the resilience of weeds

I always find it incredible, how, if we are ever able to get through extremely difficult times, we are never get affected by the same situations in the same way again. We become more resilient–like a weed or a drug-resistant strain of bacteria or a powerful virus.

We emerge from the dark tunnel and the world opens up. Once we accept our new worldview, we can’t ever go back. The same thoughts have a different nuance. We can’t be who we once were–ever.

Maybe that’s why “wise” people warn us of going down certain precarious paths. We can either stay innocent and not realize the world, or we can travel through the unknown and metamorphose. There’s always a sadness in saying good-bye. Good-bye to our carefree innocence. Good-bye to our unfailing trust. Good-bye to the best parts of ourselves, perhaps? Or perhaps, just notions of the “good” parts of ourselves. But perhaps, it’s not that they are no longer “good” or “best” or “useful.” They gave us perspective and now it’s our turn to set them free? Probably more accurately though, to set ourselves free.