We inhabit a universe that is in constant motion, which means our surroundings are constantly changing. Every second of every day is different from the one that came before and the one that will follow. Change is inevitable, even if our senses can’t detect what’s different.
While we may act as if constant change only applies to “the universe” we’d be wrong. With time, everything (and everyone) we know and appreciate (or detest) will either grow and flourish or wither and fade. Nihilism aside, positive or negative change or (more likely) a mix of both remains a matter of fact for everything in existence. Things don’t stay the same, but curiously, they also don’t change in identical fashion. From my experience, it seems that without our intentional and consistent input the good things, the positive institutions, our most cherished creations are at the highest risk of suffering the quiet fate of withering away. Which of course means the opposite is true as well. It is likely that without our concerted efforts the bad things, the destructive tendencies we all have are more inclined to grow, and by association destroy the positive outlets that are more difficult to sustain.
For proof we need look no further than our forgotten friendships, atrophied muscles, or faded talents. On the other side of the coin we have the abundance of corporate scandals, festering secrets, and the well documented science of addiction’s linear progress. Without our efforts the good things we love tend to wither, and the bad things tend to grow.
Fortunately, we don’t have to become victims to the natural state of things. When we realize our good institutions are most at risk as a result of inaction and our negative inclinations tend to grow without our noticing, we can take stock and allocate our effort where it is most needed.