Designed By Life for Life

Recent interactions with a few acquaintances has captured and focused my attention on the aging process, and whether we are continuing to grow and thrive, or contracting into a slow disintegration.

New information and experiences are to our being as sunlight is to plants.

These fuel our continued growth and development.

Without them, we slowly wither.

We are designed by Life for thriving and flourishing. Driven by passions, purpose and meaning, we provide subtle and steady cues to our being, our psychology and our physiology. Literally, meaning and relevance awaken and invigorate us.

Yet one reality is that as we grow older it requires increasing effort to stimulate ourselves. Leaning into the possibilities and vicissitudes that life provides simply takes more energy. Often those efforts also push us beyond inertias and discouragement, as well as bodily limitations aid increasing dysfunctions and pains.

We need not judge any one person’s interest or willingness to push forward, each must choose or experience their own path. We do need to acknowledge that whether we are conscious of it or not, how we cue ourselves is the means by which we will continue to grow and to flourish, no matter the terms of life.

We thrive to the degree we are able to engage life.

We can continue to grow despite the increasing effort that is needed.

We need purpose and meaning that allows us to embrace it all.

Sometimes, such truths and encouragement are not sufficient to call us forward. Instead we may need to examine what holds us back. Have we become fearful? Could it be that complacency has crept in against our knowledge and will? Are frustrations or discouragements preventing us from engaging? Do we need assistance from others to break loose?

Exploration and curiosity are also our inheritance. Even if stifled, they can bring us home to ourselves.