Day 101: "Being grown up" it said to itself "there is no hurry. We shall get there someday."-- The Narrator

"Being grown up" it said to itself "there is no hurry. We shall get there someday."-- The Narrator, The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh

This gem comes to us when Pooh makes his way to a river. The Narrator comments on what the river is thinking. It is at this winding river where Pooh invents the wonderful game of Pooh-sticks.

As kids, we can't wait to grow up so we can do so much on our own. Yet as we get older we wish we could go back to those simpler times when we were children, especially if we had a wonderful childhood and want to relive it. Even as adults we can't wait to do things, whether it's getting off work or getting married or having children or getting a promotion we've worked so hard for.  Have you ever been in a rush to do something or ever felt the urge to grow up?

Yet what does it truly mean to be "grown up"? Does it mean that you earn enough money to live on your own away from your parents and not have to rely on them ever again? Does it mean when you turn of age to vote (18 in the US) or drink (21 in the US)? Does it mean it happens when you are finally married? Does it mean you have children of your own? Does it mean you're grown up when you've learned everything you possibly can in this life? What does "being grown up" mean to you? 

For me, I know kids view me as being grown up because I'm older than them and I'm over 18.  Yet I really don't feel like a "grown up" most days. I'm just a big kid who happens to be an adult, doing adult things (like paying bills and being able to enjoy a nice wine every now and then). I don't think I'll ever be a "grown up" I'm in absolutely no rush to do so. Sure I have "grown up goals" like get married to my soulmate and have children, but other than that, I'm just winging it and hoping for the best possible outcome with my life. I'll admit, there's part of me that is really rushing to get married and have kids (it's an age thing), but yet I find myself taking my time to get there because I want to make sure I get it right the first time. While I understand fully why people get divorced, I personally do not want to get one because of how I view marriage. If that makes any sense. So perhaps I'm more grown up than I think. I do find myself having to be the "grown up" from time-to-time depending on the situation, yet I still let my inner child run free. I also find myself turning to my inner child to get help understanding some situations, because she has a way of understanding it in the most simplest forms and takes pleasure in the little things in life. Do you still have your inner child and let him/her out? I hope you do.

So until next time, don't worry you'll get therre when you get there and Keep Cooking with CHaracter!