How Do You Measure Growth?

How do you measure growth? Is it the change in how you dress or the music you listen to? Is it your change in conversation or what you subject your eyes to on television and the movies you watch? Or maybe its the size of your homes and the make of the vehicle you drive.

Some may say it is all of the above. Whatever the case may be, the answer may depend on your personal beliefs, spiritual growth or how you were raised. Knowing your limits and embracing them may also be a sign of growth. So lets have a flashback…..

During the younger years it was all about education, fun times, and exerting confidence. We were grateful for our beautiful long legs, “junk in the trunk”, and healthy chest so much so that we didn’t mind flaunting it in the clothes we wore. Songs with crazy lyrics and crazy videos with artists leaving almost nothing to the imagination (like D’angelo) was in. Did we understand all the words in the songs? No and it didn’t matter as long as it had a great beat!  Can you picture your younger years?

We were never phased by the stares or what our elders said because we were fabulous and free! We worked after school and started partying on Friday night. Then when we started college the partying began on Thursdays. Do you have the glimpses of the past resonating through your mind yet? Oh the good old days.

We vowed to never do some of the same things our parents did, yet as time goes by we began to see the resemblances. Now we are sensitive to the music and we actually listen to the words, lol. “Did he just say that?! Time to change the station!” No more watching scary gory movies, especially if you are single and live alone.  No dressing up for Halloween.

We become self conscience in the things we wear and our idea of what’s sexy changes. You know, that shift from showing your goods to covering them up yet still revealing sex appeal in a more tasteful classy fashion. We still get the hair and nails done though, at least on special occasions.

We trade our shades for glasses and thanks to the internet, we keep up with politics and all that’s going on around the world. Not that we weren’t interested in some things in our younger years, but our thirst for this type of knowledge wasn’t as powerful as it is now. Our conversation changes, but sports is still on the tip of the tongue (yes some things never change).

Back then it was all about bigger houses, cars, and name brand clothes. But now the less house we have to clean the better. Keep it simple, we want safe, dependable cars, not just flashy ones.

We see the world through different eyes, grown eyes who understand now what all of the fussing our parents did was all about. The need to protect us so we could have a better life and not make the same mistakes they did or at least teach us how to survive when things get rough. You know, when economic downturns take place such as this recent one and we need to budget and watch how we spend and keep a positive image by how we carry ourselves.

We began to think about our 401k and if we have saved enough for retirement. Which one of us will be in a better position to take care of our parents. Or better yet, will you be the only one they can depend on when the time comes.  The tough decisions are not as far off as they used to be.

Now we understand why Mothers were so against eating out and cautious about eating other people’s cooking. Yes, there is always a “method to their madness” and so that trait starts a little early in the game, but by adulthood it is in full force.

Now wake from the past and come back to the present. Can you see how much you’ve grown? How do you measure your growth?