a·dult
[uh-duhlt, ad-uhlt] Show IPA
adjective
1.
2.
of, pertaining to, or befitting adults.
3.
intended for adults; not suitable for children: adult entertainment.
noun
4.
a person who is fully grown or developed or of age.
5.
a full-grown animal or plant.
6.
a person who has attained the age of maturity as specified by law.
grown
[grohn] Show IPA
adjective
1.
2.
r-i-tee, -toor-, -tyoor-, -chur-] Show IPA
ma·tu·ri·ty
[muh-choor-i-tee, -toor-, -tyoor-, -chur-] Show IPA
now let me tell you why those definitions are there. I get so tired of hearing young people between the ages of 21 and 27 saying they are grown, now mind you I have not forgotten that at some point in time that used to be me but if you keep living and paying attention you will learn.
by law when you hit the age of 18 you are considered an adult and the definition states that. by 21 there are some things that you can do as an "adult" legally that you couldn't do as an "adult" at 18. to be considered grown you must have "arrived at full growth or maturity" but to be considered mature you must be of "full development; perfected condition; maturity of judgment". this may all look the same but believe me there is a difference.
at 21 you are legally able to do a lot of things because you are an "adult" but have you arrived at full maturity, do you have the ability to be mature in judgment? if you are then bravo but most are not because they are not aware that there are so many other things; circumstances, situations and decisions that come with being grown and mature that their adult minds, emotions and souls can not handle.
by 21 i'd had one child already and going to school and working, by 24 i'd had my second child and working and living in my own space, by 27 I was married and preparing to deliver my third child. with all of that adult life and grown experiences there were so many things that happened in that time frame that I was not prepared to handle. so many mature things that were too grown for my adult mind to handle. I was not mentally, emotionally or spiritually prepared to take on but you couldn't tell me nothing in the midst of some of it because I was paying bills, going to work, going to school and taking care of my husband and children; in my mind, I was grown. those experiences taught me I hadn't hit that maturity level yet but they helped me get there.
these young people that I get tired of hearing say "i am grown" are doing no more than what I did but they are doing it a little bit differently. they are deciding that there is no one that can teach them or show them any better. they are making some of the same decisions with their bodies and lives that I/we made during that time that their minds are not prepared to take on and but the difference is...there's no remorse. they are not at all sorry for their actions nor the consequences their actions will bring about.
how can this be remedied? it starts with paying attention to what is going on around you and learning from those things, surrounding yourself with people who have your best interest at heart genuinely (there is no hidden agenda), be around people who are positive and don't keep up drama/mess. if you say you are not a messy person then stop hanging around those that are, if you are the messy person, stop the foolishness. when you learn from the experience to do better, then do better. stop making excuses as to why you can not and begin to make reasons for why you can be better. think about things in the long term instead of the short term, this will help you to make better decisions because you will have looked at how it may or may not affect your life or the life of those around you.
lastly, develop a relationship with God and this should actually be first because once you've done this, everything else will fall into place.
peace and blessings beautiful people!
jai ar
