I get tickled when I hear people talk about “adulting.” Typically, what I hear as they roll their eyes is: “When will this younger generation start acting like adults?” To that I would like to say: “When will this older generation start acting like adults?” And not just as adults but mature, responsible adults who don’t push their life garbage into everyone else’s trash can. And before you say I am being rather harsh, I am including myself. I have my own “stuff.” But then we all do. The important question to ask is this: “Are we dealing with it once we recognize it?” I would like to believe that most of us do…but I also know not everyone does.
And the thing is, adulting is hard no matter what age you are. There is always something that tries your patience or maybe it is “something” that comes up you have never had to deal with before and now you are tasked with trying to get through it without taking your frustrations out on someone else. Currently, my husband is dealing with Spectrum. He has gotten four answers to the same question from four different call centers and getting nowhere. But, as an adult, you have to deal with all the various companies out there. Why is my husband is dealing with Spectrum and not me you ask? Because I am dealing with Florida City Gas and I refuse to tackle two companies at the same time. So, we divided and hopefully we will also conquer!
And at some point, as you try to adult the best you can, you will run into a rat’s nest of broken promises, different stories, and end up paying for something you didn’t ask for but they signed you up anyway, or they owe you money and can’t seem to find your payment even though you have proof of said payment. As far as Spectrum is concerned, If I didn’t need internet, I would cancel the whole thing. But being an adult, or at least trying to be one, means my husband and I both need to keep our cool as we work our way through all the red tape. I hate red tape.
All this reminds me of the simple fact that we all have learning curves no matter how young or old we are. I personally don’t believe there is any age where we are not called upon to be better, to act responsibly, and to not engage in the madness we are being confronted with each and every day. Instead, I believe, we are called to navigate through all the treacherous waters that life throws at us in a way that is kind, calm, cool, and collected…you know: Adulting.
Before you think about how boring adulting is…being an adult about things doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. It is just knowing what your limits are and staying within your boundaries. Sometimes it even means acknowledging where you need help or recognizing that what you used to be able to do, you can no longer do without help. That can be particularly hard. Sometimes it is even recognizing that you are in a bad mood and maybe you shouldn’t people that day. Maybe it might be a good day to reorganize your closets or if you have to work, find jobs that are solo you need to accomplish.
Because the bottom line is simply, we are all human beings, we all make mistakes, we all get frustrated which means we should all offer one another grace. Grace that says I see you, I know that not every day is going to be perfect, so let’s work together to find a good resolution. In fact, it is also important to remember that not every season in life will be what we desire…but we don’t get to inflict our bad moods on others.
I hope that as you live each day, you find ways to spread kindness to the people who come into your life even if just for a few minutes. I hope that if you are struggling, you find a good counselor who can help you understand what is behind your struggles. I hope you all know that you are worthy, you are deeply loved by God who created you, and we are all called to spread kindness into a world in desperate need of our being able to adult.
And know that as I write these words, I am listening to hold music…the same song over and over and over…as I remind myself: “I am adulting…I am adulting…I am adulting…
Peace,
Beth
Beth's Blog 