The fifth anniversary of 21

So I was reflecting back on my age the other day and started reflecting back on 21. Ah 21, what do we look forward to on that birthday? We all look forward to being able to drink right? A lot of people, including myself, get into the fact that we can go to Vegas, get into bars, gamble, and do the crazy things that come along with being 21. When I was 21 I was working a fairly good job at Verizon making 33,000 a year as a low level management employee. I was unhappy though. I was living with some friends in Irvine and making a 20-30 minute commute to Long Beach. I thought I was going to rocket up the company's ranks (as a matter of fact I was up for a promotion before I left). I was unhealthy and unhappy. My parents made me an offer to have me come home and I accepted it. I would go home and finish school. By the end of my 21st year of existence I was at Victor Valley College and working a part time job at Best Buy.

So we fast forward five years. I'm getting ready for year number 3 at Encore. I'm the ASB Advisor. I have my B.A. in English literature, I'm working on my master's and credential. I have changed a lot in the last five years physically, emotionally, spiritually, and career wise. I honestly have seen a change in my life for the better. Let's be honest though, isn't that what we expect? We need to progress in life. I guess I'm writing this because I see people around me not progressing and still doing the same stuff at 25, 26 that they did at 20,21. Why do we allow ourselves to get trapped into this? I had a good friend of mine get awaken by an experience she had in another town and it just adds to this. Eventually we need to grow up and work on ourselves. Do you expect your mom to pack a lunch for you still?

I would encourage people to take a strong look at their actions. What are you still doing that could be labeled as immature? What are those actions that you want to let go of, but simply can't because of surroundings or friends? I would encourage you to take a look at what you do. Where can you grow up? There was a time when a former blog of mine was all about writing about my drinking stories. How embarrassing for me. If you like having a drink, that's cool and that's why there's moderation. However, waking up and having your night told to you because you were so inebriated is not fun or funny. We need to be in control of our situations and this is something that I finally became convicted about. Again, it's all about waking up and taking responsibility for ourselves. If I'm still doing the same things at 31 that I'm doing at 26 I would be disappointed, but not as disappointed if I would still be doing the same things at 26 that I was doing at 21. If I offended you then maybe it's time to take a step back and fix things. If you like what you're doing, then by all means keep doing it. I just expect a natural progression out of myself.

Until next time,
NG