I think growing up happens with every new life lesson you learn.  From the moment we stop playing in the kitty litter to the day we receive our first traffic ticket (redfining “complete” stop since 2004) we are always growing up.  In this aspect of learning we are all the same, with every new experience we become more knowledgeable.

It would appear to me then, that according to this model, we can never fully achieve the designation of grown ups.  Well rounded emotional and logical individuals would probably be a better label.  It is the person that can learn from their experiences and subsequent emotional responses that understands life better than most.  This point can only come after moments of pure ecstasy, frustration, melancholy, romance, rage, heartache and indifference.  Understanding these and all other emotions matures us, typically occurring in those pesky life lessons.

I have always considered myself more mature than others.  But in that proclamation was an inherent flaw that I’ve only just recently realized.  Where was the humility?  By pretending to be above situations or choosing to be devoid of emotions about various drama in my life I was limiting myself from true learning that comes from dealing with these issues.  I’m not advocating to deal with every minor drama in your life, and in fact some can be detrimental to becoming a better person.  However don’t turn completely off either.

I guess what I’m trying to say is you can not know an emotion until you’ve fully experienced one.  Causing heartbreak and feeling heartbreak are two completely separate feelings that will educate you quickly on what it means to love.  Getting a present and giving a present both invoke a level of happiness but for completely different reasons.  Watching someone vomit and actually vomiting…well you probably get the point.

I’m currently attempting to make a life choice that if nothing more will help me understand pure self-satisfying joy better or the depths of a meaningless existence.  That sounds a lot heavier than what it is but sometimes a little pazazz can’t hurt.  Im on a quest to determine what to do with my life.  It lead me to write this post.  I want to realize what my true passions are and go after them with vigor.  Its a hard “grown-up” decision to make but a general malaise existence isn’t cutting it anymore.  We are all capable of achieving what ever we want as long as we can wake up and stop making excuses.  This decision, I believe, is the closest one can come to being a grown up.

Live Fiercely (and keep the noise down while your at it)