Changes

Growing up I hated change and believe me I still have my moments, just ask my mother. When plans change, I don't like it. But really, its when I don't control the change that I don't like it. When I come home after being away and a new road has been built or I find that Meijer has been painted blue instead of red, I don't like it. But really, I don't like that things aren't the same as the way I left them. 

"The only thing constant is change." Throughout my 20s this has been such a real statement in my life. I have lived in too many places to count. I have had numerous part-time jobs. I have made awesome friendships with people that then turn into long distance friendships that often get lost in the shuffle of life. I have constantly been asked the question "so, what are you doing now?" And for someone who loves schedules, I have had a different one every few months for longer than I care to think about.  

My point is, we cannot avoid change. It happens. It will continue to happen. The question is, what are we going to do with it? It seems like there are two obvious answers- resist it and be unhappy or accept it and embrace it. Each of us is inclined to one but always holds residue of the other. I have constantly been trying to be in the latter mindset but recently my view on change has changed, ironically enough, all together. 

Last week I was very blessed to have a dear friend of mine take time out of her crazy work week to share a meal with me. Conversations with her are always an enjoyed occasion for me, and this night was no exception. But it was something she said to me in a text after departing that really stuck with me. "Change and be changed." Ah, how awesome?! Instead of seeing change as something that is forever happening in my life, I was in that moment able to see it as such a privilege! I have the opportunity to not only create change but to be changed by others, by experiences, by life! That is truly amazing.