On Growing Up

I hear often from my youthful friends this phrase, "I don't want to grow up," or "I'm afraid of growing up."

I can understand how that feels, since it often looks like you will lose a part of yourselves that you find precious. You also do not want to become the adults who seem at times "fake" and hypocritical and who somehow are just falling short of your expectations. Believe me, I felt the same way when I was growing up.

I think that's the impact our parents have over us: if they're not very likeable or admirable or seem to constantly be having trouble at work or in life, we tend to fear going to where they are at. 

I want to tell you that you're a different thing altogether. You can be different, you can take a different path. You may think and speak and behave like how you're brought up to, but you have the capacity to be so much more, and so much less. 

You grow, as you must. Don't be afraid of growing up. Why fear becoming a beautiful panther when you're a cub? Remaining forever a cub would mean you are forever adorable, but what about becoming powerful and beautiful instead of just cute? Wouldn't you want to be able to hold your own and protect the ones you have met and those you have come to love? 

You love so much more when you know how to use those instruments given to you: your mind, your heart, who you are. A full-grown panther with the behaviour of a cub will never be a prince (or princess!) of the jungle. Likewise, yourself. 

You have that. You are that. Maybe more, but perhaps also less. You determine how much of you to become. Does that make sense? 

Thus... do not fear growing up, being given responsibility. Strange as it sounds, when you finally get there, it's like you will test your new muscles, sinew and strength. You will suddenly understand what you have been hearing all your life. You will see, oh my good heavens, so much more. Maybe even more than what your parents ever saw. 

It will be their pride and joy to see how much you can conquer, and this fear and unwillingness to grow up, little cub, is your first battle. You have to become what you are called to become and you are not called to be weak. You are called to be competent and swift. Strong and courageous - you are a panther. 

Maybe more than, perhaps also less. You decide on that.