It's good to be a grownup

It’s good to be a grownup. Ok. I’ll agree, some days it would be just fine to be in a blanket tent coloring, as the Facebook post says. But, for the most part, being a grownup is a very good thing.

Having spent a lot of time with grands lately, I have seen up close and personal how a preschooler and a second grader deal with being kids. Usually it’s all good, but if they are hungry or tired or a friend said something hurtful, well, then it’s a whole different story.

But as an adult, for the most part, I know what I need and I know how to handle most situations that I encounter. My young grand may be having a melt down because he needs to eat. His blood sugar has dropped and he’s cranky. And often when that happens in young children, they don’t really know why they are feeling so crumby. As an adult, I know that feeling, and I know that I need to eat – carbs for a quick fix and protein for longer-lasting satisfaction.

I also know by the way I am feeling when my heart and soul need a boost – need to be fed. It has not always been that way. But when I learned to take the time to look into my heart, I began to recognize what my needs are. Maybe it is the need for some solitude and silence to quiet my spirit and help me listen to God’s voice. Maybe I need to go for a walk, enjoy the sunshine and the masterpiece of nature. Perhaps I need a nap, or to relax with a good book. If I think about the options, rather than impulsively acting, I usually know what I really need at the time. That’s a gift that has come from years of looking into my heart and learning to grow my faith and my relationship with God.

Sometimes, because I am a very social person, the need is to be with a friend. Not so my friend will solve my problem, but because a friend will listen. Usually I have the solution in my own heart already, but I need to talk about it to find it deep in my heart. A good friend who listens to me also offers perspective and thoughtful comments without trying to fix anything for me or in me. Mostly, I don’t want to be fixed, I want to be heard. And that is a pretty universal human need. Having someone listen to me is a huge gift.

Also, when I get together with a good friend, there is always laughter, and we know that laughing is good for us. Medical research even agrees with that.

My need may be to do something for someone else – serve in some way or listen to someone’s story. I have a friend who volunteers weekly for a local hospice. I could not do that, but I’m so glad she and others do, as I have experienced the comfort hospice volunteers provide. She says she gets more than she gives. Many volunteers say that. I volunteer as a mentor mom for a local Mothers of Preschoolers group, and I always feel that they give me more that I give to them – and the bonus is I often get to hold young babies.

For me being a grownup is a good thing. But it would not be so good if I could not assess what I really need physically, emotionally and spiritually. 

If you have difficulty determining what you need, I encourage you to look within – take some time for solitude and silence. Listen to your own heart and ask God to show you what you need. And then act on it – if you need to sleep more, do that. (I know, young moms, that may not be an option – been there, done that, but this too shall pass.) Maybe you need to laugh more, or eat more healthfully. If you listen to your heart, God will speak. The key is to listen.

And have fun being a grownup.