Shaping of a human being. 6

A stray cat appears—

Pausing, curious, it waits— Patience earns its trust.

It began on a rainy morning, the kind where droplets cling to windowpanes like unshed tears. Across the street, a cat—black with a white-tipped tail—crouched in the shelter of a stairwell. Its fur was matted, and its eyes reflected the gray sky. For days, it lingered, wary but unmoving, as if it were waiting for something. One morning, I placed a saucer of milk near the steps. The cat didn’t approach immediately, but over time, it inched closer. By the end of the week, it was sitting by my door, as though it had always belonged there. Growth, I realized, is a lot like that cat—elusive, unpredictable, and best approached with quiet persistence.

Growth Is Messy, and That’s the Point

Growth isn’t clean or linear. It’s more like wandering through a secondhand bookstore. You start in one section, drawn by an interesting title, only to find yourself an hour later holding a completely unrelated book, its pages worn and mysterious. The journey takes you places you didn’t expect, and somehow, that makes it better.

People often assume growth is like climbing a ladder, one rung after another. But it’s more like tracing a spiral. You come back to the same spots, but each time with a deeper understanding, a slightly different perspective. The knots in the string aren’t obstacles—they’re the texture that makes the string worth holding.

Why Growth Matters at Any Age

People like to think there’s a season for growth, as if learning is something reserved for the young, like fast metabolisms and late-night energy. But growth is ageless. It doesn’t care if you’re 16 or 60. It’s always there, waiting in the wings, like a jazz band ready to play a tune you didn’t know you needed to hear.

Think of the retired man who decides to learn the violin. His fingers are slower than they once were, and his notes are far from perfect, but there’s a strange beauty in the way he plays. Each scratchy sound tells the story of someone who dared to begin again. Growth isn’t about being fast or perfect. It’s about staying curious.

The Influence of Time and Touch

Like clay on a potter’s wheel, we are shaped not just by the hands that first touched us but by every moment and every person who comes later. In youth, our soft edges make us more impressionable, more easily molded. But even as we age, the forces that touch us—be they gentle or forceful—leave their mark.

Consider the impact of a fleeting encounter: a teacher who saw potential in you when no one else did, a stranger whose kindness stayed with you for years, a loved one whose absence reshaped your world. The stronger the influence, the deeper the mark. Growth is not a solitary act; it is a shared one, shaped by the push and pull of those we meet along the way.

How to Pursue Intentional Growth

1. Follow the Breadcrumbs: Growth often starts with a small spark of interest. A song lyric, a question, a fleeting thought. Follow it. See where it leads.
2. Be Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable: Learning something new feels awkward, like wearing a jacket that doesn’t quite fit yet. Stick with it. The discomfort is part of the process.
3. Let Failure Be Your Companion: Mistakes are inevitable, but they’re also your best teachers. Treat them like old friends—annoying but invaluable.
4. Keep Your Mind Open: Sometimes growth takes you down unexpected paths. Don’t resist the detours; they often hold the most treasure.
5. Acknowledge the Marks: Reflect on how people and moments have shaped you. Each mark is a testament to your journey and your resilience.

The experiences that shape you—the triumphs, the failures, the people who leave their fingerprints on your soul—are what make you whole.

Growth isn’t about perfection or reaching a final form. It’s about the willingness to be shaped, to allow life’s hands to mold you into something uniquely beautiful. And like that stray cat, growth may not come when called, but if you’re patient and open, it will find its way to you.

As the rain eased and the sun broke through the clouds, the cat stretched and leapt onto the windowsill. Its eyes met mine for a fleeting moment, and I felt a quiet understanding pass between us. Growth, like that moment, is subtle yet profound—a small, unexpected connection that changes everything.