Forty-One Years To Life, Forever Young, Life Changes

These are a series of written essays submitted by family and friends centered around aging however, in a construct of youth. Cleo shared a thought that resonated and as I looked back over the series, I realized a common theme.

Growth

The expectation of adulting; having a house by a certain age, being married by a certain age, having a baby by a certain age, making five million dollars by 21, being able to cuss in front of our parents. All the stories we make up of what being grown should look like as we progress to maturity. Consciously we all want to do well and be successful-- in our careers, in our relationships, and in self-regulation. Anyone skilled at self-regulation stays clear of addictions, compulsions, and phobias. They also possess the ability to keep negative emotions in check. Emotions that consist of more stories of feeling unloved, deprived, helpless, and betrayed. An emotional conflict is created by our lingering expectation of being a disappointment to others, and of being a disappointment to ourselves.

Science

I’ve shared often that writing is therapeutic. I don’t write for circumstances, but solace from them. I extend therapy to others in another series, an opportunity to follow up on any of their previous essays and/ or writing about the defining moment they felt “grown” … a functioning adult. 

Clockwisdom

Stay tuned for everyone’s thoughts on adulting, growth or a follow up to their previous post…