Oportus blog May 2023

In last month’s blog, I looked at the amazing role ice (in the form of glaciers) plays in the formation of mountains and valleys, and how it can be like the things in life that we find ourselves buried under until a major change – either sudden or gradual – sweeps them away like melting ice, scraping bare and exposing what’s underneath, sweeping surface material down into the valleys until what remains can hardly be recognised.

Unexpected life events such as bereavement or loss, children, illness or accidents, financial shocks, meeting someone new or moving to a new environment (by choice or otherwise) can not only change the way our lives can look but even be, with old doors closing and new ones opening, opportunities appearing and disappearing. It can even sometimes take a major life event that we have neither anticipated nor invited to get us to pause or even consider where we have got to on our journey.

This month, I’m going to look at another factor which shapes mountains and landscapes and can also shape our lives – erosion. The actual word erosion comes from the Latin erodere - "to gnaw away, consume," from ex "away" + rodere "to gnaw" as in rodent. (https://www.etymonline.com/word/erosion)

I was really surprised to look up the origin of the word erosion and see the impact of human behaviour on it. According to National Geographic website, “Erosion is a natural process, but human activity can make it happen more quickly. Human activity altering the vegetation of an area is perhaps the biggest human factor contributing to erosion. Trees and plants hold soil in place. When people cut down forests or plow up grasses for agriculture and development, the soil is more vulnerable to washing or blowing away. Landslides become more common. Water rushes over exposed soil rather than soaking into it, causing flooding. Global warming, the current period of climate change, is speeding erosion.”

How often do we allow the behaviour and words of other people to erode – gnaw away – at who we are, at our dreams, our plans and our self-esteem? Sometimes the words and actions of people that we haven’t seen in years, who may not even be around any longer, are still affecting us and gnawing away at our strength and potential.

Nature has an incredible capacity of restoration when the damage stops being done, and ruined buildings, disused quarries now overtaken by plants and wildlife bear testament to this…

Are there any areas in which you are still scarred, exposed and left vulnerable to more damage because of things people have said and done, or thought about you in the past – or which you believed they thought about you?

Maybe it’s time to take stock and change direction to restart your growth.

Thank you to all the people who like and comment upon these posts; it’s wonderful to know they strike a chord! If this post encourages you, please do share it with someone else you think it could benefit.

Until next time, let’s keep learning...