I have been a college graduate for a couple months now and I have almost completed Week Two of being twenty-two years of age. Thus, I have been feeling quite a bit of the "you're an adult now" pressure. And even before, as I was getting ready to turn twenty-two at the beginning of July lots of people kept telling me to prepare myself because after twenty-one "it's all downhill from there." Eh, whatever, I thought. I was excited to turn twenty-two. Finally I would be "off on my own" and "in charge of my life" (haha), new job, new apartment, new chapter. Twenty-two was going to be great!
And then... I turned twenty-two. I crossed the threshold into "adulthood," so to speak. My birthday came on a Monday so I spent the "big day" doing work, support raising, running errands, and even had a dinner appointment that evening. (I did, however, treat myself to Starbucks that afternoon and celebrated with some delicious Samoa Girl Scout Cookie cake that evening.) I wouldn't say my birthday was a disappointment; it wasn't. It was just... normal. No special event, no party, no big get-together. And life kept going...
And boy did it keep going... The rest of that week was filled with what I like to call "adult stuff" (i.e. signing a lease, renter's insurance, health insurance, car insurance, running errands, appointments etc. etc.) And I won't lie, I was stressed out. Insurance alone pushed me to my breaking point time and time again. What was I doing?! Seriously, though, what am I doing?! Instead of being "in charge" of my life, I was more confused than ever. (Who even really knows the ins and outs of insurance companies anyhow?) And instead of being excited about being "off on my own," my insides were screaming, "I just want to be a little kid again and eat pigs-in-a-blanket and mac 'n cheese!!!"
A few more "minor" breakdowns later and I was on my knees (again) at the feet of Jesus. As the overwhelming and seemingly constant waves of adulthood washed over me again and again, my heart was able to find peace. Peace in who Christ is and in His promises to us, His beloved. Promises to protect us, to guide us, to not give us more than we can handle, and to be with us through it all. It is oftentimes beyond difficult not to give in to the chaos and not to let our circumstances consume us, but instead be consumed by Jesus. We must fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
But, wait, I'm not even to the best part yet...
So then, yesterday, I go to check the mail and in our mailbox is a package addressed to "Sarah Routh, or current resident of..." Hmmm what could this be? So I opened it... and inside was a pair of Depends. Yes, those Depends, the adult diaper kind. A week after my 22nd birthday I receive a free trial pair of Depends. Of course I had a good chuckle while wondering how this even happened. Later I was asking myself what the "universe" might be trying to tell me, when a friend offered some solid insight: "Pretty sure it's telling you to not take life too seriously. Laugh so hard you pee yourself, you'll be safe." As I thought about that, he couldn't have been more right. This whole adulthood thing is overrated and I was taking it far too seriously. Luckily, receiving a pair of Depends really set me straight and gave me some perspective.
So the takeaway? Put on your adult diaper, enjoy life, and laugh so hard you pee yourself. Well... at least that's what I'm going to do :)
