Two life-changing events converged on the 23rd of August 1997 – I had my driver’s license in hand and at the same time took ownership of my very first brand new car.

I no longer needed to use public busses or get dropped off at work, shopping malls and the post office. On that day I became independent. Mobility on my terms and in my own time. I felt grown up then.

A few years later I landed a job that required a lot of travel. As I wheeled my fancy new laptop bag onto the 6h00 flight together with a lot of other business people, I felt grow up then too.

The first time I bought shares…I felt grown up.

When I got married…I felt grown up.

When I did my very first long road trip on my own…I felt grown up.

When I left school…

When I turned 21…

There have been many times when I have felt grown up. For me it’s but a state, fleeting, and not a status, permanent. I’m still growing up, learning, changing and experiencing new things. Becoming a better version of myself each and every day.

I don’t ever want to feel grown up because for me, it will mean stagnation.

I want to remain curious and surprised, I want to experience the world with wide eyed wonder every single day.

The yellow volksie was my first car but it was not brand new when I bought it (read more about that amazing vehicle here).

WordPress daily prompt: When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)? Read here for other blogger's posts on this prompt.