God bless you, and may your moustache grow like brushwood
Growth, resilience, and hope as a blessing
How do we measure our growth?
Is it through the material achievements we accumulate or the inner wealth we gain through both joy and hardship?
How and when do we thrive in life?
In Mongolia, a unique blessing captures the essence of robust growth: "May your moustache grow like brushwood." While this might initially bring a smile, the metaphor behind it is profound. Could it be that growth, like wild brushwood, is something that happens naturally and abundantly?
Brushwood, known for thriving in difficult environments, grows wild and untamed, just as our own growth can flourish naturally in all kinds of experiences. Have you ever experienced a time when, despite the challenges around you, you found yourself growing stronger, wiser, and more capable? Like brushwood that takes root in barren soil, our growth often emerges most powerfully when we least expect it.
As a psychologist, Carl Rogers noted:
"The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination."
It reflects the notion that growth, like a thick and sprawling moustache, is not fixed. A moustache that grows like brushwood is not fragile—it’s thick, sprawling, and full of vitality. This is a wish for a life rich with experiences, opportunities, and wisdom.
Just as brushwood fills the landscape, we too can fill our lives with moments that challenge and teach us, shaping us into fuller versions of ourselves. Think about the many branches of your own life—how each experience has contributed to your growth and wisdom. What challenges have shaped you the most?
The choice of brushwood in this metaphor is no accident. It grows where other plants might struggle—in rocky soils, dry climates, and inhospitable environments.
As Maya Angelou would say:
"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it."
Let me invite you to reflect on your own life. Think about a time when you faced a challenge that felt insurmountable. How did that experience shape you? Did you discover strengths you didn’t know you had?
Maya Angelou reminds us that encountering defeats can illuminate our true potential. So, what can you do today to embrace your own brushwood-like resilience? Perhaps you might journal about a recent struggle and what you have learned about yourself. Or maybe you’ll share your story with someone who needs encouragement.
Life is full of unexpected turns, but remember: like brushwood, your growth is wild, natural, and unstoppable. May you continue to thrive in every chapter of your life, filling it with abundance, wisdom, and rich experiences. What’s your next flourishing chapter…?
Photo by Luke Jones on Unsplash