When a small seed sprouts, it identifies its place with leaves, thin roots and a small green stem. As time progresses, the sapling feeds on water, nutrients and sunlight to expand itself and secure its spot with an air of permanence. Soon, it will grow strong enough to not only build itself, but also to begin giving back to the environment around it. There will be flowers or fruits and rich green leaves that will fill the space that the plant has claimed, and it will not end its life cycle before having changed the spot where it first appeared.
Every birth marks the beginning of a new life. When a plant is born, it claims a small plot of space to make its mark. In the case of human beings, however, our marks are made in a different way. Our marks are made in the way we interact with people and in the skills we use to change the world. Our marks are the way people remember us when we are gone. Our marks are what we leave behind for our children and our grandchildren who will come after us.
Yet, we have come into the habit of allowing our marks to be distorted and manipulated by those things that affect our identity. How authentic will our marks in the future be, if we do not even fully know who we are in the present? A plant knows where its roots lie the moment it breaks free from the seed. As it grows, it may spread out or meander, but it will still remain firmly attached to the spot where the seed first met the ground. How can we direct our energy if we are not even sure about what truly matters to us? How can we cause a lasting impact on the world around us, when our own values and boundaries are never static?
Kat Graham once said “You make a mark by being true to who you are and letting that be your staple.”
As we grow up, we are introduced to a wide range of beliefs and values from different sources. Oftentimes, this information can be conflicting. While we can receive guidance from those older than us, we shoulder the ultimate responsibility of determining the values that are important to us. Then, it is completely up to us to stick with these values throughout the course of our lives. This means that we are willing to go against everyone around us in the act of being true to our beliefs. This also means that we are able to set boundaries with those around us so that our relationships will never be an obstacle to our true identity.
The act of making a mark begins in the moment that our loyalty to our values become so deep that simply being yourself becomes an act of courage. To make a mark, means to have such an unfaltering sense of identity that you begin to inspire others.
