Becoming an adult was something I eagerly looked forward to as a kid. Like many people I knew when I was a youth I wanted to grow up quickly; partly to get out of my parent’s house, and partly to start living what I thought would be the life I saw on t.v. Later however, I learned how to cultivate a life that was more realistic to me.
I know there are people who feel the opposite way. They see #adulting as a chore they need breaks from. I get what they’re saying, life as a grown up can be difficult. But, life as an adult can also be a lot of fun. It’s all about our perspective and the will to make the choices we make.
In my 20s I used to work a lot. I still recall what it was like to graduate from college, move into the first apartment I rented, start graduate school and my first professional job all by the age of 22. Writing that now seems like a lot and at a very young age, but I don’t regret anything about doing it that way. I was motivated and eager to fully embrace the abundance I worked diligently to have. By the time I was 26, I’d graduated with a Master’s degree and was working as a clinician.
In the beginning I didn’t know why I had so much focus on the things that would develop my personality when I was younger. But, here’s where I’ve since explored the roots to where these seeds were first planted:
● My earliest beginnings were limited to a multi-room apartment in Brooklyn, NY with a large family and few resources. By the time I moved to the ‘burbs before starting my 1st school and my life changed, traveling became a priority that we set aside family time and cultural enrichment for.
● After attending a private school that was near a military base and meeting people from all around the world, the friends I made from places like Bangladesh and the Philippines made me intrigued to know more about places other than my small world initially offered.
● Once I discovered how exposure to various forms of art—which began with my involvement in dance and music, then visual art and language—was central to what I wanted to be surrounded by, it opened my creative channels to learning other languages, trying different types of foods and making lasting friendships with people from other cultures.
Today, those childhood experiences are some of what shaped me into the person I’ve become. The seeds that were first planted by the adults in my life later became my responsibility to water. Now, I use my life and this blog as ways to reflect the experiences I’ve had and give meaning for why I operate in my life the way that I do.
My question to you is, how are you using adulting as an experience that is transformative? Start with recalling what people, places and things created some of your interests, habits and character traits. See if you can connect the dots. Then share below what those are and tell other people you know to follow along. Your comments may inspire others.
Let’s continue to expand this Village one person at a time!
*This blog is about becoming free. It’s a reflection of introspective thoughts and experiences that have crossed miles of self-discovery. I created this blog to inspire others to live life with less self-criticism, judgment and openness to new experiences. May you find that you learn how to live a life by design and on your own terms!*