"Just Because" Part 2: Adults are Rude ... So What?

As children, we take others at face value. The motives of others are either good or evil. We take what we know about the people around us and construct ideas about the world. The circumstances of our childhood prepare us to dream of that magical time called, "adulthood." For some, it’s the dream of those bright, shiny things that the rich possess. For some, it’s just enough to have a bit of security – a place to live, clothes on our backs and food for our children. More importantly, we want to leave a mark on the world. That mark may be in the form of invention or discovery. For others, it’s championing legislation that improves the lives of others, saving the lives of one or many, or changing for the better the way society views itself. While we’re striving to accomplish our personal and professional goals, we often become blinded by the quest. As we reach higher, we neglect various aspects of the quest. Getting the promotion that pays more means less time at home. Less time at home means paying less attention to the next generation. Paying less attention to the children is rude (not that I have any, so what the hell do I know?). At one time, I was one of those very girls who said, “Just because you’re old doesn’t mean you have to be rude about it.” Now that we’re all grown up and living each day to survive within the circumstances we’ve created, many of us often neglect what was once important. Think about it. Do you work 12 hours or more a day, like I unfortunately do? Do you ignore loved ones' desperate for your attention, your knowledge, your advice? Again, no one really needs my knowledge or advice. Gee ... maybe that's why my personal life has had so many dramatic ups and downs. But, then again, I can't imagine living a steady (read: boring), regular old life. If I'm not flying in the face of adventure at 100 miles an hour, with my hair on fire and wiping the bugs from my sunglasses ... it just wouldn't be LIVING!