My Life in the Mirror

Maturing is not exchanging your usual Fairly Odd Parents viewing for a MSNBC special. Nor is it drinking coffee rather than a Coolata from Dunkins. Those are both signs of aging or taste changing. Maturing is more about looking yourself in the mirror and feeling like you have become (or are on your way to becoming) the person you want to be.

Lately, I've been changing a lot of things in my life. I bought a new wardrobe. I sport a new hairdo. I put my contacts in in the morning. And most importantly, I am proud of my boyfriend and am afraid of losing him when I go off to college. These changes are all new and strange because they seem to be supporting me in my quest of becoming who I want to be.

So what? Do we all have those simple tasks that will eventually propel us into 'maturity'? Are we all destined to have a major overhaul of our closets before we can become the person we want to be? How do we find those things that make us feel like we are stepping into confidence in ourselves?

I don't think we can. I don't think anyone knows that buying a new skirt at Nordstrom's will make them feel like a new person, inside and out. I think that these milestones become what we are looking for. As you adopt these changes that are being made in your life and you see them making you happier and more complete, that is where the growth comes from.

The next time a change takes place in your life look at it through a new lense of conscious realization. Ask yourself if this change makes you feel more like you. Look at yourself in the mirror in a dressing room and if you like what you see, buy the shirt and get the smile on your face as a complimentary gift.