Adulthood

I often worry about growing up. I worry about paying bills, and completing my education. I worry about not being able to snap back into shape once I start putting on some weight. And yet, it struck me today, that maybe there are two versions of adulthood. There is actual adulthood, replete with ailments, debt and responsibility. And then there is 'adulthood' as viewed through the prism of childhood and adolescence, what kids and teenagers believe adulthood to be.

While I did not have a conventional childhood, I did have friends who did. And when we sat around to discuss how our lives would be as adults, we always spoke about being independent, having our own money, coming and going as we pleased, dating who we wanted. I find today, I have all those things. Obviously, that is not the sum total of adulthood. Commitment certainly is important, whether it is to a career path or another human being. A vision for the long term also is. Thinking beyond just tomorrow's lunch, next week's movie plan and next month's vacation. Real adulthood means making plans for the long term; where do you want to live for the next 20 years? At what age do you want to be married? Do you plan to have children, how many? The questions are endless. And as children of a traditional Eastern culture, we don't just have to think about ourselves, our spouses and our children, we also have to worry about our parents.

I haven't committed to a person. Other than that, somewhere along the two years, I have become a full-fledged adult. I haggle over prices now. It's all very.......boring, mundane, quotidian. Very adult.

I don't have a giant point here, no 'so here's the thing' moment. Just observing. That's all.