Kura uone. A phrase particularly used by elders when words fail and the only way a young person will understand is through experiencing life as an adult. Literally translated grow up and see.

Remember when you envisioned yourself as an adult? You had a big house, a beautiful partner, a fleet of cars, multiple companies in your name and were associated with people of the same caliber. The life on TV and in magazines was to be your reality. The thought of being an adult was exciting. I remember. My friends and I would dress up as the adults we looked up to and talk like them because that’s how we saw ourselves and thought adulthood would be. Being a grown-up was the ultimate goal. A golden wish.

In our projected life as an adult, how did we miss the responsibilities, the heartaches, the bills, the stress, sleepless nights, sacrifices, losses, the fights, loneliness and opportunities not being the same? I mean life was meant to be simple in its own extravagant way.I guess this is what our parents were trying to tell us when we asked why we couldn’t go to the schools our friends went to, wear the clothes they wore or when we asked our parents why they were not driving like any ‘normal parent.’ I mean that was a normal way of living. In our minds every adult owned cars, worked at high paying jobs, wore clothes of choice and was respectable.

Kura uone. Grow up and you’ll see. Well, we can’t be kids forever. Adulthood is not as simple and extravagant as we thought. We deal with the stresses that come with that high paying job. Time with family is limited. We have missed some of our children’s or spouse’s important life events. Presently, some of us are still under our parents’ roof for whatever reason that may be. We are still dreaming of that car, job, house and family. Some of us have achieved all that we wanted and still find ourselves lonely.

Adulthood is not all rosy. We have freedom of choice yet we find ourselves cornered in some situations. The ups and downs can leave you unwanting. However, wherever you are in life don’t forget to toast to you regardless of what you are going through. When you send that CV, complete that project or wake up in the morning to try again, pat yourself on the back. Take pride in your achievements and having made it this far. Bold moves and taking risks is no child’s play.

‘…for a living dog is better than a dead lion.’

Therefore, hope springs eternal.