FEATURE Debbie’s Discernments By Debbie Powers Maturity as a Cornerstone of Character I
had the distinct honor of having dinner with the Secretary of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, last eve- ning. She is extremely down to earth and very en-
gaging. She spoke about the challenging politics of being a Republican in Portland, Oregon, and how she had to ma- neuver through it — in other words, play politics! Of course, children, grandchildren and parents were all discussed as well. Her most interesting comments were about President Trump and his intense attention to detail. I never knew he did the decorating in the Oval Office and that he hand- picked each portrait of specific Presidents he wanted to adorn his space. Oh yes, we can’t forget his addition of gold leaf (which I found out he had to pay for!). It was also in- triguing to learn the cabinet members are given a very small stipend to redecorate their offices with new furniture, win- dow treatments, paint, etc.; therefore, many of them keep what they have out of frugality and convenience. Lori also described President Trump as extremely curious, needing to learn about everything, all the while maintaining a great sense of humor, keeping the meetings interesting and pro- ductive. She is enjoying her position but inherited a lot of bad policies that she is working on cleaning up and stream- lining a lot of the crazy unnecessary paperwork. That was certainly good news. Russell Frye, the US Congressman from the Myrtle Beach
area (and who, by the way, does a fabulous impression of President Trump) was also in attendance! Naturally, I asked a lot of questions and gave much conversation to our labor plight: plugging our P visa! It was an intimate group of only eight (8), with delicious food and great company. She invit- ed me to visit her anytime I’m in D.C., gave me a hug, and off she went. Who knows if any productive efforts will come of it, but unless you get to know these people you can defi- nitely count on, nothing productive will happen! So the word maturity came to mind, and I thought it may
be an interesting subject to talk about. The definition of maturity is the state of being fully developed or adult; devel- oped both physically and mentally and exhibiting responsible behavior. It involves the ability to manage emotions, make sound decisions and take accountability for one’s actions. Mature people can regulate their emotions effectively, , rather than being ruled by them even in stressful situations. They understand and empathize with the perspectives and experiences of others, even if they differ from their own. As the old saying goes “Unless you’ve walked a mile in their shoes…” Mature individuals take ownership of their actions
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and accept the consequences. They also never blame oth- ers! They can adapt to different situations and handle diffi- culty with grace and resilience. Maturity is the opposite of acting impulsively. It always considers the potential conse- quences of one’s actions and makes informed decisions. A mature person is aware of their own strengths and weak- nesses and is willing to learn from their mistakes.
Some Key Characteristics of Maturity: 1. They take RESPONSIBILITY.
2. They react with EQUANIMITY — even-keeled and fair. Even in adverse circumstances, they don’t panic and they are not dominated by fear!
3. They put into practice what they learn. They do not com- plain, they tend to be OPTIMISTIC.
4. They KNOW THEIR LIMITS. 5. They always TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THEIR INFLUENCE over others.
6. They are RESILIENT. They know how to harness the positive potential of negative experiences to strengthen themselves.
7. They know how to manage their lives in a SELF-SUFFI- CIENT manner that is in accord with their abilities. They ask for help but are not helpless.
8. They are never victims, but rather people who WORK WELL WITH OTHERS.
9. They do not use emotional blackmail. Their COMMUNI- CATIVE STYLE IS MARKED BY ASSERTIVENESS. They convey their authority with being overly forceful.
10. They know how to ENJOY THEMSELVES and make the effort to do so!
11. They fulfill their responsibilities and obligations. They are FORMAL, DIGNIFIED AND CONFIDENT. They know how to take care of themselves!
Unfortunately, maturity is notalwaysassociatedwith
one’s age. Many older individuals exhibit immature be- havior, while some younger individuals exude maturity in their thoughts and actions. The bottom line is: maturity is a process of growth and development that involves being a responsible, well rounded and emotionally intelligent indi- vidual. It takes a lot of personal discipline! Maybe we should all give ourselves a personal evaluation to see where we stand!
As Always, Your Friend, Debbie
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