Sometimes, when the temperature permits, I paint my house. Other times, I walk the mall, scan garage sales for good buys on costume jewelry circa 1940 and earlier. And sometimes, I just take a nap. Maturity, to me, is what you do all the time, not just in your spare time. It's evidenced in how you treat your co-workers, whether you can be consistently counted on to produce, and your basic manners, over the phone, in letters, and in person.
Maturity also means taking a moment to say a quick prayer when the ambulance races by.
Sure, you may not know who's inside, but then again, you may. But I'll guarantee you, someone does, and they're needing all the support they can get. Or listening to someone tell you their problem when you really want to talk about yours. Character, if not taught to the young, can be learned, but I really believe the seeds of it has to be there already, born in the individual. Much as some of us have genes for brown eyes or blue, I think some folks have the genes for strong or weak character.