What birthday made you feel like you were finally an adult and why?

May 22, 2024 | Sparkle Wednesday

You may remember when the saying “Odyssey years" started getting bantered about several years ago. Coined by author David Brooks, it describes an early phase of life characterized by exploration, self-discovery, and delaying traditional milestones such as marriage, owning a home, or becoming a parent. 

Instead of rushing into adulthood, young people are spending their late teens and twenties exploring and shaping their identities and futures. 

I love this approach. What's the rush? Why not stop and smell the roses? 

I was sort of a slow bloomer when I was young. In hindsight, maybe I was delaying adulthood to figure out who I was. Unfortunately for me, Odyssey years weren't a thing back then. There were societal expectations and a pretty schedule to follow. I remember feeling uncomfortable and even a little anxious when other people my age seemed to have it all together and knew what they wanted to do and who they wanted to be. 

 I finally felt like an adult when I was thirty years old and walked away from a decent job, and I liked to join David at ArcStone. I remember having a conversation with my parents about it. They were concerned about me leaving a good-paying job with insurance to do my own thing. I was nervous but also wanted to see what would happen. I used to say it felt like I was leaping a tall building. In retrospect, it was more like stepping off a curb. 

What about you? Can you pinpoint a moment when you first felt like an adult?