When do we grow up?

Have you ever noticed that some people just never grow up? I mean you hear age is just a number and as I get older, I realize that is more and more true. I think that each year we chronologically add another year to our age but some of us never intellectually or emotionally live up to our age in years. I know people who are young and are old souls. They are emotionally and intellectually much older than the number of years they've been here. Then there are others who no matter how many candles they have on their cake they are still in their teens or even younger.

I think we all want to be young at heart. We all have moments where we don't act our age - both for better and for worse. But, when do we reach a point where we accept that we can't be a kid any more and we have to grow up in all aspects of our life? Does life force our hand and make us grow up or do some of us skate by surrounding ourselves with others who will step in and fill the voids our lack of maturity leaves? When do those of us who are the old souls, the mature ones, say enough is enough and stop allowing others to get by with childish behavior. I don't mean the going out and partying on Saturday night once in a great while and imbibing in too many spirits. I mean not facing our responsibilities and living up to our full potential. We have way too many people in the world now that live off of others - either through financial means or through other means. We have raised a generation of those that expect things to be given and not earned. That isn't just the generation Xers or Yers or even generation now. That includes some of those baby boomers.

I know some very highly intelligent people who are advanced in age that still like to do things like play the game telephone we played when we were younger. These people are leaders at their jobs. These people are looked up to in their communities and churches. Isn't it time to hold people accountable? Isn't that what is wrong with our country on a larger scale - there is no accountability for people's actions. Our governmental leaders aren't accountable and don't act mature. Our "role" models in athletics aren't accountable and don't act mature. Our youth leaders aren't accountable and don't act mature. I'm waiting for the day that those of us who take on our responsibilities and the responsibilities of others - us co-dependents and enablers - break free from the bonds and realize that saving the world and being the one to always be the adult in the room rise up and demand accountability. I'm waiting for the day we call people on their bullshit - the games of telephone - the he said she said - the choices they make. If there was a little less deniability and a lot more accountability our world would be a much better place.

I don't blame these immature people though - it is our fault - yours and mine. We don't demand accountability and until we get off our ass and do - the world will continue to use and abuse us. So my challenge to you...and to myself.....is to again - do the right thing and hold people accountable. Those around us - family, friends, co-workers, these are the people that we surround ourselves with and although we may not be able to change them as human beings we can change ourselves to stop them from taking advantage of our good nature, our maturity and our moral obligation to do the "right thing". For those of us that are parents, we can also help to shape the future by raising mature individuals who will be productive in the world and be accountable for their actions. If I do nothing else in my life - I hope to achieve that goal as a parent.