I’ve been thinking about that question in a very non-cartoon way lately.
Because here’s what I’m realizing: if we’re not building something, we’re not growing. And if we’re not growing… we’re quietly starting to die. Not dramatically. Not all at once. Just slowly, subtly… settling.Think about your relationships. Are they growing or have they stalled out?
My kids are grown. That phase of hands-on, daily building—snacks, schedules, sports, emotional triage—has passed. And while my career is something I’m still actively building, I had a moment recently that made me pause and ask:
What am I growing right now… outside of work?
I saw something from Tony Robbins that stuck with me. He talks about the six human needs that drive all behavior:
1. Certainty
2. Uncertainty
3. Significance
4. Love & Connection
5. Growth
6. Contribution
And he says the most important of all is growth and contribution.
Because growth is what gives us something to give. And that’s where meaning lives.
Because growth doesn’t just happen. It’s not automatic. It’s a conscious decision. And it requires something even harder: honesty. The kind where you look around your life and admit…
I think I’ve outgrown this.
That’s not easy.
Sometimes we work so hard toward something—build it, shape it, invest in it—only to get there and realize… it doesn’t quite fit.
And the temptation in that moment?
Stay. Adjust. Make it work.
Because rebuilding is harder than settling.
But settling is where the slow fade begins.
I’ve always been sensitive, very aware of my feelings, and—whether I like it or not—an empath. It’s a gift. It’s also… occasionally exhausting. Because I feel when something has stopped growing. I notice when the energy shifts, when the momentum stalls, when the structure isn’t expanding anymore.
There are days I wish I didn’t notice.
But I do.
And what I know for sure is this: I want to keep building.
I want to wake up excited about what I’m creating. Who I’m creating it with. What it’s becoming.
And if I’m really honest, there are a few areas in my life where construction has come to a standstill.
No progress. No momentum. Just a really cute hard hat and no actual building happening.
Which means it’s time.
Time to pick up the tools.
Time to make some changes.
Time to start building again—intentionally.
Because we’re each given a life to build.
To love.
To connect.
To contribute.
And I, for one, don’t want to look up one day and realize I stopped mid-construction.
So here’s to having a solid toolbox…
and choosing your subcontractors wisely.
Let’s get to work.
XX,
MG