ADULTING

 BY WALLACE CALEB BATES

When I was younger, I used to wonder what it felt like to be an adult.

Not the part about freedom — most children understand that. The idea is that one can go where one wants, stay up as late as one wants, or eat dessert for breakfast simply because no one is there to say no.

What I did not understand was the responsibility: What does it feel like to carry something meaningful? To answer to others? To shape a life that serves more than just yourself?

Earlier today, while driving home from work, that childhood question returned. Only this time, it came with an answer.

I had just finished a day doing what I love. I spent time on a beautiful college campus, had meaningful conversations with community members, and completed work that challenged me and left me feeling fulfilled. 

In that quiet moment, I realized something: Being an adult is not only about the ability to choose your path, but it is also about choosing what kind of meaning you want your life to carry.

Freedom still exists in adulthood, but the freedom that matters most is not about what you are allowed to do. It is about what you are CALLED to do.

It is the freedom to live with purpose, serve others, grow roots in your community, and make a real difference.

Finding what you love to do is not a luxury. It is a necessity. It is how you build a life that feels steady and alive at the same time.

So, to the younger version of myself who wondered what adulthood feels like, it feels like this: meaning, commitment, and coming home with a full heart and a clear mind.

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