Maturity

At my age, maturity should be a given. Sometimes, I am, indeed, a mature woman of a certain age, acting with all the propriety I can manage. Other times, not so much. But, beyond how we look and act, what does it really mean to be mature at the various ages of our lives?

Maturity

Maturity is a child trying on a mother’s shoes

Stepping awkwardly forward in a wobbly walk

Knowing it is only pretend

Maturity is a teen breaking curfew

Testing the limits of judgement

Willing to pay the price of mistakes

But knowing, beyond thought,

That it is time to step alone

Maturity is the young woman in her first job

Afraid to speak up, yet having the courage to push on

Maturity is staying when another’s happiness is hostage

And leaving when the hostage is heart’s future

Maturity is acting from the gut as much as the brain

And keeping on against every wise advice

Willing to face any consequences

Maturity is making a bad outcome better

Maturity is knowing that happiness is what happens on the journey
   to where you think you want to be

Maturity is not acting your age when the number is higher than you want
   to count

Maturity is not a state of being –

It is simply a way of living in any moment