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Adulting

By N Mohammed

Adulting, the act or practice of attending to the ordinary tasks required of a responsible adult according to the Merriam-Webster. Sounds doable… right, but let us rewind a bit for context and rationale…

As a child, I would devise ways of enticing my mother to support some of the everyday escapades that people my age would be involved in, to which she would respond with the same robotic answer “I don’t have any money! You think money goes on trees?” or “Where you want me to get it from?” Nevertheless, I was hopeful, my efforts going down in flames after each failed attempt, a recurring nightmare as an adolescent.

My obvious response was to storm off to a secluded area, stopping loudly in my head and muttering under my breath some truth that I would tell her when I was old enough to do so. I wanted to ask her if she got paid in front of a fan; working and never having money… how absurd! But God knows, if my thoughts transferred into words, I would surely be toothless–Caribbean parenting. If yuh know, yuh know.

It was always mind-boggling to me, trying to comprehend her purpose for working if she was having naught. I yelled in my head, miming the actions of loud screaming to fit my anger. This lady is out to torment me. Maybe she did not want me to fit in. I would have to be the one getting left behind again. I could not wait to grow up and get my own job and live happily ever after.

Fast forward to the year 2025. I am an adult, with a degree in hand, employed full-time and I can say with all conviction that, most times before the month’s end I have no money.

As an adult, life has reduced itself to monotony: ongoing obligations, hustling and meeting deadlines, early days and late nights, and the constant need to improve oneself holistically. The commitments are endless–rent, food, electricity, internet, travelling, charity associations, loan instalments. Then there is the furthering of your education, short courses for now until better can be done.

It is wonderful to agree that education does afford you a higher standard of living but there is also that issue–a higher standard of billing. If one is not careful and able to understand the need to stop and breathe, appreciate the smaller things in life, and the value everything has in its own space and time, it would be to one’s detriment. Your newfound quality of life can take a downward spiral mentally, spiritually and emotionally.

Self-care is important, eating healthily, exercise, meditation, corporal works of mercy and an active prayer life are crucial to your holistic wellbeing. Being busy but with purpose. Take up a hobby, try a new sport, or try journalling. Make plans, set goals, pace yourself and remember that financial literacy is a priority. A workaholic mentality is good for whom? Speak to the elderly and they will let you know that after retirement all your income just goes to the doctor.

In the famous words of Thomas Jefferson, “If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done”. Devise a plan and follow through. Live a life of gratitude. Time is money so make each moment count. Make the necessary changes. In all things ask God for his guidance. Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

This last paragraph is for the bookkeepers and life coaches, for accounting purposes.

Buying of luxury brand name items, bags, shoes accessories – nil.

Secret indulgences – nil.

Drinking, smoking, liming and partying – nil.

Pampering oneself with manicures, pedicures, massages – nil.

Side hustles – nil.

“Minding of Snakes” in any form – nil.

Social Awareness/Collective Consciousness – full hundred. Yet not a farthing to spare.

Sometimes, life be Life-ING!!!

Corinthians 4: 17-18 “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So, we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever”

James 1:2-4: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces

perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Blessings and Love on this Journey called Life…