I believe that I was of the fortunate few to have matured a lot earlier than most. Doing time in the US Navy was a wake up call for one thing. I had to stay on my "P's & Q's" so to speak, to step up to the challenge of my peers and older more seasoned Men... I was 17 when I join the NAVY.
It was a real wake up "Call", Period...I don't have no idea as to how fast I had to mature, but it was pretty darn quick! I had to defend myself, because there was no one else I could depend on but me... The minute the Kitty Hawk CV-63 Air Craft Carrier set sail, the reality hit me like a ton of bricks... Once I saw an endless horizon that was a 360 around the entire ship, I knew it was for real, for real! I found a new sence of responsibility and took my job as a cook seriously. I took correspondence courses from Penn State, to make rate quickly. However once I saw my sleeve start to look heavy, My ego kicked in! I thought I was the "coolest" dude on board that ship... My friend "AL" too...I made E-4 and recieved an a comandation for testind highest in my class. They handed me a clip board and a small space, no bigger than a desk could fit in, to check in supplies for our sector of the "Galley". I was next to the Salad locker where Al was. I had to supply all the kettles where stuff like soup, gravies, rice, grits and pasta's were made. I worked 12 hours on & 12 off, and I had to be in the Galley at 3am every morning to set up. I was in the "aft Galley" the largest of the three on board the ship. Al was fron South Carolina, and boy did we have a blast! Weaving our way through the "Lifer's, Hipsters, Down-Home-Rebel's (Rednecks), & Gun-Ho, M*#F'S you'd ever want to meet...or don't". On the other end of that scale were the "Suck-Up's, want-na-B's, Sissy's, and Slacker's", by Naval standards, not mine! We had nerds too. It was a social convention daily in the Galley... The "Brother's" In Hood row, where the only way to get in was to give the "DAP" all the way down the Row to the End, every meal time... The point being, could any one of them that was twenty five years of age concider themselfves "Mature". I can't say, I never made the age of 25 in my Naval Career to tell you.
I don't know much of anything. However I do know this. You had to use mature logic and the right decisions in a dangerous environment, because the wrong one, could be your last, period. We were young men. Were we mature? Well mature enough to cross an Ocean, fight a War (Veitnam War) and get out of harms-way in one piece. I'd have to say, that's a pretty mature thing to accomplish... A majority of us made every effort to stay alive and respect the laws of nature being "MEN"... I know, I did. I did what I was told to do, and the rest of the time, I tried to learn and have a good time too! Not to forget, I was earning an income also...But what do I know... Waite a minute. Do women mature faster? I'm not a psycologist. Like I always say, I'm just talking to myself... (Of days gone BY!)
25? That is way to forgiving. As for myself I was 35 before I was mature. I am now 47, and can only wish I had as much wisdom at the age of 25. Men are self-serving, giving into their lusts and desires.
ReplyDeleteAt the age of 20 I was married and had kids. I never missed a day of work, and many times I worked 7 days a week to provide food, and roof. Does that make one mature? Responsible yes, mature NO. For if I could find a free moment, I still liked to play (fish, golf, jet-ski...), and party(drink to much),imaturity in all it's glory.
Women,on the other(MOST WOMEN), are givers and nurture's. They give us birth and nurture from their breasts. The very act of giving of oneself is maturity, placing the concerns of others before your own. Men are always worried about themselves, or whats in it for me? Just our nature.
I was 35 when I met Jesus Christ, and He is the one that thought me the act of giving> Give and you shall recieve.
Greater love has no one man than this, That He'd lay down His life as a randsom for many.
It is the act of giving that leads one to maturity!