Growth… “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” (Wilde) Many people try to find the meaning of life or even focus on what happens afterward. Most people decide to or are told to believe in something early on. Then eventually they accept that to be true and become set, still, stagnant. I believe that to truly live you can not become set, you can not become still and you can not stay stagnant, because that is not living at all. The truth is we do not know the meaning of life but one thing for certain is that we will grow. From the start of our existence we grow.

Recently the importance of growth has been a constant thought of mine and it began at school of all places. That day in my creative writing class we were doing an activity about values. As my teacher passed around the papers she said “This is a values list, circle 10 of your personal values.” I looked down at the list on the paper of about 50 different words: family, faith, friends. As I looked through all of the options I thought about how all of them have some level of importance to me. How could anyone choose just ten? Everyone mingled as they struggled to choose their ten. I stayed, looking down at the paper. Then, some words popped out to me more than the rest. Personal development, helping others, family, friendship, religion, loyalty, self-love, growth, empathy, and honesty. I counted them over in my head. One… two… three… My pencil touched the page as I mentally checked each one off. I sighed; simple enough, only ten. Just as I felt content with my answers my teacher said to now choose five. My mind immediately clicked. I knew it, she was going to make us go down to one. I sighed again, how could anyone just choose one? As I looked at my ten values I struggled with what to take away. I ran through everything again and counted. It wasn't easy but then as I looked over the words  I found it. 

Growth. It hit me, it was so obvious, so clear. Once I knew I quickly erased every other word and placed my pencil down on the desk. The girls behind me started up about what they chose and whether faith or peace was more important. I sat silently as they bickered. 

“Faith is more important because my faith brings me peace.”

“No, peace is more important, because how can you be at peace if the world isn't at peace?” 

As they continued their bickering,  I wanted to say what I thought, but the more I thought about it they were both right. Faith is no less important than peace, but you can't have a good version of either without growth. I have replayed this moment in my head many times since then, and the more I think about it the more clear it becomes. Even from the early stages of our existence as humans all we do is grow. From multiplying cells, to learning to walk, and talk to having full conversations on values. 

Now deep into my own thoughts, I began to think about when I was younger. Thinking about how much I’ve changed and learned and grew. I’ve learned so much in my life. I haven't lived much of it yet, but I’ve grown so much physically,mentally,and even in my education. I think about how this time next year I will graduate and it feels so strange. How did I get from being in kindergarten to now so quickly? Though the feeling is strange, the answer is simple: growth. Every moment we are growing in some aspect, in every aspect. Most of us aren't aware of it until we think of our old memories or plan for our future. Thinking about where I am now and where I hope to be soon it feels a bit scary. As people in such a vast universe it's easy to feel lost and scared but there is at least one definite fact. You will grow.