Growth.
But what is growth?
At it’s core, we grow, in order that we might have an exquisite death. Is that it? Because, let’s be clear, no one ages and preserves the quantified life. But this doesn’t mean growth is a bad thing. It’s just a misunderstood thing. I image when most say growth, they’re referring to new establishments and enhancements of the mind, similar to what happens to an animal host supplementing with performance enhancing drugs. Or maybe they mean growth in terms of competition, such that my capacity for sustaining myself in an animal kingdom are better that yours. In other words, my growth propels me to the head of my animal pack, and I’m able to eat, lead, teach, and train other animals. My prowling and prancing matters. They listen to me. They respect me. They see me and value me more that they value you, becuase I took the time to grow. Is that it?
Ok. So at what point does growth no longer matter? Is it when the physical or mental capacities no longer accompany further growth and thus no longer benefit the whole? Does it terminate when I decide for it to terminate, or, when I’m terminated by a stronger animal?
Wait, I think I know what growth is. It’s the way in which we respond (or react) to minor perturbations and major stressors (physical, mental and otherwise), such that they no longer keep their status of ‘stress’ or ‘perturbation’, in our lives. We grow past them, and respect the inevitability of death, while at the same time appreciating what it took to grow past it.
Because…let’s be clear again: Everything comes at a cost of life. There are no free calories. They all produce free radicals at the end of the transport chain. Lol. So confusing!
So, how much have you grown lately?