Don't Just Grow Old, Grow Up As Well

The world is constantly changing, so should you.

About three days ago, I visited my Alma matter – the University of Santo Tomas (UST) – where I graduated last 2011. As I walk around, I noticed some changes and improvements inside the campus. I’m fascinated about how they were able preserve the old buildings and structures and still keep the overall campus in parallel with the latest trends. In tagalog, “’di pahuhuli.” And I think this is the reason why the school still exists and serve students for 402 years and counting.

We, as an individual also need to catch up and become better everyday. As I said earlier, the world is constantly changing.

Grow Old and Grow Up

Growing older isn’t really a choice we can make, given our options. However, growing older and growing up are two different matters altogether.

I read an article that differentiates growing old from growing up. It says:

“Growing old means that things that are happening to you and your true desires remain unexplored.

Growing up means that you are gaining a better understanding of the world you live in, your relationships, your goals and how to affect them.”

I believe this is true. But can I give you my simple definition of the two? (I discovered my definition while I’m researching, reading, contemplating and organizing my ideas about this article.)

Here it is!

Growing old is taking time.

Growing up is taking charge.

Take Charge

Growing old is when you just consume time, specifically time and space. It means going with the flow.

It means giving up your power to something or someone else.

It means being content with the circumstances and conditions that are thrown upon you.

Growing up is taking charge of your life. It means taking responsibility.

It means discovering your power to change your life and make it better.

Author and poet C. Joybell says “The only way that we can live is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.”

People who grow old but don’t grow up are expert blamers. They blame God, the government, another person, the balut vendor, the mosquito, the rain, I mean everything.

And they end up being miserable.

In Conclusion

You have given the power to take charge of your life. Depending on what you choose. Your life can be very ugly or it can be very beautiful.

Let me share a part from a poem written by Melanie Lim:

Write poetry. Love deeply. Walk barefoot. Hold hands.

Dance with wild abandon. Cry at the movies.

Take care of yourself.

Don’t wait for someone to take care of you.

You light up your life.

You drive yourself to your destination.

No one completes you – except you.

It is true that life doesn’t get easier with age.

It only gets more challenging.

Don’t be afraid.

Don’t lose your capacity to love.

Pursue your passions.

Live your dreams.

Don’t lose faith in God.

Don’t grow old. Just grow up.

You don't stop having fun when you get old; you get old when you stop having fun.

Friends, grow up and have fun.

Be remarkable!