Boundaries.
It’s been a while since I wrote about real-life applications of science, like the ones on Newton’s laws of motion, evolution, entropy, physiology, etc. I have another one today courtesy of my son.
Context: My son, who is preparing for IGCSEs, comes to me and says, “Mum, can I teach you biology as a way to revise the topics I have studied so far?” I said Sure! (It always feels good when they “need” me because these teenagers mehn….They like to pretend that their parents don't exist.)
Anyway, while he was teaching me(great refresher) and we got to the role of the cell membrane, I’m thinking “ the cell membrane and the purposes it serves for the cell are very much like the purposes personal boundaries serve. If we decided to “erect” them where appropriate, that is.
Soooo, I’m writing about the life philosophy of the cell membrane and what it can teach us about healthy personal boundaries, and I’ve even got a table for comparison. Lol.
The cell membrane is that soft (unassuming) outer layer of a cell that simply “keeps stuff that should be in in and keeps other stuff that should stay out out.” An intelligent “baton” welding incorruptible police guard
It knows to let in stuff that is good for us in like oxygen, nutrients, and signals. And keeps out stuff that would harm it, eg toxins, viruses, chaos. It remains in the world but not “of the world”, in that it’s in constant communication with its surrounding environments and is flexible enough to adapt to what the cell needs in order to keep protecting it.
In the same vein, personal boundaries should serve the same purpose to protect our mental, emotional, and physical health. Like the cell membrane, which is essential to the life of cells. Personal boundaries are as essential to our well-being.
This is what well-installed personal boundaries should do. But do we do this? No!
We let people walk all over us. We feel guilty for saying no. We stay in relationships and environments that drain us.
A cell dies when it lets unwanted things in, we get burnt out, overwhelmed, out of touch with ourselves, resentful and empty when we don’t set personal boundaries. Like the cell membrane, personal boundaries are for self-preservation.
Nature is called Mother Nature for a reason; everything we need to live, practical lessons, can be found all around us if we pay attention.
Keep going,
Ije.
‘It remains in the world but not “of the world”’ 😁 what a lovely crossover between biology and the bible. Nice to be reminded that nature teaches the best lessons!