Adulthood: The Gift and the Curse

Being an adult is equivalent to getting slapped in the face at times.  It has the potential to be quite brutal. 

But let me rewind and give a disclaimer.  I do not want to appear as though I’m complaining. This is just a real conversation that I’ve with myself and others around me.

The reality of adulthood is that of course, there is no one telling you what you should do, how to do it and when to do it.  As a child, particularly in those teenage years, nobody wants to hear that! Adulthood slapped me in the face when I had to start buying my own groceries.  Do you know how much a gallon of milk costs?!  Grocery shopping used to be fun.  You know, when your parents were paying and swiping their debit cards.  I’ve always been one that paid attention to how much things cost, but my mom was still the one footing the bill.  Ever started putting things back once you see the bill getting higher and higher? Did you start reconsidering certain brands and thought Great Value would work just fine? If so, you got slapped by adulthood.

I always get anxious when I take my car in for an oil change.  Every single time.  I’m always waiting for the salesperson to hit me with the “you need $500 worth of repairs to your car.”  Well, it happened just last week.  I’m just trying to be an upstanding citizen, get my car inspected so that I can renew my tags and then, it got real.  I couldn’t pass the inspection until I had nearly $500 worth of work done to fix the wheel bearing and sway bars (whatever those are).  I had to make a major life decision (*cue dramatics*) in a short period of time.  I ended up getting one thing fixed, but obviously, I still have to go back and get the rest taken care of.  I get it.  It comes with the territory of having a car, but still…

I don’t recall being that teenager claiming to be grown right at the age of 18.  I claimed independence, but knew I still needed my mom. (Fact: I called her every day during my first few weeks of college).  Even as I share this and laugh about the reality of adulthood, I’m grateful.  Once it hits, it is truly a matter of staying on top of things, facing responsibilities head on and handling business.   

Can we agree that daycare life seems to be the best?  Who doesn’t love afternoon naps and snacks? 

25 years old already?!

I've been 25 for a week already. It was also a week ago today that President Barack Obama won his reelection bid to the White House. It's crazy how much we anticipate important dates. The date comes, goes and time continues to fly.

But to me, this milestone is important and deserving of reflection. I remember being a 15 year old high school freshman fast forward 10 years, I'm a 25 year old working professional. 10 years ago is when I met some people who I can still call friends to this day, friends who are successful in their own right.

My 24th year of life will be defined by my trip to South Africa and Botswana. An amazing experience that I never saw coming, yet I'm so grateful. At 23, I made it a goal to earn a masters degree by the age of 25 (see previous blog post), but through a crazy grind, dedication and God's grace, the mission was accomplished.

What does year #25 have in store? 

Continued preparation for the future, no doubt. I'd like to have a PhD behind my name soon, but I believe it is important to do it when I'm ready.  After being in school since the age of 3, I think I could take a year or two off.  Traveling is definitely in my future as well.  My mission to travel the 50 states is halfway complete.  I'd like to continue to grow, to challenge myself, stretch and expand.  

For the next 357 days, I'll proudly rock and represent 25 the best way I know how!