Growing Up

It's hard to say what the best part of being a kid was. Was it the near-unlimited energy for playing we had? Maybe the fact that taking a nap didn't make you feel like crap afterward? The fact that you could play the same games over and over without getting tired of them? Possibly that you didn't have to worry about much more than whether you'd miss Rugrats (or whatever)? Maybe it's a little bit of all of these.

When you hit a certain age, you find that you don't have unlimited energy. You find that naps are few and far-between and that they leave you groggy and cranky. You find yourself bored with games, sometimes even before making it to the end. You find that there's a lot to worry about: school, relationships, politics, life in general.

You get tons of responsibilities shoved onto you. Perhaps your parents prepared you for this. Maybe they helped you make decisions that would make your transition easier. Perhaps they forced you along a path, hoping that you'd find happiness along the way. Maybe they didn't do any of that, and coddled you and left you with no knowledge of the real world or the problems you'll face.

Regardless, we all have to face the fact at some point that we can't be kids forever. You won't always have your guardians to watch over you. Sometime, you have to take the leap. I'll be the first to admit that it's been hard for me. I've had a lot handed to me, even without the most affluent of families. I haven't had to work for much, nor was I taught how to socialize and gain friends with such affluence (not that I'd particularly want that anyway, I love my friends the way they are.)

We know that we must spread our wings, so to say, and leave the nest. Should we also abandon all the things we enjoyed as children? Some would argue so. They cast out the things they enjoyed in an attempt to appear more mature. What is maturity, though? Is it really casting off everything we held dear as children? I don't think so. I believe maturity is accepting your responsibilities as an adult, and trying to make your way through it. I think it's about accepting reality, while still reaching for your goals.

I guess we all have different definitions for maturity and growing up, in general. Regardless of what they are, I'd say one of our biggest responsibilities is to make our world a better place. This is our time to shine, guys. Let's make the best of it.