Headlines, primarily negative, race across my screen as I start today’s post on “Change.” It seems—more than ever—that our world is truly broken. (Perhaps it’s just me.)

Change is burdensome for many humans. Pre COVID-19, it seemed as if many of us were somewhat complacent, buoyed by what we considered the rhythm of our blessed country. (Maybe I wasn’t aware enough.) The end of physical life has always been part of reality; hunger and abuse have always existed, but the gargantuan pandemic and the ongoing murdering of fellow humans have heightened awareness of life’s fragility, reminding me that change is constant.

Change

Sometimes, change is heartbreakingly challenging: the physical loss of a loved one, divorce, the end of a career, a significant health issue.
Sometimes, change is gradual: the aging process, clutter filling a home, the degradation of relationships, the non-mending of something that hurt you.
Sometimes change is wonderful, exciting, life-giving: being appreciated, a welcome new career, falling in love, grandchildren.

Each time change occurs,
we contract (shrink),
stay static (immovable),
or expand (blossom).
When a person who’s been continually shrinking finally hits the “Enough!” point, choosing to live fully, blossoming occurs (it’s never too late).

Some folks thrive on drama, feeling like they’re not truly living unless they have challenging or painful stories, seeming most comfortable with chaos, trading on “woe is me.” (How much of the melancholy we’re surrounded with do we create?) If your identity’s wholly tied up in the “sorrowful story,” change may be challenging. To reshape reality, we must: step back, examine our lives, then make choices—not backing away or burying our heads in the proverbial sand but embracing new ways of thinking.

You can choose to stay in a horrible job because finding another one—a better one where you’re respected and appreciated—is too exhausting, or you can make an effort to create change.
You can look at life as half-empty, holding onto hurts inflicted by others, or make changes, filling your life with amazing people who value you.
You can look at the aging process with disdain and remorse or change your attitude and embrace the knowledge you’ve gained on the journey, your relationships, and the love you’ve experienced.

What changes have you had to deal with lately? Are there some you wish you had handled differently? Are there any you’re willing to share?

We can choose to change the way we move through life by:
• complaining less and being happy more?
• abandoning worrying about the future and embracing living in the moment?
• giving up being “bored” and challenging ourselves to find great things to do with our time?
• ceasing grumbling about “how it used to be “and beginning to learn something new?
• holding each other up instead of holding grudges
• minimizing the stressful things and magnifying the fantastic things?
• eliminating jumping to conclusions to start jumping for joy?
• letting go of feeling sorry for ourselves and reaching out to someone who could use a hand?
• banishing negative feelings and filling our minds with love and gratitude

We often think that if we take specific steps, we can make things happen the way we want, but change is inevitable and part of the journey. The illusion of control that many of us have is just that….an illusion. But, we can change ourselves to be our best selves; lights in a hurting world, harbingers of joy, and bearers of peace.

As Rumi wrote,
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” 

Wishing you a beautiful week,
Kay