Society – The soil in which we grow De

 

The appropriate conditions are required for each plant to thrive and flourish to its maximum potential.

The importance of the soil cannot be overstated. The dirt is where everything grows. Everything takes care of itself if the soil is healthy and you have enough sunlight and water. Nature takes its own path. We don't need to become involved. The humble acorn grows into a magnificent oak tree.

Is it possible for the same Oak tree to grow in the desert? Would it grow well in a small pot? What if the soil is depleted and contaminated?

It is the same for human beings. The appropriate conditions are required for us to grow and flourish to our greatest potential. In our instance, society can be compared to the soil in which we grow. What exactly do I mean by "society"? I mean our families, our towns, our schools, our friends, our political institutions, our laws, our offices, our work, our recreational areas, our culture... the world in which we exist in the broadest sense possible.

Is our civilization providing the best circumstances for human development and growth?

Is each individual provided with the necessary conditions to thrive... to become what they were born to be: an artist, a farmer, a caregiver, an entertainer, a thinker, a writer, a scientist, a mother, a teacher, or an explorer?

Is our society more like a factory farm, where just one or two crops are considered valuable? Where rainforests are cleared to make way for lucrative, consumable crops. Where any desire to be an artist, explorer, or philosopher is suppressed in favour of a more practical career... perhaps an accountant, tax adviser, or banker? That's not to say there's anything wrong with such careers if they're what you want to pursue. Is it easy for a person to identify what their talent is and to foster that talent in today's society? Is it what school accomplishes, or does our current educational system, in some ways, do the polar opposite? Is it teaching kids to question and think for themselves, or is it teaching them to memorise information and follow rules?

Consider a time when you were a child. What were your favourite pastimes back then? What was it that piqued your interest? Perhaps it was so long ago that you have trouble recalling it. Were you born with a natural proclivity towards something? Were you one of the fortunate ones, and did you pursue this passion throughout your life or did it fade away for some reason? Was it silenced? When did "fitting in" and pleasing others become so important? When did you start being pragmatist? When did safety become more important than everything else? When did making a lot of money, having a lot of stuff, and being "successful" become the American dream? What does it mean to be successful? Was there ever a time when you felt inspired to pursue your true passion, or did it always feel impossible and unattainable? Have you ever been asked what you actually want to do with your life? Have you ever given these questions any thought?

If the circumstances were ideal, and the soil was fertile... What would you become if you had the chance?