“so long as you haven’t experienced
this: to die and so to grow,
you are only a troubled guest
on the dark earth.”
–Goethe
How have you grown through allowing something in your life to die?
3 thoughts on “To Die, and so to Grow”
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Allowing something to die is the first in a process which may promote growth. Usually, but not always, the death of something vital to a person brings regret, a sense of failure and sorrow. A long ago love affair that I finally terminated took fear, pain and disconnection to the world for a period of time. However, afterward, replacing the loss with new adventures and day- to- day parts of life allowed me to leave the past behind and find that there were many opportunities that opened for me . These would have not come to me if I had been tied down to the past. The really difficult part, I think, is seeing that there are going to be possibilities after the leaving something behind during the “leaving” time. Only afterward, does the world’s oyster shell open up and life gives a person a new vision to look outward again.
On a very literal level: my paternal grandparents were not nice people (mean-spirited, and abusive toward their children, especially my uncle who has a disability). I’ve noticed that since they died, within a few months of each other three years ago, the family is happier. It sounds mean to say, but since they aren’t around to antagonize or cast their shadows on our family life, I’ve noticed the family knitting itself back together in a happier, healthier, unit.
Maggie, although I’m from a small family unit without this kind of problem, I have seen the type of example that you tell about. Some family members can ruin the lives of other perfectly good people.