Growing up happens whether we like it or not, but maturity must be cultivated. Taking Our Places provides the reasons why this cultivation is essential for our lives, and shows how we can go about achieving maturity. Drawing upon insights from both the Buddhist and Jewish traditions, renowned Zen teacher Norman Fischer addresses this long neglected subject in an engaging and accessible guide for skillfully navigating the ongoing demands of our adult lives.
Challenged to consider his own sense of maturity while mentoring a group of teenage boys, Fischer began to investigate our preconceptions about what it means to be an "adult." This book is the fruit of that research. In it the author shows how crucial true maturity is to leading an engaged, fulfilled life. He outlines the characteristics of a mature person, demonstrating how these attributes can help us successfully navigate the challenges we face and enrich all of our relationships. Exploring essential qualities such as awareness, responsibility, humor, acceptance, and humility, Taking Our Places brings a fresh, necessary and surprising perspective to what it means to be truly mature.