Maturity is the ability to tolerate an injustice without wanting to get even. Maturity is patience. It is the willingness to postpone immediate gratification in favor of the long-term gain.
Maturity is perseverance, sweating out a project in the face of heavy opposition and discouraging setbacks. Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat without complaint, collapse or attempting to find someone to blame.
Maturity is humility. It is being big enough to say "I was wrong." And, when right, the mature person is able to forgo the satisfaction of saying "I told you so."
Maturity is the ability to evaluate a situation, make a decision and stick with it. The immature spend their lives exploring possibilities, changing their minds and, in the end, they do nothing.
Maturity means dependability, keeping one's word, coming through in a crisis. The immature are masters of the alibi. They are confused and disorganized. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business and good intentions that never materialize.
Maturity is the art of living in peace with that which we cannot change, the courage to change that which can be changed and the wisdom to know the difference.
Maturity is perseverance, sweating out a project in the face of heavy opposition and discouraging setbacks. Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat without complaint, collapse or attempting to find someone to blame.
Maturity is humility. It is being big enough to say "I was wrong." And, when right, the mature person is able to forgo the satisfaction of saying "I told you so."
Maturity is the ability to evaluate a situation, make a decision and stick with it. The immature spend their lives exploring possibilities, changing their minds and, in the end, they do nothing.
Maturity means dependability, keeping one's word, coming through in a crisis. The immature are masters of the alibi. They are confused and disorganized. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business and good intentions that never materialize.
Maturity is the art of living in peace with that which we cannot change, the courage to change that which can be changed and the wisdom to know the difference.
*I apologize for not knowing the source of this quote. I have had it in my keepsake drawer for years. If you know to whom credit should be given, please let me know*
18 comments:
I know I may not behave maturely in certain situations, but I strive for it. Thanks for the post!
I have lived long enough to know that if someone is bad news and have f---ed you over, why would you want to spend time and energy "getting even? That only prolongs the length of time that they are in your life – which is the opposite of what you want (unless you are a mess and hate yourself). Let them go, avoid contact with them as much as you can, and know that if the people keeps on behaving as they did with you (and they may change and become a half way decent human being, too) that they will attract what they need to wake them up – usually a huge cosmic kick in the bum.
It took me a long time to figure all this out. Now...I try to never be hurt by a-holes. Just see them for what they are, and move on as quickly as possible. Now if I only knew this when I was 18...
Sign me: On a rough ride to heaven...
Maturity is knowing when you are T.O.F.A.
(too old for abercrombie)
lewis just wanted 2 say thanx 4 the love and support means the world 2 me!
"Maturity is the ability to tolerate an injustice without wanting to get even."
Well where's the fun in that?
Seriously, good post! :)
that is nicely put; I would add maturity is also sacrifice; going without at times.
I wish there was more maturity in the world.
I also read somewhere that one who has 'reached' maturity, also possesses the traits and manners of the innocent.
Might not make much sense to most, but I tend to agree. Thanks for the reminder Lewis. Hope you have a fantastic Monday baby!!
Very good post, Lewis.
And I believe 'maturity' is key in "forgiving." That was a hard lesson for me to learn and accept. But it was freeing. In the bigger picture.
Maturity. Hmm... sounds familiar... not sure if I ever experienced it. ;)
My mental age is 24. I like living for the day and going through life as if it were my last.
I don't want to have any regrets at 60.
Are you coming to the Bloggers Summit Lewis?
Maturity to me is knowing that the place you are in, is exactly where you have to be, even if it is slightly uncomfortable.
Nice post Lewis. Would love to have a philosophical discussion with you and hubby one day on the veranda of a house in Nairobi...
Good post Lewis... I knew my sister was mature when she showed up at my house one day with a mature hairdo! She went from my sister with the long hair to Mrs.Cleaver... all that was missing was the pearls! These days she has short, spikey bright red hair... I think she is turning into a lesbian.
Age for me has become a number. I have a physical age... a mental age... and the age that I feel like. All 3 are different. I know in some areas I am mature but in most I make the decsion not to be grown up yet. I enjoy being a kid... hell, look at what I do for a living!
Maturity comes in stages and over time. Each one of us does it at different rates but for me, life events are what trigger my stages. Great topic.. thanks for sharing. Hugs...
Maturity is for old people, like Sorted.
Someone should tell her.
Nice post Lewis. Like BrettC asks...are you flying in for the Bloggers' PAR-TAY in SF?
And by the way, the quote for which you were wondering the source...I believe it is the little meditation prayers give to Alcoholics Anonymous members.
to clarify, it's the Serenity Prayer for AA.
Excellent post Lewis - in addition, maturity is the ability to listen, think and act - and make permanant changes to your behavior and thought processes in an attempt to become a better person. Sometimes, as Spo said, we must do without and sacrifice - and it mean trusting your friends and family when they tell you something about yourself that you may not believe or be able to see in yourself. Living each day as if it were your last is wonderful, as long as you are the only person in life you are concerned about. To be concerned about others involves taking their feelings, emotions and needs into account - and in turn adapting your behavior to the good of the whole, not the good of the self. Just my opinion, as we all know about opinions - they are like assholes - we all have them and they usually stink...
BTW, you have paraphrased the Serenity Prayer that all of us AA/NA members know...
"God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference."
--Reinhold Niebuhr
Awesome post. It highlights for me the areas of my behavior where I am mature and the other areas where I'm am less-than-mature.
I'll be printing this out and working on those less-than areas.
Boy, do I have a long way to go... But no time to think about it, I gotta go get even with someone who just pissed me off. Oh wait, maybe I need to read your post again...
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