Day 3: How did you become more of a grown-up this year? Or did you pull a Peter Pan and stubbornly remain childlike?

If I’m going to be honest with myself and with the readers that know me well, I will have to admit that I’ve done a little of both growing up and remaining childlike this year. The grown-up me has graduated from college with a Bachelor’s Degree and graduated once again this year with a Master’s Degree. I’m not reliant on the campus environment for housing or food anymore; instead I’m living on my own (well, with a roommate, but still independently), paying my own bills, and living my own life. I’m taking full responsibility for doing what needs to be done in my life.

Then, there’s the flip-side of things where I’ve allowed myself to remain childlike. I still like to go out and have a good time (with adult beverages especially). I allow myself to spend money a little more freely than I probably should. I do have bills to pay, but I’ve allowed myself to spend money unnecessarily on things I could probably go without, because they are things that I consider comforts. Things that I enjoy, and sometimes they are things that keep me focused on getting the big-kid stuff done too.

I’ll never allow myself to be one of those people that become stuffy. Growing up happens. Responsibility happens. But life is also happening, and I have to remind myself to enjoy it while it lasts.