Survival
I am constantly in awe of the innate tendency ("will") that living things have to survive. And, not only to survive but to thrive. Humans, plants and animals have a built in survival mode to get through physical stresses. And, in the case of humans, emotional and mental stresses.
What makes humans different from plants and animals is the ability to think about our own survival (without relying solely on our instincts) and to make decisions about it. We have reason and we have logic. We can choose to give up or to go on.
A quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet:
Life and survival is a constant struggle in both the animal and plant world. Plants will thrive in the right conditions and wither, perhaps even die, in stressful conditions where the needs of their basic survival are not being met (water, sunlight, nutrients). There are plants that will overcome and adapt to adverse conditions and disease. There are humans and animals that do the same.
In Ontario the winters can be harsh and I am always happy and surprised to see the first green shoots coming through in the spring wondering how do they make it through the winter? How little coaxing from the suns rays they need to be restored to their spring and summer glory. They seem to "trust" in the sun. Many of us could take a life lesson from that.
I know that my plants did not think about whether or not to try and go on but survive they did . With nurturing in the form of water they have bounced back to looking beautiful and I am happy about that.
What makes humans different from plants and animals is the ability to think about our own survival (without relying solely on our instincts) and to make decisions about it. We have reason and we have logic. We can choose to give up or to go on.
To die, to sleep;
To sleep; perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause.
Life and survival is a constant struggle in both the animal and plant world. Plants will thrive in the right conditions and wither, perhaps even die, in stressful conditions where the needs of their basic survival are not being met (water, sunlight, nutrients). There are plants that will overcome and adapt to adverse conditions and disease. There are humans and animals that do the same.
In Ontario the winters can be harsh and I am always happy and surprised to see the first green shoots coming through in the spring wondering how do they make it through the winter? How little coaxing from the suns rays they need to be restored to their spring and summer glory. They seem to "trust" in the sun. Many of us could take a life lesson from that.
I know that my plants did not think about whether or not to try and go on but survive they did . With nurturing in the form of water they have bounced back to looking beautiful and I am happy about that.
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