Maturity wasn't something I eagerly sorted after as an adult. It naturally gravitated towards me through many chaotic events. I had to learn through trauma and disappointments.
It's probably something I won't wish on someone I love. But that's the irony of life, you learn some of its important lessons through pain and suffering.
Not everyone is privileged or cursed to learn these lessons. But for those who can go through life's testing fire and are refined through their challenges, they tend to show gratitude for everything they have (family, friends, wealth, life, etc).
GRATITUDE IS A SIGN OF MATURITY
I feel a great sense of gratitude whenever I make a penny here. It is something many may never understand but being able to contribute to something bigger than one's self and profit from it is a gift, not a right.
We live in a world where people feel entitled to things they don't have. They exude negative energy expelling every possible good thing that could come their way because of their attitude.
TAKING RESPONSIBILITY OF YOUR LIFE
I have a friend who isn't doing so great currently. To make matters worse he lacks any form of appreciation for the privileges he currently has. It gets on my nerves many times but then I remember I was once like him.
At some point in my life, I felt everyone but myself was responsible for my situation. I blamed the government, I blamed my parents, I blamed everyone. However, these were the people who provided me with shelter, food, and even education. I was doing nothing for myself.
That all changed with a series of tragic events. There was no one to help. Things had turned around and I had to, for the first time in my life, be responsible not only for myself but also for the people I cared about. That has been my reality ever since.
YOU CANNOT MAKE EXCUSES FOREVER
As an adult in a dysfunctional society, I have every reason to be an underachiever. I have very valid reasons to stay mediocre. However, those reasons will not be valid forever.
No one wants to associate failure despite their reason for failing. This is a harsh reality but truth. So I decided within myself to commit to the path of success, regardless of what it takes.
Finally, we live in a world where people choose to negate responsibility for their lives, breathing resentment toward those who choose to do anything meaningful with their lives.
To those people, I say GROW UP! Pick up the pieces of your life and do something with it. This is the only way to feel anything good about your existence and bring about the change you want in your life and community.