We went on a hike today in an area that used to be fairly barren. Parts of Washington were once covered by lava flows from various sources. Vegetation and growth has sprung up in once uninhabitable places. That's called succession.
When an area develops enough diverse types of vegetation and animal life, that's called a complex community. There is a critical mass that occurs when you have enough of what animals and plants need to survive and thrive. There have to be certain components in place for an ecosystem to survive. It's not enough to have fungi and shrubs. Animals especially need larger trees for protection and shelter, for example.
I immediately wondered what those things are for a human community. What elements need to be in place for a community to truly thrive? For children to grow up well? For the elderly to not feel shuttled off to die alone? For people to feel a sense of purpose in life and work?
I wish we talked more about that as a culture, not just in isolated pockets.
I wish we cared about our human development like we care about other things that seem meaningless in comparison.
I wonder what the state of my complex community looks like. Do I have enough around me to thrive? Am I living somewhere unhealthy?
I think about these things almost daily. I don't want to just pass my days. I want to live well and help others do the same.