What’s up with the word “grow?” It used to be perfectly happy being passive, the kind of thing that happened without any thinking, or planning. For example, everyone can remember, as a kid, your slightly smelly (in the over-perfumed, powdered sense), Aunty giving you a hug and saying, “Look how big you are!” This never felt good when I was going through my plump, pre-pubescent phase. I was always so confused at how incredulous these older people seemed at the fact that after a few thousand meals, deep breaths, requisite trips to the toilet, and the passage of time, I had grown. They grew -- it shouldn’t be a surprise at all. I didn’t have to do anything deliberate. And that is my point. Growing happens; you don’t force growth, you encourage, or allow it. You take on behaviors, and surround yourself with the right support systems, a little luck, and bingo! You grow. Nowadays, people are growing businesses, growing professional learning networks, growing communities, and market share… For crying out loud, please stop! I’d much rather prefer to expand my profit base, or extend my depth of knowledge. Are you going to grow your strength, or grow stronger? The suffix “er” is remarkably efficient already. Grow your importance, or become more important? Throw the word more in there with your comparative adjective, it’s okay. The language has a certain elegance we should all respect. You just need to take a little time, and let the sentences form more completely in your mind before speaking. What’s the hurry? We need to get back to growing fingernails, and hair, maybe even, if you enjoy that delightful combo of rich food and slothfulness, you can grow fat! We don’t need to be in such a bother all the time, or feel like every positive thing that happens is entirely of our making. Sometimes you need the Universe to cooperate with you, admit it; it’s not just about you growing this, that, or the other! The language needs passive words, and calmer people; just let it be. Now go give Aunty a hug...
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AuthorTwenty-one years of teaching, and I'm still fascinated with my role as an educator. What will it be like as a principal? Archives
January 2017
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