Stable Chaos: The Luck of a Loving Family and the Character Growth that Comes with It
Life is a series of events that shape who we are, and in this journey, some are lucky enough to have a loving family that guides them through it all. In the midst of all the chaos that life brings, it's the stable foundation of family that allows us to find our way. As I reflect on my own life, I see how the unique combination of events and the people in my life have helped shape me into the person I am today.
Growing up, I was fortunate to have a family that embodied a stoic philosophy, which instilled in me a quiet, sturdy, and humble disposition. My dad's side of the family was full of ingenuity and an understanding of physical woodcraft, which helped me appreciate third person epistemics - the knowledge and understanding of base reality. On the other hand, my mom's side was a little more traditional, but in all the most loving ways. Hardworking, small community, farm folk - this was my mom's family. They provided me with access to land for exploration, which added a new dimension to my understanding of the world.
Access to a wide range of experiences was another element of my upbringing that helped shape who I am today. My parents trusted me to bike and walk to school and friend's houses, which allowed me to explore the world on my own terms. They also allowed me ample opportunity to spend time with others, including extended stays, which provided me with the social skills that I carry with me today.
As I look back on my childhood, I realize that my parents provided me with a unique, expansive, and metaphorical sandbox that I shared with my friends or enjoyed alone. This sandbox was a perfect mix of outdoor and physical activity, as well as technical and creative play. I learned through video games and craft type toys such as Lincoln Logs, Legos, and K'NEX.
Another aspect of my upbringing was the push for extracurricular activities, which helped me learn that I enjoy 10% of everything instead of pursuing mastery of one thing. This has proven to be useful across subjects and has allowed me to understand more than 90% of people.
The genetic lottery was also kind to me, as I have natural skills across most sports and good coordination, with the assistance of modern tech like contacts. This allowed me to enjoy physical activity without any limitations.
The divorce of my parents was not without its challenges, but it provided great lessons in communicating feelings. I learned that it's smart to let go if you can't be happy, and that separation can be clean if handled with care. Both sides provided better access to each other's true life philosophy, which allowed me to see the world from multiple perspectives. This freed me from the "us vs. them" trap that is consuming this world and created more gray areas for me to operate and explore the lessons of life.
Finally, being the new kid in school districts was another aspect of my upbringing that helped shape me. Although it was stressful, it provided me with unique benefits, such as the ability to adapt and make new friends easily.
In conclusion, stable chaos and the luck of having a loving family can provide us with character growth and help us navigate the challenges of life. Through my experiences, I have learned that a solid foundation can help us withstand the chaos that life throws our way. The lessons that we learn from our families and the experiences that we have can shape us into the people we are today, and allow us to thrive in the world.
For those who don't have good parents or have experienced a difficult upbringing, it's important to recognize that there are still many opportunities for growth and positive experiences in life. While the early years of our lives can have a significant impact on our development, we can still make choices and take actions to shape our future and our character.
One important resource to turn to is community. Whether it's friends, mentors, or support groups, having positive relationships and connections with others can help provide the guidance, support, and love that may have been missing in childhood. There are also many resources available, such as therapy and counseling, to help address past traumas and work towards healing.
It's also important to remember that adversity can often lead to strength and resilience. While it's never easy to experience hardship, it can help build the skills and tools necessary to overcome future challenges. By taking ownership of our lives and our choices, we can work towards creating a better future for ourselves and finding happiness and fulfillment in our own unique ways.
Prompts:
-Please expand upon and write me a blog post for my following journal entry.
Friday 3/5/2021
-Can you create an additional few paragraphs for people who don't have good parents?
-Please write a short excerpt/ synopsis for both of those parts combined.