"Adult Moments"

It has occurred to me lately that we all feel like children most of the time... that is until we realize our growth and or our responsibilities. These are the certain moments in life that make you feel like an adult...

I was recently hired as an intern for a very wonderful company. As I got ready for work one day this week, I began to notice some of these "adult moments." The morning began with a stain. Without thinking too hard about it, I went into the bathroom and in the sink began to wash it out with soup. Though this may not seem like such a big deal to the common eye, I had a moment of epiphany. How would I have reacted to this a year ago, two years ago, five years ago? I would've cried. I would've screamed. I would've ran to mommy and asked her to deal with it. As I thought back to Rome... I recalled washing all my laundry in the bath tub and how annoying it was, but yet, I did it. This one article of clothing was no different. Though there was nothing to freak out about, I had noticed my own personal growth, and thus an "adult moment."

As I walked downstairs in my professional attire, I noticed my father look at me. He looked at me with pride in his eyes. I could tell he was having a "my baby's growing up moment," and thus I began to ponder on my drive to the office. I earned this job. My resume and my interview were something to be proud of. I was/am something to be proud of. And so, I began to think about all the long hours of studying, all the crappy jobs, and all the experiences that went into this resume and interview. These two seemingly minor aspects are not so minor. The way we present ourselves, though in the moment, do not happen in that moment. It takes years of preparation, hard work, priorities, and responsibilities. And so, as I walked into the office, feeling rather good about myself, I had yet another "adult moment."

Throughout my work day, I continued to ponder this idea. Many seemingly irrelevant and insignificant moments in life are actually what add up to mean a whole lot. These moments are exactly what help establish us as the people we become. Every moment spent studying, working, meeting people, hanging out with friends, spending time with family, partying... anything... All these moments add up and turn us into these "adults." It is the experiences we have and the lessons we learn that equate one with adulthood. Yet, it isn't until we have these sporadic moments of reflection that we realize all we've been through and how far each and every one of us has come.

So although I still consider myself a little baby, I suppose that I too have come a long way. And although I still have a long way to go, it is always nice to take a moment, adult or not, to notice where I was, where I am, and maybe even dream about where I'll be.