Usually when I think of change, I think of that heart-wrenching feeling you get when you realize that things will never be the same again. I think of the good-byes, the leap into the unfamiliar, and departure from normalcy. I have always considered change a necessary evil in life; it helps us grow, but that doesn't mean that I have to like it.
To some extent, it seems odd that I dreaded change so much when for most of my life, I lived for the changes that took place every 4 months--new classes, new work schedule, new people to interact with. Also thrown in the mix were holidays and breaks from school. Those breaks in routine were what kept me going, yet, especially toward the end of college, I couldn't wait for long-term stability.
Now that the novelty of of being a salaried employee has worn off a bit, I find myself looking for a change in my long-sought-for routine. The uprooting of my routine on a regular basis is ingrained into my system. A few weeks ago, when everyone was talking about finals and graduation, I was still stuck at work, a little envious that my life wasn't going to change much in the near future. That was also the week I had moved into my new apartment, and between not wanting to work and not wanting to unpack and put stuff together, I may have experienced just a tad of insanity.
So I'm going to have to change my opinion about change a little bit: change is not just a necessary evil; it is also a necessary good. I am taking my first trip east of Utah next week and won't have to think about work or responsibility for 9 days, and while that has me a bit distracted at the moment, I'm relying on that small change in routine to empower me to be more happy and productive when I get back.
So when the big changes come, I'm going to try not to complain too much.
The first thing I thought of when I saw the title was Rafiki's wise monkey voice saying, "Ah yes, change is good."
ReplyDeleteBut I have to agree with you. Lack of change is often worse than too many changes. I think that's half the reason I like running. It's one of the few things in life I can either change or keep the same completely at will. I was actually noticing this morning that when life takes a routine, I will go looking for new running trails, but if life is super busy and too change-full, I will stick with one same route every time.
Not that that was particularly relevant, but it was on my brain, so I of course decided to spew it forth on your comment wall.
Where are you traveling to?