Magically an Adult
Jun. 25, 2009 2 Comments Posted under: Uncategorized
I’ve been watching on facebook as one of my friends counts down to her 18th birthday. I remember doing the same thing. “I’m going to be an adult and there’s nothing you can do about it,” is the gist of how my thought pattern went at that point. If it were only that easy. You turn 18 and magically, you know the job you want, how to get it and you make enough money to pay the bills. You don’t fight with your boyfriend (because after all, you are an adult). I’m pretty sure my parents were equally exasperated, amused, and scared out of their minds at the naivete.
Last summer I did a similar countdown, a countdown to 40. I thought a little about saying a countdown to being old…but I don’t really feel that way. Granted there are more aches and pains, but I don’t feel old. In fact, I still feel like that young person, starting out in life as an adult, ready to discover the world. At least now, with the advantage of perspective, I know I don’t have it all figured out. But one thing I do know is that I want to live my life, not wait for things that are just around the corner. I want to be present, with my family, with my friends. I want to play with my dogs, sit in the sun, write the books that I know are in me.
Kids hate it when you say stuff like, “You’ve got your whole life ahead of you.” But if I had to give one piece of advice to graduating seniors this year, it would be to slow down, enjoy the time, take some classes, figure out where God is leading you in life. Because you’ve got the next seventy years or so to be an adult.
This entry was posted on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 7:15 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can leave a comment and follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Sierra Donovan said:
Jun. 25, 2009
Oh, I remember being 18. Being a January baby, I was only about halfway through my senior year in high school when it hit. And I remember using my vast powers of reason to "figure out" everything that was right and wrong. Couldn't imagine how much more there was to learn, because everything was SO apparent. Ha!
I also remember looking forward to going to college. For some reason I thought it would be a thrill to do my VERY OWN LAUNDRY. That was one delusion that didn't last long!
Stephanie Newton said:
Jun. 25, 2009
Yeah, I think maybe you're really an adult when you think "hmm, maybe I don't have all the answers." Maybe my mom knows some stuff, or my dad. Maybe I could get some advice from that woman at church who fostered 22 children…or whatever.