
i am so lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life, friends who i can speak with and who challenge and inspire me. in one conversation recently, i was speaking with a friend who is older than i am, and we were talking about how one continues to grow and learn throughout their lifetime. this friend summed up our thoughts into the simple idea that if we are not learning and growing and evolving, than we are, in fact, beginning to die.
there is no standstill, there is no "rut". if you are not living, not moving forward, you are only existing... but even your existence is slowly losing meaning when there is nothing sustaining it.
there is so much to learn and explore. what are we doing in life if we are not expanding, if our relationships with others and with ourselves are not ever-changing and evolving and growing?
there are some species of sharks who will die if they stop swimming, due to the fact that the oxygen from the water won't flow through their gills. i see people as being similar to these sharks, in the way that if we stop exploring new places, experiencing new things, gaining new knowledge and pushing our limits, (all vital parts of life that are like an oxygen for our souls) we will begin to die. maybe this won't manifest itself physically at first, but i'm sure it will eventually.
i hate when i see anyone, but young people especially, who are stuck, or already feel like they are caught in some routine that they can't get out of. there is always time to make a change in your life, no matter how old or young or no matter what job or place you are in. i hope that i will be able to continue to love what i am doing, to continue being creative and creating new opportunities for myself, and that if i ever find myself feeling differently, i hope that i will have the courage to move on and not look back.