Take It To The Top, Like You're Never Gonna Stop

In a four-level building... people stand on different grounds. Someone is always at the top and someone is always at the bottom and many of us are in between. This creates balance. Everyone starts out on the bottom floor, but not many move up at the same time. Sometimes two people are standing in the same place, but separated by floors. They are so close, yet they can't see each other because of their different perspectives. What makes a person move to the higher level? Maybe someone just likes being on top. Maybe someone wants a wider perspective. Maybe someone wants to visit their friend. Who knows our desires for being on top. But those on top do think differently, maybe it's better and maybe it's worse. A wider breadth of knowledge can go both ways. And many think they are just allowed to be on top, when you are forced to prove yourself. It's less about walking up the stairs and more about stepping when you're ready. There's no shame in walking slow, as long as you're walking. Does everyone reach the top? I don't think so. Does everyone have to reach the top? I don't know. I don't want you thinking it's a game. You are not better because you reach it first. If you move too fast you won't remember how you got there. You won't remember enough to keep you there.

Maybe this is just a building and it doesn't matter. But maybe I'm thinking about life and progression and maybe that does. What are the levels in life? What are the stairs in living?

Maybe the first level is childhood. We start out as young, naive, innocent, and confused fact finders. We are bombarded by information left and right and begin the act of processing simple core values and ideas, although we have no idea what any of it really means.

Level 2 begins connotation. We take our facts and ideas and prioritize them. We begin to think in our own best interest. We create opinions and seek for guidance from our peers. We are classified as young adults. It's a transition world that involves a deeper breadth of knowledge. Formulas and principles are decided. We still rely on the opinion of others, but we begin to think for ourselves. We become individuals.

Level 3 allows us to think critically. We take ideas, formulate them into principles, and guide our actions in the context of our situations. We now have experiences and know what we want in life. As we find confidence in who we are, we then look to serving others. We are less egocentric and more selfless. We strive to be more ethical and do things because of a higher law. At this level we think unconsciously at times and do certain things because we have been programmed by habituation. We chose a certain behavior in the past and this has become our foundation for further thoughts and behaviors.

Level 4 is a time of reflection. We have probably fallen in and out of love. Hopefully most of us here found it again and try to keep it growing. We have established jobs and careers. We have established roles and niches. We have developed our talents and specialized in our gifts. We accomplished our goals and found happiness in who we have become. At the age of retirement we think we are done, but even still we are never done. Here we have to keep our minds active, we have to keep our bodies strong, our love deep, and our compassion ever available. If we don't we can fall back down. But there is joy in the reminiscence. These are the grandfathers and grandmothers who already experienced it all. They have been there and can now enjoy the stories of the journey. That is what they remember. You don't get bragging rights because others made it too, you're not the only one. But as we share our stories and express our feelings we can laugh and enjoy the solitude of relief, of triumph, and of success.

In the end, your money doesn't matter and my money doesn't matter. I can make do with less materials and more love and passion. In life we have to be excited to get up the next day. We have to find joy in who we are at whatever level. We have to have optimism and look forward to the potential of something great. What I did in the past got me to where I am right now. If I don't like it the only thing I can change is the future.

The stairs are our experiences, our tasks, our tests. I love the victory of reaching the top because the journey can be tiring and I look forward to the relief of accomplishment. It strains your muscles, but it makes them stronger. In the end you are more prepared because you made the effort and accomplished the task.

This might be one of my weirdest blogs...I'm in the Tanner building, sitting by the stairs.