Once upon a time, in a neighborhood close by, I lived alone for the very first time in my life. It came shortly after I ended an eight year relationship so it was by far the most symbolic move and push for me to get out of my head and into life.
Life is defined as the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.”
These words stick out to me:
- Growth
- Activity
- Change
Growth – The process is never complete and I do believe that each day presents us with a significant lesson and it’s up to us to decide whether we’ll allow the necessary growth to occur if we stay stuck in our space. The tricky part about staying in one place is that we think we’re growing by “protecting” ourselves from the changes but we’re not growing at all. If anything, the walls we keep our souls or mind in end up being the very thing that hinders any growth; which is life itself.
So what do we do? We challenge our minds, hearts, and beliefs with various activities that are big or small. We experience shifts daily and while we may not realize it while it’s happening, but the activities are conditioning us for the life we’re going to live. An example of this would be from our activity level. If we’re lazy, our bodies stop developing strength; mentally and physically. If we’re motivated, we can do some things that we never thought we could; i.e. completing a mini-marathon, taking a new work project, forgiving those that don’t deserve it, loving people and accepting them as they are, or even just getting the nerve to say hello to someone that you haven’t spoken to in ages.
Activity is being engaged to the here and now and allowing those things to impact us. Letting happiness or pain into our lives is natural. It’s gonna happen so just let it because this is where you change.
We’re humans and each of us has a very special flaw that makes us who we are … On that note, why must it be a flaw? Why can’t these little imperfections about us be what makes us such a rare gem? Our higher power must think we’re awfully amusing. We actually believe our way is best and that we think we can fix, manage, and control everything when in reality we can only fix, manage, or control ourselves. Even then it comes with the heavy price tag of humility and grace.
As Judy Blume wrote, ” Some changes happen deep down inside of you. And the truth is, only you know about them.”
Humility allows you to see what you’re capable of. Grace pushes you through the moments you don’t think you can endure. The severity and heavy feelings that accompany them are natural. It’s simply up to us to allow the growth from activity to change us in the ways we’re meant to be changed. It comes a little easier when we are able to connect to our higher power through prayer, meditation, a walk outside, or even writing a journal entry.
God is there as it turns out. He / She / It or whatever you believe in won’t ever give you this picture perfect dream life. It will give you the life that you need to live the life that you’re destined to. Whether you’re single, married, separated, divorced, or whatever relationship classification you fall into, I hope that you allow that change to impact you enough to create the depth in life you need to live it.
Photograph by Anna May Photography