Adulting: A Mini Series

Transitions

People say write what you know. Actually, to be specific, it was Mark Twain who said that. Ok, Mark. I hear you. So, what do I know? I know transitions. I know what it’s like to go from one house to another, to go from one school to another, one community to another, one job to another, one relationship to another- you get the gist. I know change. I know the good, the bad, and the ugly that comes with it.

And I know that most of these changes have happened in the last seven years. I was at UCLA when I turned 20 and was just about to send off my final application to grad school- a program that would help turn me into the therapist that I had wanted to be since I was in 7th grade. I loved my school, I had a close group of friends- both in college and from my high school days, I had a boyfriend, I worked out, had good grades, and was making moves for the next chapter of my life. I knew things were going to change with grad school, and yet, I had no idea how they would change.

You never know really. You can try with every fiber of your being to control every move you are going to make to achieve optimum happiness and success, but at the end of the day, so many things are out of our hands. At 20 years old, I had a plan for how my life would unfold: I would go to grad school at CSULB, I would be licensed and be in private practice full time by the time I was 27, which around that time I would be engaged, then I’d be married by 28 or 29- because, you know, I need at least a year to plan a wedding, and I would start having kids around 30.

Now, I’m not going to say my timeline was totally off; I’m 27 now- I don’t know how the next 3 years will unfold. What I do know is that I didn’t go to CSULB and I think it’s highly unlikely I’ll be engaged in the next 5 months. Did I get licensed at 27? Actually, no- I was 26. Do I have a full private practice by 27? Essentially yes, but I’m one of those therapists that will likely never say that their practice is full; I always want to do more; to hear more; to help more. And that idea of more is what brought me here to this blog.

Private practice used to be my end all, be all. That was all I could picture myself doing when I was a little baby grad student. Now- that is my base. That is something I will always do and always love. And I want to do more. This yearning for what else is out there has led me to think about you- that person who is ready for the next change, the next transition, the next chapter. And you may be shaking in your boots, or maybe your Rainbow sandals, because, umm hello- it is summer after all. You are thinking about what’s to come or maybe you are like me and you have calculated steps and drafted out your timeline.

Regardless of how Type A or Type B you are, you are entering into adulthood. A time where so many things are in flux that sometimes it feels like things are zooming past you and all you can do is try to catch glimpses of what’s happening before the next thing pops up. I get it. I’ve been there. I’m still there.

What I want for this mini series is an opportunity to share with you little nuggets of what I’ve experienced throughout the last 7 years, how I’ve dealt, and maybe inspire you to not only deal with adulting, but thrive in it. This is the first step of what more I want to do. I want you to know I see you.

It is scary. It is daunting. Some days being an adult really does suck and you just want to be back at home waiting for your mom to bring you coffee in bed, while your laundry magically gets done. But if you embrace this chapter of your life; this independence and power that you have stepped into, there is no stopping who you will become.

Ok, I’m done trying to pretend I’m Tony Robbins. You get the idea. Stay with me to hear all about how your friendships, dating, career, family, and lifestyle is in this wonderful season of growth- you just gotta give it some sunlight and water, and watch it BLOOM BABY!