to keep them all moving and all in the air at the same time. We play the role of daughter/son, sibling, friend, lover, colleague and boss. We adventure into the unknown territories of life such as relationships, love, money and the future. We are non-formal counsellors and administrators to the spirit. We plan, strategise and fight for what we want. We still harbour dreams of flying.

Being an adult is not what we always thought it would be. But it is what we make it to be. And in it all there's fun and friendship, independence and freedom, love and respect. This is where we start giving back to the world for all it tried to teach us as children. This is where we stop learning because we are being taught and start learning because we live.