Homo-sepians: 3.8 billion years of evolution from the first cell to a highly sophisticated 100 trillion celled eukaryote.
From stepping foot on the moon to organizing and running complex forms of civilization, mankind has made it very far. How? Adaptation. Adaptation is a key word in biology next to natural selection which has helped mankind come to its strongest and most intelligent form: now.
As humans, our bodies can acclimatize to traveling high altitudes, a wide range of temperatures and humidity. We change and adjust in various ways so that we can function and adapt in harsh environments such as pollution, diseases, natural disasters, weight loss, exercise and so much more.
In just a day, our bodies adjust multiple times. In the morning we wake and our heart beat quickens, our eyes adjust to light as we adjust to the, not so warm, temperature of the outside world. We adjust ourselves to the everyday stress of work and school as we make it through the day. Our brain and muscles adjust to rapid thinking and movement. We adjust all day and even in our sleep when we move around to find that comfy position. Adaptation is a big deal.
It has been nine months since I moved. I can say I have adapted by changing so much that if I were to meet the Simonti from high school graduation day I would not believe that we were the same person. And that is super creepy because it was not that long ago.
My whole life, I lived in loudness. Music, horns, and yelling all at the same time. But now, I cannot think back and remember how I did it. I feel like my brain melts in my head when the sound of the TV and my sister talking overlaps. I cannot stand certain foods I enjoyed for years, like ice cream and lucky charms ,but now I like things I could not stand before like tea, coffee, and caramel. Yes, I did not like caramel. Shocking right?
But those are small changes. I found myself becoming a lot more responsible around the house like throwing out the trash, vacuuming, doing the laundry, folding the laundry, cleaning my room and doing the dishes without my mum having to tell me to. There were even bigger changes like studying without being reminded and acknowledging when I need tutoring; sitting in the front of the huge lecture centers instead of hiding in the back because I am aware that I will doze off that way; driving with the music off because no matter how much I like music, I know that I drive safer in silence because I can concentrate fully. Driving is a huge change all on its own.
To some, my changes might not be anywhere close to huge. Since graduation, some of my friends are engaged, some even married. Some of my friends are paying for their own cars and phone bills, and some are still figuring out their majors- and that is completely fine. I like to think I have made a big step into pre-adulthood in just nine months and that it will just get better from here. So take your time, our ancestors took 3.8 billion years. Just do you.
The picture above and the following statement was taken from focusNjoy – Getting from here to there, transforming from this into that: it’s all a matter of change. Musician James Levine said: “A lot of people get impatient with the pace of change”, and I understand why. Because change can be an annoying slow process, right? But then change can also take us by surprise, forcing it’s way into our life too fast. Author Bruce Barton said: “Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change – this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress”. And whether it comes slow or fast: all change is progress. So let us be as patient as a snail, let us take our time for the rhythm of living.
About the Author:
Simonti B. Class of 2019 Major: Intended - Biology Blog Theme: Writing My Own Chapter
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