Room to Expand

Expansion.  As I was writing in my journal last week, this word came to me out of the blue.  I was journaling about the last year and how it changed my life in such a huge way.  The routine of what I had been doing for a very long time was abruptly interrupted by my own need and subsequent decision to find a new routine.  I was left with being unsure of what my new life would even look like.  It was full of possibility, but also confusion and a discomfort in the unknown status of my future endeavors.  In my journal I was trying to describe my growth over these last months.  The best descriptor that came to mind was expansion. 

Just yesterday I was listening in a writing group I’m part of and the author, while describing the meaning behind a poem he had written, discussed the idea of being open and expansive.  I have often found that when I’m supposed to learn something, the message comes through loud and clear from more than one source and it behooves me to pay attention. 

The word itself is a noun that describes the act of increasing something in size, volume, quantity, scope or importance.  It’s used a lot in building terms like adding onto a structure or acquiring more property.  It describes suburban sprawl as cities increase in population.  In scientific terms, it’s what happens when you apply heat to things.  When substances are heated, the molecular bond between particles are weakened and the particles move faster, causing the substance to expand. 

For me personally, the word expansion describes what I feel has recently happened to the scope of my life.  Without the confines of the habits and obligations that had been firmly in place, new ideas, options and skillsets grew.  Dreams became possible.  I felt the world expanding around me and I became less afraid of expanding with it. 

A year ago I might not have been brave enough to do something crazy like starting a blog.  Putting your writing out there leaves you feeling vulnerable and exposed.  You don’t know if anyone will read it or appreciate it.  I wanted what I wrote to be helpful, to cause people to feel more positive, to maybe make them think in a new or different way, or perhaps at least bring a smile.  As I embarked on this new adventure, I thought it would mostly just be a little something for family and friends and a way to dip my toes back into the writing pool.  What happened was expansion.  I’m still in awe of how many people read my posts and the messages I get from people who connected with something are so encouraging! 

So, I asked myself when the word popped into my mind, “What does the next level of expansion look like?  Are you going to allow yourself to expand and grow even more?”  I am already working on a collection of essays, poetry, photography and artwork to put into book form that I’m hoping to complete in 2022.  Just a few days ago through a serendipitous discovery, I found a platform to expand the reach of my writing even more.  But I also want to grow beyond the bounds of my writing.  I want to allow myself to expand my horizons and see where I end up.  I want to grow mentally and spiritually and hopefully be used in a bigger way in the lives of others.  I’m ok with not growing physically.  There are areas where it’s best to consider contracting rather than expanding. 

The idea of putting feet to fire may be uncomfortable, but it may be what it takes for expansion to happen.  How will this year apply heat that causes me to continue to grow even more ideas, dreams, goals, opportunities?  Let’s see what you’ve got, 2022.  I’m leaving myself open to expand.