I am a recovering people pleaser and perfectionist 

Now as I grow, I’m finding it easier to identify those patterns. The ones I don’t want to call my own. And slowly, I’m starting to unlearn them.

One of the most useful things I decided to unlearn from my 34 years, was my ideas around growing up. 

As a believer of fun and freedom, my idea of “growing up” was different than most. I rebelled against it. I wanted to live in my world of fun and games, and not deal with “grown up” things. When I realized I couldn’t play Peter Pan forever, I decided it was time to trade in my mismatched socks and  subscribe to this version of life that everyone seemed to be selling. Get the job, the partner, the family….  It turns out I couldn’t make it past the first chapter. 

People tend to refer to growing up as if there is an end destination we are all supposed to reach – and once we get there, we will finally become the sophisticated human we were destined to be. 

But then what? What happens after we get the house, the job, the family?

I mean, maybe it’s just me – but the idea of reaching this end destination of responsibility and maturity is a lot of fucking pressure for a person. It’s no wonder some of us go kicking and screaming towards adulthood. 

What if instead of “growing up” towards an end goal, we decide to grow UP ^?

Instead of heading towards a predetermined path that someone created 100’s of years ago, we take each day with the learning lessons that it provides and the curiosity of where it will lead. Grow and expand ourselves, our habits and our minds?

Don’t get me wrong – I have goals and dreams – but now instead of trying to grow up into this end destination that someone has painted for me, I am growing to instill my values and beliefs into the work I do and the message I want to help spread. And as for growing up – Everyday I GROW up. And I plan to GROW up forever.