Growing pains aren’t just something we physically experience in childhood.  We never really totally finish growing up, do we? We age and mature with time, but are we ever finished growing?  I hope not. And if that is so, growing up never really stops. At least, that’s my opinion.

Maturing is a process that shouldn’t end.  Unless we decide not to learn and grow, we can become wiser.  But we must be open to it. That is the important decision that determines every possibility that comes before us.  Being open is essential.

When we are children, we learn through observation and play.  We imitate the adults around us and that is where it begins. If we are taught to be kind, we learn to be kind.  If we are taught to be open-minded, our curiosity grows and ignites the fire of pursuing knowledge and experiencing new things.

Learning through experience can be painful at any age.  Education is the key, wherever it leads us. The people around us either encourage or thwart our growth.  This attitude about education, whatever it is, directs our path. This can be positive or negative.

Even if we are not open to knowledge at a particular time of our lives, we can change our minds at any time.  Especially important to me, is growing in our capacity to love one another. Learning how to be a better human being is a most worthy goal of personal growth.

If people at all ages in the many different circumstances in which we live, could pursue the goal of learning to be more compassionate, more giving and more concerned with others, especially those of little means, closed minds could open up a wider lens.  Then perhaps, life’s growing pains could reap the benefits of healing in our lives and others. And that, would alleviate much of the suffering in this world we all share.

The pains of growing up, growing old, and hopefully growing wiser, are only small difficulties when compared with what happens if we do not grow at all.  In that regard, we are merely carrying the weight of our conscience, as we painstakingly bear the responsibility of being a responsible adult.