Over the past several months I have been – as I put it – trying to adult. I don’t think you turn 18 and suddenly you know how to be a successful adult. When I turned 18, I was in the pseudo-real world that is college (for some – some people work full time and go to school, I don’t know how ya’ll do it). A lot of college students start college with scholarships, loans, and/or family money. You’re an adult, but you don’t do much adulting. You go to class, eat cafeteria food, hang out on weekends, do homework. The world calls you a grown up, but you’re really just a glorified teenager. My freshman year really felt no different than high school except that I didn’t live at home and no one asked me if I had homework to do.
Fast forward to this year. I live at home and commute 45 minutes to school. All of a sudden I had to learn to budget for gas, snacks for school (I prefer to bring my own healthier options if possible), and some bills with an average income of $20 per week. Through this, God has provided tremendously. He has shown me nothing is impossible if I trust in Him and discipline myself. By no means am I comparing myself to someone who is out on their own providing for themselves completely. I live at home and receive occasional financial help from my parents, I don’t have to worry about having a roof over my head or food to eat, but God has blessed me with the opportunity of learning to manage money and start to take care of myself before I really have to when I’m out on my own.
This year I’ve also started to make my own decisions in other areas; being an adult isn’t like middle school where you had gym three times a week. I’ve taken my health and lifestyle into my own hands, opting for better food choices and an active lifestyle. I’ve started recycling and doing what I can to preserve the environment, not because someone is over my shoulder telling me to, but because I’m trying to take responsibility for the things I do and the impact I make. My faith is in my own hands. It’s on me to seek God and choose to live for Him everyday.
Again, I don’t think being an adult is just something you just know how to do, it’s something you have to learn how to do. You have to learn to take responsibility for yourself and to manage your life physically, spiritually, and financially. I have been incredibly blessed to start to learn how to manage my life before being on my own supporting myself. In the past several months, God has taught me so many lessons on being self-disciplined – like waking up on time so I can actually get things done and not skimping on a work out because I don’t feel like. God has taught me how to trust Him more. God has blessed me in a season of life that I did not imagine so much growth to come from.
The idea of growing up and being an adult used to sound so unappealing at times. No, I’m not in Neverland anymore, I’m growing up and it’s scary and not always easy, but I have to say, it’s not that bad.
Photo Credit: Andrew Ruiz
Words Sweeter Than Honey 