“Babies soon realize that talking is better than crying, and walking is better than crawling. They see a better way and reach out for it.”

A baby learns by watching what other people can do. Crying gives way to speech because speech is a better way to be understood. Crawling gives way to walking because someone nearby is already standing. Seeing others shows the child what is possible.

Adults grow in much the same way. Maturity does not mean reaching a point where there is nothing left to learn. It means staying open to the wisdom, courage, discipline, or joy seen in other people. Their example can show us where we can still grow.

The people around us always affect how we see life. Some make our world feel smaller. Others show us ways of living that we had not imagined. A better way can change us only while we are still willing to reach for it.