Embrace Change
I love embracing change in my life.
I find it funny because I used to be afraid of any change that came my way. For most people, it’s a natural fear, but as we grow into early adulthood, we learn that change, new beginnings, and the next chapters of our lives are just part of living and the human experience. I grew up with generalized anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder that made me feel safe staying in a routine and being able to “control” my surroundings. As life happened, changes made without my control, or new experiences I encountered, made me realize I had to let go of the idea that I had some sort of control over everything. Even people who find comfort in the mundane routines of everyday life still encounter change, whether they want to or not. Although we do have some control over our lives to an extent, certain changes and the ebbs and flows of life are going to happen whether we want them to or not. Like the seasons changing, the weather, or the moon’s phases. Mother Nature constantly reminds and reassures us that change is natural. The good and the bad.
I like to compare changes in life to stories in books, shows, and movies that follow a main character on a long journey. The ending of the story isn’t the best part; it’s the character’s journey along the way. The development and growth come from the good and bad changes in the character’s story. Life is an adventure after all.
Looking at new beginnings & changes this way has made me more excited than ever to embrace them. I feel like an adventurer on my own great quest through life, ready for all of the high and low tides. All the good and the bad. It’s helped my anxiety management and that need for control. It gives my playful creative mind a chance to come up with solutions, see things from different perspectives, and be ready for anything life throws my way.
Sometimes changes can be simple and small, like taking a different path to walk, run, or bike to get a different look at the houses, plants, trees, or anything you go by. You might see a place with a cute planter on their front porch that inspires you to go to the garden shop and spruce up your outdoor space that weekend.
Sometimes the changes can be big, like moving, taking a big trip out of the country, maybe even starting that book you’ve been wanting to write, or those yoga classes you’ve always wanted to do. Either option opens doors to new routines, experiences, people, and places.
No matter how big or small life’s changes can be, they connect you to new things you wouldn’t have connected with before! It gives your mind something new to learn from, be inspired by, or just anything other than the same path you always take.
Overall, I am writing this to encourage you to embrace change in your own life. I believe it will help you grow as a person, build confidence, create more art, feel more comfortable & prepared when other changes come your way, and (most importantly) enrich your human experience!
Embrace change.
With love,
A.M.D.
