Im going on walkabout

Walkabout: a rite of passage where Australian Aborigines would undergo a journey during adolescence and live in the wilderness for a period as long as six months.^[1] In this practice they would trace the paths, or "songlines", that their people's ceremonial ancestors took, and imitate, in a fashion, their heroic deeds.

I think we as a society need a more significant rite of passage for our youths. As of right now, the only clear rites of passage I can think of are like 16th birthday and driving privileges and 21 drinking yourself into a stupor. Other than that, I suppose you could say high school graduation, but I dont think most people take that very seriously, or college graduation, but not everyone goes to college and not everyone takes that very seriously... so what else is there? Moving away from home? no. that's too incidental to going to school. and no one makes a real big deal of it.

I suppose weddings are a rite of passage, but again, not everyone does that. clearly.

And then there are Bar/Bat Mitzvah's. Again, same problems

So then, assuming we are left without true rites of passage, so what? Well, I think there is no clear beginning to "adult" life and no end to "child" life.

Of course, I mention this with me in mind, but I think its everywhere. I read a story somewhere a few years ago about how the nesting period has lengthened considerably. And while i don't necessarily see this as a bad thing--im not knocking living wtih the 'rents really--what I am saying is that I think we lack something that signifies spiritual and emotional growth. We don't grow to a point. We don't look forward to that point. We don't reach that point, do what is required, and then go on, having a signifier of our growth.... we dont have those things, and i think we are worse off for it.

In Australia, the Aborigines go on walk abouts and live off the land and find themselves and their ancestors. And when they return, they are different. They have found something. And perhaps its just because they have done what they were supposed to have done. But whatever, I think they think of themselves differently. And people think of them differently.

Here, we have to substitute that with drinking yourself to oblivion on 21 and livign to talk about it. not quite the same thing. More importantly, there is nothing special we do, and no signifying event, and no one looks at you any differently.

Again, this doesnt bother all people. But for me, I think I lack an event that signified GROW UP! I moved home after college. I never really went away to college. I lived her. I went to law school. Imoved home. I've never really escaped. And I see people like me. And I htink some clear rite of passage would help.

I think of law school. Law school has a clear rite of passage: first year. everyone goes thru the same shit and everyone is changed by it. And everyone looks at you differently when you're a 2L. And we tell 1Ls, I know what you went thru. You'll be fine. It sucks, but you'll be fine. It's bonding. I wont go so far as to say that im better off for it, but i can certainly say that im changed and i wouldnt be who i am today having not gone thru it.

ugh. im tired. and this post clearly shows it. i may edit it later and make some adjustments because I think im on to something here. but for right now, there it is.