What does it mean to grow up?

I received quite a bit of feedback on the Peter Pan post from a few days ago.. and more than one unsubscribe.. :P

What does it mean to grow up?

In one word, responsibility.

Taking responsibility not just for your own life, in all its aspects, but taking responsibility for your role in moving civilisation forward. Carrying your share of humanity's burden.

On a personal level, it means to take responsibility for your:

health
finances
relationships
children
emotions
well being

I'm sure you can think of more than one person (no one on this email list of course ;) ), that flat out refuses to take responsibility for their own lives in one or more of these aspects.

To put it another way, you are officially an adult when you are able to;

Detach from your parents, financially and emotionally,
then fend for yourself
and am able to hold together a long term relationship (this includes careers and friendships).

This boils down to the same word we started with, responsibility.

Then finally taking responsibility for the direction humanity is moving in, are you civically active or are you hiding in an electric fenced bubble? Being grown-up means taking care of others, all others.

Sit down, and take some stock.. where are you avoiding taking responsibility?

pierre

PS: of course there are exceptions to these rules, such as illness or disability, but they are pretty much universal.