Have you ever looked for an adult in an uncomfortable situation?
Guess what, you’re the adult now.
My apologies to the 12 year old version of myself, being an adult is no walk in the park.
Can you do your taxes or change a flat tire? What about when the electrical outlet catches on fire in your house? What’s a W-9? Plus my personal favorite: what on earth am I supposed to be doing with my life?
Recently, my family and I were sitting at the dinner table discussing some issue or another. My dad looked at my mom and asked, “Did you google it?” This begs the question: with all of this information at our fingertips, have we become lax in our “real world” preparation? As previously stated, I’ve reached the ripe old age of 26. I can remember a time when Google was just a bunch of random letters, encyclopedias were more than just antiques, and the bloodcurdling screech of dialup.
I would like to think that my parents did pretty well in the way of preparing me for the “adult world”. I grew up on a farm, where hard work was expected. They held me accountable and showed me how to do the basic things like wash my own laundry, clean, change my oil and cook my own meals.
Despite their best efforts, I still eat Mac n Cheese on a regular basis, value a nice long nap, and call home far too often.
But seriously, who on earth gave me permission to be an adult?
“Here is what I’m trying to tell you: Adult isn’t a noun, it’s a verb. It’s the act of making correctly those small decisions that fill our day.”
― Kelly Williams Brown, Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps
Here are my “adulty” findings so far:
Back to the toolbox. Here’s the sad truth of being an adult: You aren’t going to be good at everything. It’s okay to call someone or to just “google it”. Use the tools you have at your disposal. I still call my dad when things go wrong with my Jeep, for the simple fact that he is great at fixing things. There is no shame in asking for assistance.
You asked for this. Remember when you wanted to grow up so badly? Whoops! Be careful what you wish for. The time has come to dig into your toolbox and become a sponge again. Learn all that you can from whatever source you can. Information is everywhere, you just need to apply yourself.
Suck it up, buttercup. Being an adult is hard, and mildly terrifying. Not only are you responsible for your choices, you are fully responsible for the ramifications of your actions. Should you spend that extra $20, or stay up that late? It is now entirely up to you. You have officially reached the point in your life where you need to stop complaining and start doing. Get up off of your chair and make forward strides. You can do this.
None of us know what we’re doing. We’re all more or less bumping into things searching for food, shelter and meaning. Unfortunately, there is no secret manual on how to be an adult or what you should be doing with your life. That is entirely up to you and the choices you make. Seek enrichment where you can find it and don’t be afraid of not knowing where you’re going or what your next step is. Keep adventuring and learning until you find what you’re looking for.
Good Luck!
-Brittany Bee
For more adventures, follow me on Instagram.
From the Hive 