Wednesday, May 10, 2006
growing old or growing up?
my mom recently wrote a poem that reflects many of my dearest held beliefs about what it means to become an "adult" and how big we can decide to make our lives no matter what age we are.
check it out, and if you like the poem check out the link to my mom's blog below:
Growing Old or Growing Up?
It’s a strange thing, growing older.
I hear the concern in my children’s voices,
we want you to take care of yourself,
you shouldn’t do this or that, at your age.
They are unaware of how this sounds,
the impact of their words.
Keep in mind that you are growing older resonates.
They have no idea; I’m still busy growing up.
The young have no understanding of growing older,
perhaps, neither do the old.
Do we cross some mystical age barrier,
and are unwillingly escorted to the realm of old?
The voice I speak to myself with
is still a young girl, a young woman,
and at certain moments she remains a child
with a child’s delight or unbidden fears.
I am still learning to communicate with men,
themselves, young boys yet in many ways.
Hoping like some teenage girl
that I will someday meet the man of my dreams.
Dreams, and I have so many of them,
are yet to be fulfilled and eagerly sought after.
I continue to gain knowledge and wear fresh wisdom
hoping to someday know what I will be when I grow up.
So you may say I am growing old if you like,
but each new discovery that sprouts in my life
fills me with wonder and I dance with joy, knowing
I am not growing old, I am simply growing up!
Conni Struss Johnson
this poem so aptly states what i have found to be true - that as we grow older our impressions of adulthood shift. the assumptions we made as children are revealed to be just that: assumptions.
what if age were irrelevant...how would your perception of yourself change?
do your definitions of adulthood need revision?
as always i'd love to hear your thoughts, feel free to post them here!
dream big,
-kirsten
check it out, and if you like the poem check out the link to my mom's blog below:
Growing Old or Growing Up?
It’s a strange thing, growing older.
I hear the concern in my children’s voices,
we want you to take care of yourself,
you shouldn’t do this or that, at your age.
They are unaware of how this sounds,
the impact of their words.
Keep in mind that you are growing older resonates.
They have no idea; I’m still busy growing up.
The young have no understanding of growing older,
perhaps, neither do the old.
Do we cross some mystical age barrier,
and are unwillingly escorted to the realm of old?
The voice I speak to myself with
is still a young girl, a young woman,
and at certain moments she remains a child
with a child’s delight or unbidden fears.
I am still learning to communicate with men,
themselves, young boys yet in many ways.
Hoping like some teenage girl
that I will someday meet the man of my dreams.
Dreams, and I have so many of them,
are yet to be fulfilled and eagerly sought after.
I continue to gain knowledge and wear fresh wisdom
hoping to someday know what I will be when I grow up.
So you may say I am growing old if you like,
but each new discovery that sprouts in my life
fills me with wonder and I dance with joy, knowing
I am not growing old, I am simply growing up!
Conni Struss Johnson
this poem so aptly states what i have found to be true - that as we grow older our impressions of adulthood shift. the assumptions we made as children are revealed to be just that: assumptions.
what if age were irrelevant...how would your perception of yourself change?
do your definitions of adulthood need revision?
as always i'd love to hear your thoughts, feel free to post them here!
dream big,
-kirsten
# posted by kirsten johnson @ 6:11 AM 
Comments:
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Kristen,
As a woman who is approaching her 40th birthday, this post really spoke to me. I've been asking myself all these questions and more....like why are this issues I was dealing with when I was 20 the same issues I'm dealing with now?
One great thing....I did meet the man of my dreams. But I discovered that even that relationship takes work and although I love my husband, I had to mourn the childhood dream of Prince Charming rescuing me!
As my birthday approaches, the questions keep coming. However, one thing I've learned...it's asking the right questions that leads to answers. So, I guess I am growing up!
Warmly,
Donna
As a woman who is approaching her 40th birthday, this post really spoke to me. I've been asking myself all these questions and more....like why are this issues I was dealing with when I was 20 the same issues I'm dealing with now?
One great thing....I did meet the man of my dreams. But I discovered that even that relationship takes work and although I love my husband, I had to mourn the childhood dream of Prince Charming rescuing me!
As my birthday approaches, the questions keep coming. However, one thing I've learned...it's asking the right questions that leads to answers. So, I guess I am growing up!
Warmly,
Donna
# posted by 
: 11:05 AM
: 11:05 AM
I know I'm growing older, but as for growing up, I always look back at certain times in my life and think I was so naive then, thinking I understood so much about people in general. It often happens now, because we learn from experience. Yet I'm sure that another decade down the line, I'll be laughing at the smug myself back them.
As I grow older, gliding past 30, I am constantly amazed at how far away I get from my "youth" and get closer to being an "adult". I guess I am struggling with being an adult and what that all entails. Aside from what society expects out of an adult, personally I am challenged to figure adulthood out for myself.
My biggest feeling is one of melancholy. I think of ten years ago and where I was in life compared to now. So many things have changed and are still changing. I guess that is the constant in life, change.
My biggest feeling is one of melancholy. I think of ten years ago and where I was in life compared to now. So many things have changed and are still changing. I guess that is the constant in life, change.
# posted by : 5:20 PM
: 5:20 PM
hi,
i stumbled upon your blog by chance. but i didn't stumble and fall, i stumbled and woke up. that's the impact your mom's lil poem had on me.
"i'm not growing old, i'm just growing up" is a very profound thought. it's simple yet enlightening.
i take a bow.
warm regards
prashanth
www.addy-potter.blogspot.com
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i stumbled upon your blog by chance. but i didn't stumble and fall, i stumbled and woke up. that's the impact your mom's lil poem had on me.
"i'm not growing old, i'm just growing up" is a very profound thought. it's simple yet enlightening.
i take a bow.
warm regards
prashanth
www.addy-potter.blogspot.com
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