Expand and Contract

     Various forces in nature cause objects to expand and contract, and various forces in human behavior can cause individuals to expand and contract their worlds.  A newborn baby begins to expand it's physical world beyond the mother.  Children then expand away from home when they go to school and interact with people beyond their families.   Moving away to take part in higher education,  employment, or marriage expands individuals out into the world and into the company of a variety of people.
     Parents and family members may be sad to see their children leave home, but hopefully, they can realize the benefits of growing beyond their own backyard.  Parents may  have a harder time seeing the benefits of being exposed to other ideas, beliefs, and opinions.  They may not object when children change their addresses but may be distressed when they change their minds beyond what they have been taught at home.
     We all need to make adjustments when we leave home and in some cases, change locations a number of times.  We also need to realize that as we mature, we begin to expand our thinking and value our own unique ideas, beliefs, and opinions.  Those who stay home can still expand their minds as much as those who leave, and those who leave don't always expand their minds.
     Remember you can always return to your original home even if only in your memories.  You can keep your original set of beliefs, expand and investigate other ways of thinking, and change your mind or not.  We will always be part of nature which continues to expand and contract.