What does it mean to grow up? [Day 29 of Thankfulness]

Once you turn 21, there's nothing that seems very exciting about getting older.

In fact, getting older just seems to be a lot of pressure to do things before the clock runs out.

Have a career.
Get married.
Have kids.
Own a house.
Earn lots of money.
Be responsible.

Growing up is something I can't help but fear. It always felt growing up was such a threat to everything I love. I think to those days where I all I worried about was remembering my times tables and not getting boy germs. A time where friendship bracelets were a serious deal, and yes/no written on erasers decided the future.
In many ways, those times seemed happier and easier. But maybe those periods of my life seemed so carefree because it was so fleeting. I was kept in a bubble where I was told what to learn and how to learn. The real life lessons came from doing things myself.

I think about the ways I have grown up in my 24 years on this Earth. How having my first boyfriend at 13 (and then breaking up at 14) taught me the difference of what real love is today. How failing at my first job as an ice cream server taught me why having a career I cared about was so important. How finishing high school and going to uni meant meeting more like-minded people I can call friends today.

There are thrills and milestones that can only come with growing up. If I didn't grow up, I wouldn't have anything new to learn, or have anything to challenge myself with.

Growing up isn't about losing what you know - it's about finding a new place to thrive in the face of change. And that feeling never gets old.

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are" - e.e cummings

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The girl.

NZ blogger in the middle of life, love, the world and all that inhabits it. A web addict for radio by day; a web addict in general by night. Writing about the world, travels, food, pop culture and lifestyle.