When talking about growth, there’s something I’ve observed that I feel people are not really emphasizing, or not even talking about at all.

So I’ll start by comparing a few scenarios.

When I was still a kid, I used to admire people who dressed gorgeously. Nice dresses, sharp suits, paired with fine footwear, mostly shoes. I couldn’t afford any of it, and my parents only got us what they could afford. And we truly appreciated them for that.

Growing up, I still fantasized about those things, but I still couldn’t afford them. Back then, I thought looking good was the same as being worthy.

Back then, I didn’t just want the clothes. I wanted the confidence I thought they carried.

Now, I still can’t afford much, not even everything I used to fantasize about. I can maybe get one out of three things I wish for. But the difference is… I don’t fantasize about them again. I don’t chase appearances anymore. I chase alignment. I don’t sit and dream about things anymore. Now, I plan for life.

Now I run a small business that fetches me a token. I get allowance from my parents, and I also do some part-time jobs online. And funny enough, I don’t fancy clothes and those luxuries again.

I no longer admire flashy outfits that announce to people that you’ve “arrived” at an occasion. I prefer something cool and classic. Something that is specially assigned to you. Something that makes people feel, this is her taste and her only.

As we grow up, we start seeing life from a different angle.

Our taste changes. Our voice changes. Our priorities change

Our perspective changes.

We start having responsibilities instead of just desires. We save for the future, not just for material things. Our taste and our voice change. Maybe because we understand things better now.

Not only that, but also because of what we’ve embodied. Because of what we’ve been able to achieve. So you don’t need to get to a place and start explaining yourself.

Your work, your presence, your results… they speak and open doors for you.

Though the more I make, the more I also find myself having more things to spend it on.

When I was a kid, there was nothing like “data money.” Now, the amount I spend on data is alarming. When I was a kid, I didn’t buy anything myself except snacks during school hours and even that was from my feeding money.

I remember a famous saying about money circulation: The more you earn, the more you’ll spend.

And honestly, it’s something worth reflecting on.

Maybe that’s what growing up really looks like not louder dreams, but quieter clarity. Maybe it’s about needing less… and understanding more.