As a child I remember hearing about "the change." Somehow, I formed a distinct impression that there would be only one change to deal with in life, and it would be a doozey! A case of "ignorance is bliss" set in for a while as I figured "the change" was a long way off, and I didn't need to worry about it just yet.
My naiveté began to disappear as life evolved. A few small changes here larger changes there. Change often seemed to come as a surprise or even a shock, such as the loss of a loved one. Life was never the same without them. Change often felt personal, like when my husband was deployed to Vietnam for a year, leaving on my birthday. I was sure Uncle Sam timed it that way on purpose.
Some changes were self initiated and I got to help plan and implement them, like buying our first home. They were way more fun. Some of the events were game changers, turning life as I knew it inside out, like divorce.
Eventually I began to understand that change happens to us and through us pretty much all of the time. Change is continuous and constant. Some changes are very slow to come about, and we hardly notice them. Many changes are coming at us rapidly. The price of fuel comes to mind. And between smart phones that take orders and talk back and smart cars that virtually drive themselves, one wonders whether we humans are about to be changed out.
A change in one's pace and environment can be extremely beneficial. A little road trip can do wonders for one's attitude and creativity. It's a change that most of us can plan and execute with a fair amount of ease, and the benefits in perspective are…well, priceless, as they say. I happen to be on one of these little trips with my husband, Hank, at the moment. Pretty wonderful to retreat from the routine and take a little time out!
One of the changes I've noticed over the past few years is the amount of time, energy, and paraphernalia it takes to get me out the door. The routine that once took 15 minutes, tops, has expanded to nearly an hour. And, the once non-existent make up bag bulges. No more traveling light! I've become extremely high maintenance. Maybe that was "the change" everyone was talking about all those years ago.
