Mastering This Thing Called Life

Do you know what I never really noticed?

That I am growing up.

Intellectually, of course, I know this happens to everyone.

Not long ago, I noticed lines on a structural beam in the basement where the once young humans’ growth spurts were marked. They had matured and moved on to the next stage of life. So here I am doing the doggie equivalent of measuring my growth.

The thing is, I just never really thought of myself as mature or even in the state of maturation.

Maturation.  That is such a grown-up word. I am not sure I am ready to go there just yet. Because I was terribly good at being a puppy and I didn’t want to be anything else.

And yet somehow one day seems to blend into the next.

And where do these days go; this time I can never get back? What have I been doing? I have filled every minute with naps and walks and fur-friend time and human bonding time. Unbeknownst to me, chunks of time have elapsed.

And I have grown.  Not just physically either. I have gained wisdom that was lacking in my early years.

Not all at once and certainly not evenly.  Some of life’s concepts were easier to grasp than others.  Some skills I understood immediately, and some took several repetitive cycles to comprehend and the only way I learned was through a series of mistakes.   Even now, I have mastered some and I struggle with others.  And some are entirely undeveloped.  I guess that means I am a bit lopsided, but I find the energy and time it takes to achieve mastery makes it nearly impossible to be the best at everything.

I think this is because life itself is complex, therefore mastering this thing called life is complex.

Remember that, if nothing else.

Until next time,

Jack

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