Adults doing adult things (Hermie Ocenar, cmru.ca)
The exact moment someone becomes an adult is a different experience for everyone. Contrary to popular belief there is more to being an adult than paying bills on time and having a nine to five.
Being an adult is more than having lots of things
When I turned 25, I came to the hard realization that I was no longer in my years of being a ‘young adult’ my early twenties were now behind me, and I was approaching what I considered ‘real-life’ adulthood.
This realization hit me harder than I expected. How could my life pass this many times around the sun and I still don’t know how to do taxes or where to get health insurance.
After several breakdowns and many drinks with friends I’ve decided that the moment I became an adult is when I was able to go through the challenging experiences of everyday life and take away a valuable lesson from them.
The greatest lesson learned in my early adulthood was when I maxed out my credit card for the first time and was sent a very distressing letter from the bank letting me know I have surpassed my spending limit. When you’re young and you have the means of getting anything you’ve ever wanted of course you’re going to do it.
My parents spent my whole life letting me know nothing is free and everything must be worked for, there was absolutely no way I could let them know of my poor financial decisions. This was the first time I had to get myself out of a situation without the help of anyone else. I have never worked so hard for months straight to pay off several pairs of jeans and a Louis Vuitton card holder but since then I have never been more conscious of my spending habits.
Do you really want to be an adult?
While being an adult comes with many perks, navigating the pressure and expectations that also come with this transition can be difficult.
The first step in navigating the status of your adulthood is determining if you are in fact ready for it. Before deciding to classify yourself as an adult the first question is do you want to be an adult? Are you ready to kiss goodbye to the safety net of your parents’ guardianship and take full accountability for your actions from this day forward for the rest of your life?
From birth to the age of 18 you’re considered a minor in the province of Alberta and from birth to the age of 18 any poor characteristics or any wrong decision you make can essentially be blamed on poor parenting. After all you can’t blame a sixteen year old for not knowing any better when they’re all hormone’d up.
Since becoming an adult I’ve also realized there is one thing that many like-minded adults struggle with and it’s taking accountability for your actions. No one likes taking accountability, especially when things are going wrong and as adults we’re constantly thinking about what the right thing to do is and sometimes we miscalculate our judgements.
Taking full accountability as an adult is to admit your faults, forgive yourself and move on without letting your mistakes prevent you from continuing whatever it is you have set out for yourself.
You will know when you’re ready
Becoming an adult is an ever evolving journey that most people will embrace. Some people become adults a little earlier than others and some might take a little longer to realize they’ve been an adult all along.
It’s a scary and transformative experience that is different for everyone. There’s really no right or wrong when determining whether or not someone is an adult or not.
If you are a contributing member of society who is embracing the many experiences thrown at you by life and owning up to your actions then congratulations! You are an adult.
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