When I was growing up, I couldn’t wait to be an adult. Now that I am one, I often find myself wondering what being an adult really means. Do we wake up one day and feel like we are an adult? Or is it something that develops as we go through adult-like experiences? To answer these questions, let's examine the concept of adult identity.

Left or right? Up or down? There is a reason these words are considered opposites—because they rarely describe someone or something at the same time. To do so would be paradoxical because of their “seemingly contradictory qualities.”[1]

In Disney’s film Up, you learn about Carl and Ellie—a young couple filled with aspirations and adventurous spirits. Shortly after getting married, they purchased a fixer-upper house because it was likely all they could afford as a newlywed couple. To save money, Carl and Ellie sawed, nailed, and polished their house until it felt more like a home. After some planning, they prepared for an addition to their home: Carl and Ellie delicately hung toy blimps over a crib and trimmed the back wall with a hand-painted stork. The next time you see this overjoyed couple, however, they’re in a dark hallway under the ominous glow of a pale-lit doctor’s office. Ellie has her face buried in her palms—they can’t have children. She isn’t alone, though; about one-tenth of all couples struggle with infertility.[1]

Money is the last thing I want to talk about with my friends and family. Money is sensitive, personal, and a bit taboo. However, it is a vital resource to get the things we want and need in life! Seeking advice can be considered an important resource as well!1 Dr. Melissa Curran and her colleagues dove deeper into the idea of resources, specifically with consideration to seeking advice from family and friends.

Writing gives us the freedom to share our perspective, and perhaps through mine, you will reflect on yours.

While play is an essential aspect of child development,1 it is also crucial in adulthood in non-work activities that offer relaxation, engagement, and...connection.2 Play, or leisure, is beneficial in strengthening emotional connections, reducing tensions, and promoting positive interactions within a romantic relationship.3 Furthermore, shared leisure time promotes intimacy.3 After a long workday, a couple could benefit by walking, learning a hobby, or playing a game together. Just as it is important for parents to foster a loving and open environment for children to de-stress and find freedom in play, couples benefit from prioritizing their playtime and constructing within their lives an adult playpen of sorts, a space where they can emotionally reconnect, physically rejuvenate, and mentally unwind.4

Ratatouille. Have you ever tasted it? Perhaps you’ve heard of it. This humble dish dates back to the 1700s in the Southeastern region of France—Provence, specifically. Ratatouille was born out of necessity as the farmers could not let anything go to waste. Onions and tomatoes are sautéed in a pot with a drizzle of olive oil, joined by fresh chopped bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant—or any other vegetable one can scour. Once the veggies have danced around for a bit, everything in the pot is stewed together with a bundle of dried herbs to make a delicious, hearty dish. When making Ratatouille, timing and quality ingredients are vital.

What does money represent to you? Money to me is our time, effort, work, freedom, security, comfort, and even growth. We usually give meaning and value to money by what it represents to us. Now, would you trust your money to any person? What about your partner? Do you have enough confidence in how your partner manages money? Confidence is important when making decisions, but did you know that feeling confident about money is also good for your relationship?

Six feet apart, face masks, online learning, and social isolation—these are some of the common experiences people faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, while some also experienced sickness and the death of loved ones. Community lockdown, widespread job insecurity, rampant financial stress, and relational conflict were also trademarks of this unique time in history, which offers to teach emerging adults and the rising generation some profound lessons—among them, the answer to how changes in financial stress can impact relational wellbeing.