When we were young, we believed that adulthood began as soon as a person started working, got married, had kids, and lived apart from their mom and dad. There is some truth to that; even many psychologists in the 20th century shared a similar view. Still, growing up is a bit more complex than we envisioned in junior school. Not everyone who is accepted and defined as an adult by others is an adult indeed.

Being an adult entails the ability to assert oneself, along with basic self-care skills such as cooking, scheduling doctor's appointments, job hunting, or making independent decisions. Growing up involves taking on responsibilities and navigating challenges without the guidance of adults, as you are now the adult yourself. Although entering adulthood is a challenging stage of life, you will feel much stronger once you go through it. For the book’s author, adulthood didn't commence with marriage or getting a degree. For her, those were merely stages akin to progressing through a computer game. Nevertheless, at some point, when Julia and her husband were in their twenties, they decided to move to California.

However, an accident occurred during the move, and the truck carrying the young people’s belongings caught fire. It was at that moment, after losing all the furniture and physical reminders of the past, that Julia realized she had grown up. She had to navigate the situation on her own because it seemed to her that there was no one more competent for the task. The young woman proved capable of taking care of herself, experiencing the satisfaction of realizing she was no longer a child.

We all mature at different times. Some of us assume family responsibilities from a very young age, while for some, their mothers may still be washing their socks at the age of thirty. It’s called *learned helplessness*. Finally, sooner or later, we must realize that we are responsible for our lives. Look at it as a fun game, with yourself in the starring role. Of course, everything will not be perfect. You will face failures and learn to handle completely new challenges. But hey, it's a part of life and an essential aspect of growing up. Growing up may be challenging and time-consuming for you. But in the end, you will discover that no one knows how to take care of you better than yourself.