How we've grown

Change flows through all things and is the key in the universe's progression. All of reality obeys change, and bend to its schedule; nothing in the world has ever stood against the wear and tear of change. As a result, it becomes apparently futile to resist change in both life and with our relationships.

My father has always been a smart man-well more so than smart, he's been hardest worker I've ever met. His childhood in a poverty-stricken China has strengthened his will and discipline in everything he does, and the belief of "no pain no gain" persevered throughout his life. And through his growth, he has traversed across a spectrum of cultures and lifestyles. Through it all, he learned to accept the endless surprises that dot the progression of life. Similar to his lifestyle, our relationship was guided by the fluctuating changes between my father and I . 

As an infant, our relationship was guided by intimacy and care. He watched over everything with his careful precision and made sure I stayed safe. I was powerless and dependent on his care.

Growing up, I slowly adopted new capabilities; I walked my first wobbly steps across the carpet, made my first infantile friends while playing with stuffed animals, and began to fill my initially empty cries with words of real meaning. My father allowed these changes to take place, and alongside my growth, he gave me new rights.

As a teenager, with acquiring more and more freedoms and rights, I made countless mistakes. My father used this time of experimentation for me to find my own way in life. Our relationship evolved from physical care, to a careful, tedious nurturing of my own abilities. My father was harsh and brutal with his demands, and I was constantly bombarded with his lectures and workload. Through those hardships and many tears of anger and hatred, I grew and began to "feel less challenged than loved"(Manning 148).

Nearing adulthood, I now have a complete picture of how our relationship has grown. Recently, I've gained complete freedom in what I do. Our relationship is now built on mutual trust and respect. We've become friends, sharing ideas and stories from our own respective lives. Only through the nights of endless pages of work has my character grown enough for my father to trust me. I no longer depend on his strict guidelines but have developed my own will and discipline to carry through my life. 

Change is inevitable, and likewise, my relationship with my father has been dictated by an embrace of the changes that come with age. Every person and aspect to life is a constant flurry of turns and jumps. With the passing of time, life takes on new shapes and qualities. Throughout it all, we must choose to accept this change. For me, at least, I can say that my father and I's relationship has been a fluctuating swell of emotions and actions. I'm sure our relationship still has quite a few twists and turns to take, and our love for each other may certainly change, but it will never die.