This is me at 17 years old with my high school diploma. I turned 18 one or two week later.  

10 years into Adulthood

The experience of being an adult for over 10 years is giving up on past dreams in order to live a more realistic life. The plans I have have age requirements if we spoke 10 years ago. My life did not turn out the way I wanted it to happen. My life turned out to be slow, a few setbacks, joining the real world and not being where I wanted to be. Recently, I let go of old values, beliefs, dreams and goals. 

The reality hits you that you are no longer a child and you are adulting the rest of the day. Growing up or coming of age has no manual. It’s a learning experience and the more experience you have the wiser you become. Being an adult is putting yourself out there and building your life. Everyone does not have access to the same tools. It’s difficult being an adult and the process is not an easy one. First you need a career, a savings account, money for a home, find your partner, get married and start a family. These are not the same as they were two decades ago. Adulting is pretty much surviving in an unaffordable society and choosing and losing at the same time. 

Things you want are not happening like they should be. There is a feeling among young adults that they are behind in life and that they have wasted their time. It’s okay not to have everything figured out. Life is a process of living, learning, developing and experimenting. It’s not easy to achieve your dreams and sometimes it doesn’t happen. There are so many pathways to success. Use redirection as a tool to help motivate yourself and protect your peace. It is necessary to reset and start over in life for a full reset.

Embracing being an adult and the crazy or unplanned that comes with it. Being an adult today is all about protecting your peace, making decisions that serve you and making your goals come true. Adulting as a 28 year old is just living your life. My life is not bad and is actually amazing. I want more in life and it’s going to happen. Using the tools I have at my disposal, I am achieving them. The tools are believing in myself, letting go of limited beliefs, thriving with what I have and working every day. This list is getting me through it. I'm an adult with no adult responsibilities. Taking life as it comes is a lifelong journey for me. This little life is mine and I will always remember that I lived not survived.