The best part of being an adult is having the freedom to do what I want, and the good sense not to do most of it! Don’t you agree?
Well, I hope all adults reading this blog would smile and give a nod of approval after thinking about all that has been done before adulthood. I am super happy that we were able to leave our formative years behind, that is, if we chose to do so.
Imagine staying up until the early morning hours, taking shots of Jose Cuervo traced with Long Island iced tea while playing spoons, 21, dominoes or backgammon knowing that you have an 8 a.m. presentation to give your boss. Or even worse, having your 6-and 8-year-old children hovering over you wondering if you’re dead because you are knocked out next to the toilet bowl. That would be utter madness to still have the very same behaviors some 20 years later. Some of our lists can go on for days when we look back at all the tangles we have been in and by His grace, we were able to escape.
I remember the summer my parents decided to go on a cruise and leave me at home. Finally, I can prove how responsible I can be, I thought. My friends and I decided to go out on the town. One rule we had was to choose a designated driver who had to remain sober for the entire evening. We were having such a good time, from the trunk filled with alcohol, to stashing some in a brown bag walking down the bay, squawking and just making a scene. Even with our responsible “rule”, that didn’t prevent what could have been the last day of our lives.
We were driving a little over the speed limit and cracking jokes and not being as vigilant as we should, and in a split second, our car was making a 360° turn in the middle of a two-way street, enclosed with walls on either side. My eyes popped open as I saw the oncoming vehicles slide across the road in an effort not to hit us. We were out of control and as we looked at each others’ faces, the fear of dying was evident. All I remember from that evening was, “Hold the wheel!” and my friend did as I commanded and slowly everything stood still, including time. She started crying, I began screaming and someone else was just laughing. It wasn’t that we didn’t value our lives. We just didn’t understand the value of life.
I believe most of us can say that a lot of things have changed and those that remain the same, we treat with a bit more caution, hesitation, wisdom and even discipline, to some degree.
Time brings on changes and with age, comes a sense of self awareness and control. We waited for 21 to receive admittance into an adult night club, to be considered of legal age and to make decisions about a job or a car. Then came 25, and we were able to insure our cars, contemplated settling down and getting engaged/married and planning where to live or what to purchase. Once 30 rolled in, it made one pause and revisit all decisions made thus far.
You remember your youthful days, forgetting that you are still young, enjoying the carefree and careless attitude towards life. Now you are responsible for a family, mortgage, paying off student loans and looking for a salary increase which can result in a new career opportunity. Your wheels are spinning because you don’t feel accomplished and if you are, it may feel that something else is missing. For the next 5 years, life just happens and then you open your eyes one day and your significant other says, “Good morning, old woman. 40 is knocking at your door”. You wake up sweating, heart beating. There is no way all that time has gone by!
I haven’t done all that I had set out to do. I became a wife, mother, career woman, charitable person and stayed in control, but I’m not done yet. Then you realize that you’re only 35 and you have so many years of living and loving to do.
I heard 40 is the new 20, where you can relive those days when self control didn’t exist much and you didn’t have the sense to know that you can drink responsibly and send the children to Grandma’s house so they don’t see you after a flashback night. You can still have a great evening on the town and still get enough hours of sleep to be prepared for the next day and to budget your money so that you’re not on the eviction notice list because you had to purchase those new pumps.
Self control is tied to your belief system and everyday and at every opportunity, you should be getting wiser and making the decisions that set the course for your life and for the third and fourth generations of responsible citizens of this great world.
What’s your best part of being an adult? Share with the Loving on Me tribe in the comments section below.
Vito Russell says
Very very very NICE
Athena Russell says
Thanks V
Vernique says
A masterpiece. Love it. Awesome Athena
timesha says
Let me just begin by saying I am so blessed to have u apart of my life. This is a remarkable piece of writing.. dont stop. Continue writing and sharing with people. Great job! Love it
Athena Russell says
My girl, I am blessed to have you. It’s one like you that allows me to see that I must have done something right. Xoxo
I am Happy you enjoyed it.
Athena Russell says
The reminder of the roaring 20’s. The good old days.I love your comment on the best part of being an adult.
Thanks for sharing
Amanda says
Oh boy..the roaring 20’s..I had a blast, but definitely don’t want to revive those days. The best part about being an adult is that we get to impart knowledge to others who have come after us. Impress upon our children not to make some of the choices we did. I love your writing and look forward to reading more.
Hernipha says
Athena as always you have created a masterpiece. You are correct when you talk about being able to still enjoy the times from your past but with maturity. Thank God for wisdom and glad to have you as a friend.
Dushinka says
I wasn’t looking forward to turning 40!!! Lately I’ve been feeling like my time is running out and I need to accomplish so much more… But after reading your blog it made me feel like I’m not alone and that I don’t have to dred turning 40
What I love most about being an adult is that my experiences have made me wiser and I know whose I am!!!
Thank you for your blog and keeping it real!!! Well done
Ilean Munroe says
This is such a lovely piece. For a lady like me who is about to embark on owning my own home and about to get married for the first time, this speaks volumes to me. I enjoyed it so much.
tracy evans says
Another awesome one! Makes me remember my days with “Pressure Crew” lol
Mario says
Keep up the good Work Althena.
Robertha Davis says
Oh how I remember those days Tina. All in all I wouldn’t trade them for the world