When was the exact moment you matured?

Question

I believe there is one moment in everyone's life when we truly mature. One moment of all importance but none at the same time, that we can recognize as when we BECAME who we are today. I would say this one moment was when I was on the phone with my boyfriend, and we were discussing another friend moving, how we were all going along separately, how life went by too fast. I looked out the window and saw two clouds parting, and thought about how that is like life. I started to tear up and I truly changed. I had a sense of that day possibly being my last, I prayed to God, I was finally aware of time's passing. How unfair life was, but great at the same time. I wanted things to stay as they are, but I want to move on and do great things. It was monumental to me, and I wrote a poem called "Remember" (see my Q&A if you would like to read it.) What was your "maturity moment"?

Correct Sophist! I mean, the maturity level you are right now, not fully mature!

Answer 1

I believe it was, for the most part, in 1996. I was 31 years old and driving down the road. I was giving a ride to girl I knew because she was moving. Something was bothering me. I slammed on the brakes. Little Sam asked, "What's wrong?" I said, "I'm living a double life and I need to get rid of one of them." I gave up partying and started to really become serious about doing well at my job and taking care of my children at that very moment.

Answer 2

It's a bit like though the mold sets in, the moment you are aware of the funghi eating away your innards is surprising and unpleasant enough for one to tag it as the moment it all changed. However, you also know the rust is really yet to settle, the little critters yet to grow plentiful and though you feel tainted you know for a fact the only way further will take you down. That, to me, is maturity - the process of succumbing slowly to an inevitable death. I must have been 16 when I noticed it had attached itself to me, but on a more uplifting note I have sofar been able to slow its growth. Perhaps I can hold it off until old age conquers my strength of will at last - and as intelligent people are more likely to become senile, I intelligently but rather depressingly look forward to my fifties.

Right now though, I'm going into town to have dinner with friends, drinks with strangers and a party with everyone, because I'm only 28 still. I will feel old tomorrow morning though, I am sure.

Answer 3

I know what you mean and I can relate to that instance of finally knowing who you are. I did so, when I had my second boyfriend and decided to really take things seriously and set my values straight. After that moment up till now (that was like 8 years already!) I feel like that same maturity and way of thinking is still me! Quite strange but I hope all will come to that point too!

Answer 4

Peter Pan Momma! That's right, I won't grow up, I won't. Actually I may be somewhat Merlin-like in the aspect of maturity. I was a very serious, responsible, and mature youth. Now I'm kind of a jerk off (I mean this in the colloquial sense of course). I seem to be leaking maturity as the years trundle onward...

Answer 5

Hmmm....I think mine was last year, when I realized that I may have lost my husband to another woman. I woke up that day, screamed and realized that if I wanted him back, I would have to make the changes of myself, be more mature, be more focused on our marriage, on what HE needed, not just what I wanted. I had to stop thinking of myself and start focusing on listening, REALLY listening to him and to what his needs were in our relationship. I prayed every day for seven months to God, or whomever, to give me the strength to fight for him, to win him back, and for the strength to be my own person if he chose not to come back. I persisted and grew and matured last year, and he eventually moved back home and with counselling, we are working on our 12th year of marriage:). I am much stronger, more wise, and have a sense of who I really, truly am now, which is one of the things I learned while he was gone. I was 31 when all this occurred...sometimes it takes a while for us to realize who we really, truly are as an individual, when you've been part of a couple for so very long:).

Answer 6

I don't personally think that there is just one moment in life that you "mature" and then thats it....you are supposed to continue to grow throughout your lifetime, when you stop then it is time to worry!

I know that we each have moments of definition....that which will later define who we will become...mine was losing my father and then not even two years later losing my mother as well....however, I think that positive things happen that define us as well, such as the birth of my beautiful little girl....life is always going to be what you make out of it.....if your not happy its because you have not chosen the right things to make you happy...what you do to change that is up to you.

Answer 7

When I graduated college, moved 3000 miles from home, got a job, an apartment, a license, car, insurance, etc, and started cooking for myself. Took more like a couple months than a moment, though.

Answer 8

I have not matured yet nor do I want to. I became responsible a long time ago, but I want to be like peter pan and never grow up. But I guess I will have reached maturity when my body says enough is enough. lol

Answer 9

January 24, 2005 @ 2:01 EST I'll never forget it. By 2:02 I was a new mature man.

Answer 10

Probably around the age of 7 when I had to start taking care of my mother after she had several open heart surgeries and a kidney removed. She never truly recovered from the experience.