One of my favourite trends on the internet is watching people do growth challenges. They post how they were years back, and their current self now. A lot of times it's mostly physical, their looks, their status, their business, and any other thing that people look back at to see a difference. To me, it's exciting. You know, people keep saying change is constant, but not until you've taken a good look at yourself, you wouldn't know how far along you've come and how much you've grown.
Sometime this week, I caught up with a friend, been a while we've spoken. While we got talking, he randomly mentioned something we used to argue about when we talked regularly. Apparently, he lives alone now and struggles with making his own meals. He had stood his ground back then that eating out is cheaper and better… whatnots. That was then. But while we got talking, he told me he's been making his own meals and it's actually cheaper.
The only thing that came to my mind, I said to him: "You're growing."
For someone who made a big deal out of that topic back then, I wasn't expecting the change of heart , but like it is, growth happens. Sometimes, we begin to see things clearer and perspectives change over time.
Something I've come to realize about life is that at every point we live, we feel that we're right about wanting to live that way. We stand firm on all of our values, our beliefs, and whatever it is that is our core. Until time passes, we interact with new people, we find ourselves in new environments and we come to know that… "okay, maybe that wasn't the best thing to believe anyway."
I admire how much people use plants to describe how growth happens. Again, it's physical. We see a seed thrown into the soil, then the first shoot, a few leaves next, the plant grows into a big tree , probably starts bearing fruits and all. Even if we wanted to sit there and watch how it all happens, we might still get bored and we wouldn't get every detail. In growth, all we notice is the difference when we compare and contrast, not just in physical, but also emotionally and mentally even.
There are things I used to throw tantrums about years back, but right now, it's no longer a big deal. I get into disagreements with people, and I used to think it'd be best if everyone went their separate ways. I mean, that will prevent any more disagreements from happening, right?
Right now, I believe cutting people off is not always the best option. There are other effective ways of resolving disagreements and maintaining relationships than letting something minor bring major collateral damage.
I am never one to say yes to things or people the first time. There has to be debates, arguments, negotiations, and convincing before I give in. I agreed to what my sister told me a few days back, and she was taken aback at how fast I agreed. That's not the "me" she's used to.
But hello, I'm not grown yet. Nevertheless, I've had my own fair share in the journey. I still want more growth. I still want to learn and share different perspectives of how life works. I don't think there's ever going to be an end to growth as long as I live.
So I'm here for all of it.
