Maybe it’s having the twins, my grandsons from New York, back home again, that reminded me of a conversation I had with them a couple of monsoons ago: “What’s that?” asked one of them pointing to a huge shell on the ground.

“It’s a shell, with a snail inside it!” I explained. They both looked at it for a while, and slowly, we saw the snail’s head coming out and two beady eyes looking at us. Then the snail slowly started its journey across my garden.

“But if it’s not careful, a bird can grab it by the head!” they shouted fearfully, looking at the sparrows and crows around.

“Yes!” I said, “But if it’s going to be scared of those birds, it may never find food to eat and may ultimately die of fear inside its own shell!”

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People in Japan are fond of keeping plants in their houses. As houses in Japan are relatively smaller, they have developed bonsai plants — miniatures of large plants. In fact, bonsai plants look like dwarfed copies of real plants. Cutting and trimming the plant roots produces these plants.

The bonsai experiment has been carried out on crocodiles. Crocodiles hatched from two eggs from the same parents, possessing the same genes, were subjected to different environments in which to grow. One was kept confined to a small tank and the other was left free to grow in a large lake. Over time, the crocodile in the lake grew to be a healthy, giant crocodile and the one in the tank had a comparatively dwarfed growth.

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Mumbai-based singer-songwriter Yohan Marshall says his latest single, Jo Tu Mere Paas Hai, is more than just a song. “It’s a celebration of the enduring bond between myself and my wife,” says Marshall, who has traversed the globe as a musician since the age of fifteen and brings his rich musical experience to the forefront in this composition. With its dynamic production, the track seamlessly fuses elements of pop and alternative rock, creating a sonic experience that resonates deeply with the listener. Marshall’s vocals carry the emotion of the lyrics, conveying the sincerity and depth of his feelings. Written in collaboration with Neeraj Patil, the song reflects Marshall’s journey of growth, love, and friendship.

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Holistic growth and development require confidence, courage to take risks, try new things and let go of old ones. Success begins when you step out of your comfort zone. Growth is a leap into the uncertainties, an act without the benefit of experience and hence there is a strong tendency within you to resist it. Even in the face of troubles you are often tempted to maintain the status quo rather than venture into the unknown. Growth at times can be quite painful and even the thought of it frightening because you are moving out of your cosy quarters.

In the cover story of this issue, Monarose Sheila Pereira, speaks about the problems like peer pressure, studies, relationships, parental expectations, finding a career, influence of the social media and modern gadgets, addiction to drugs, alcohol and smoking, etc., that teenagers face today and how to tackle them. It is in facing these problems with courage, determination and prudence that you brighten up your future.

Andy Rooney, an American radio and television writer, says “Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.” Only those who accept and face the challenges in life and keep growing are the winners and the successful ones. Those who fail to accept change refuse to grow; they die by the wayside a mental, physical, or spiritual death. Failures cannot to stop you; remember, failures are the opportunities to begin again. Some people retire mentally after achieving a degree of success and they are soon forgotten because they have nothing more to offer. Well, choice is yours to merely exist or to take the road less travelled – of struggle and growth to achieve success. Success is a milestone on a journey that should never end.

Your progress will depend on your ability to be innovative and build up your skills and productivity which you achieve through your education and experience. You need to dream constantly and identify new goals. Growth and success go hand in hand for which you need certain tools as well: positive thinking, self-confidence, persistent hard work, common sense and a desire to bloom where you are planted. There is no limit to improvement because there is no limit to human intelligence and imagination. So keep growing, and fly high.

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Metamorphosis

Have you endured transformation like that of the caterpillar into a butterfly? An epiphany of sorts, altering your persona in incredible and inexplicable ways that you had never imagined? Or an astounding change you observed in someone else around you, enough to pronounce: ‘Look at him! A while ago, he had given up on life. Wanting to slaughter all existence of himself, end everything that connected him to reality; see him now, what a miraculous makeover!’ How did that transition take place? How does one grow (not merely with age and in size) but in character, ability and performance? At the tender teenage, every cell of your body is transforming at a rapid pace, often beyond your own control. Your appearance, brain cells, self-image, personality and outlook are all in a process of maturity. It’s your time for metamorphosis, of becoming something or someone absolutely unimaginable!

Bodhi tree in the backyard

Everyone goes through life-changing events where the halo crowns you to reform your thoughts and action in inconceivable ways. In Maslow’s hierarchy, accomplishing the goal is actually a much lower step; self-realization or actualization occurs when one gives up the need for achievement itself because nothing is left to achieve when you find a purpose to existence. That is when you are endowed with enlightenment to desire not a better life, but better living. However, there are no guarantees as to when this illumination occurs. There is no exact date or precise moment. There is no Bodhi tree in your backyard where you just go sit and get enlightened as Buddha was. Enlightenment seems like a moment when it happens; however, it is a prolonged process to make it happen. You don’t look slim one fine day, although your friends spot it one day at a party. You’ve taken months of a controlled diet and exercise programme to get into shape. You know what it takes because you gave what it took and achieved what you wanted. That’s enlightenment. It takes time. But it’s worthwhile.

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