What is Maturity? - Part 3

I've been thinking more lately about maturity and it seems to me that perhaps there are two stages in the growing up process. I've already spoken about the first part, that we must mature in ourselves. I was lucky to learn this early on in life, and I became confident in myself, yet I didn't realise that was another stage of the journey to come.

Tthe second stage of maturity, after growing up in yourself, is to grow up in the world. I often meet people who have only gone through this first stage, they are not immature but smart, fun to be around and even have some direction in life, yet I've noticed that often this direction is set by what they know about themselves rather than what they know about the world. To grow up in the world takes experience.

Some of my best friends have never travelled as far as London, have never left Europe and go on holiday with the same family or friends that they spend all their time with and just end up re-enacting life but in another location.

In the 18th and 19th centuries young gentleman amongst British society were expected to take the 'Grand Tour' before recieving their entitlement to the family wealth. Often in their late teens these young, well educated men were not deemed mature to run the family estate until they had experienced more of the world. They travelled, often alone or in pairs, around the major cities in Europe building relationships and inspecting factories, farms and other businesses. They returned home as young men ready to take on the challenges of becoming head of the family.

Travelling isn't the only way to find your place in the world. Many people find it in the home towns, in their colleges or schools but only because they have stepped outside of their small bit of life and dared to find something else. These people have volunteered at homeless shelters or day care centres, they have gone back into schools to help children to read and they have found their place in the world.

We all learn to grow up in ourselves, learn to make sound choices, and become more confident however real maturity in life comes when we find our own little spot in this earth, our role, our section of that battle line that no-one else can fill. Our Life.