Life: A Crash Course

Do you ever have days where you feel like you've been thrown into a crash course in life? Today is kind of one of those days.
 Growing up can be painful. Not physically, though I'm sure getting taller can't feel great (not that I would know =P) But more so an emotional and situational form of growing up. It's hard to see where the lines crossing in to adulthood lie, and it can take you by surprise when you suddenly find yourself past that line.

  I feel like that's happening to me. Not for the first time, of course. But then, who really "grows up" in one fell swoop? Not this girl, that's for sure. I'm finding myself in a new level of this whole growing up business; working, paying bills, budgeting, going to school, paying for school. It's all so grown up that sometimes I look at it all and wonder "When the hell did that happen?" Sometimes, I look in the mirror, and wonder when did I grow up When did I stop looking like a twig and start looking...like this? Not that I think I look bad =P Although I wish my skin would clear up all the way =( breakouts at 22 are no fun.

Sometimes I wish I could go back to a time where I only worked for spending money. I didn't have to worry about anything but twenty dollars for my gas tank and tips for snacks the next day at school.
Sometimes, I wish I could still be the child....and be able to know my parents will take care of everything.

But the fact is, I am 22. I am living away from home, and everyday I am learning new ways to provide for myself, and getting better at the things I've already had a crash course in.

It's sad to think there are people out there who never get past feeling that need to always be cared for; I'm not talking about people who have parents who can support them when they need it, or people who have emotional support, love and care, because we all need those things. I'm talking about people who out right refuse to grow up and learn to take care of themselves. People who have never payed a real bill, or had to make a real budget so they can afford to keep their homes, a tank full of gas and kitchen with food in it.

Sadly, some of these people will and do abuse our welfare system, and make it so that people who have worked hard all their lives and do need the help may one day have to pee in a cup just to get it; how degrading. It angers me to think of the state ever considering making people like my father do this so he can feed my siblings and my mother; just because someone out there is abusing our system. Abusing the offer of a helping hand. Taking and taking while never giving back.
And how many of us have encountered someone who abused our offers of help? Who took from us, but never returned the favors?

 There will always be people who are too afraid to do any real growing up. And, I pity them. As scary as it is knowing all the things I have to do on my own now, I pity them. They are sad people.

Growing up is a fascinating, terrifying, and exhilarating life experience. Don't run away from it just because it looks hard. We are born to grow up. So get out there, and take your own crash courses in life. I promise, when it's over, you won't regret it.