I do not consider myself a typical routine type of person so I will change things up to make life more interesting.
The tough changes are the ones out of our control and it is a process of acceptance at least for me.
For some reason I am the opposite. I welcome change I have left perfectly good jobs only because I had been there long enough. As soon as I master something, I move on. When I was doing a walk-run every day I had six or so measured routes and alternated them. Even small things like having breakfast for supper and vice versa. Always trying new things, new places. My weakness is a low tolerance for boredom. My husband calls me “I’m out of here Kazanjian.”
Lots of changes in my life of late….and some of them pretty big ones. It is my faith in the unchanging nature of the Divine and the steadfast Love, never ceasing, that guides me through all of the inevitable changes.
This question reminds me of a quote that I have kept close in my heart:
“It is true there is an ebb and flow, but the sea remains the sea.” Vincent Van Gogh
~Blessings to one and all. 🙏
Dear Pilgrim…I hope you are well this day my friend.
Those big and boisterous change moments are few and far between, in reality. For me, it is more of a ‘composting’ process of gradual but transformational change that takes its own time and moves at its own pace. For me personally, there has and is a focus on ‘becoming’, so in that sense, that is the support – moving steadfastly towards the point on the horizon.
To try to stay open to change, I’m not sure
any particular thing supports me. Change is
something so personal, so inner. I have been
stuck and I have been unstuck. It’s a deal you
make with yourself. A vow to make a change.
Taking one step, and then another. It’s so
difficult and it’s so easy.
The practice of being open and flexible,
less judgmental and less critical, being kind
and empathetic, are all helpful. I remind
myself of the changes I have made and I
support those who are trying to change.
All of this helps.
Thank you for this question 🙏
What supports me in remaining open to change? Willingness is my one word answer. My job is willingness. What triggers my willingness? The realization that Life is trustworthy and as JoAnna Macy says in today’s quote: “…We (I) belong to this world.” Or as Eckhart Tolle teaches, “Life is the dancer and you (I) am the dance.” Being One with Life instead of fighting and fleeing from Life is such a relief and an eye opener.
I read this quote recently and it reminded me that the only thing permanent is change: “Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won’t either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt, or death brushes near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. Tell yourself that you tasted as many as you could.” Louise Erdrich’s 2005 novel The Painted Drum
Taste and See…Risk and Know…Be Here and Now…Let Life dance you and romance you even when you’re shaking in your boots!
Some change is in my control and some is not. As I add years to my age, I see more and more changes that I have no control over. I can plan a nice get away and the flight gets canceled or the car needs repair, or the weather doesn’t permit a safe trip. Many of my friends have gotten ill at the last minute and plans need to be rearrange d. I plan on visiting a friend, and she/he is too ill for a visit. What supports me is the knowledge that change happens and it is my response and attitude that has to be open.
Knowing that resistance and fear are a natural part of the process of change and that allowing the discomfort of these feelings without resisting them is a catalyst for that change and that change is a necessary vehicle for growth and learning which is essential for life.
I do. I have to acknowledge that change is part of life, so I make my best effort to accept what is changing and be excited or hopeful about what is on the other side.
Being a wife, a parent, and a dancer are all about change. My spiritual practices, dance is one, are all about finding the center. When you dance you have to spot while you spin and turn. When you meditate you learn to allow the thoughts to come and go across the field of your mind. The center is stillness and is unaffected by the periphery. It does not mean emotionless or stagnation. I am learning to feel all of my feelings–which are temporary entities–and return to who I truly am.
There was a time when I wanted to know all the details regarding a change. Talk about naive; like I could know all the details. Another way of saying this, I think, is I wanted to be in control of a lot. However, over the years I have learned that while change can be challenging, it can also be wonderful. And letting go of the control is so much easier, energizing, and more enjoyable. So what supports me in living with change is acknowledging the inevitable flow of it in life, and remembering that I have survived so much change positively. Life is too hard when I resist it. So much energy caught up in that struggle that I want to spend another way.
I haven’t seen reflections from Kevin, who used to answer the question every day. Does anyone know if he is ok? Thank you very much! May everyone’s day be blessed with peace. 🕊🌟🧘♀️🌈
Change is a constant. Sometimes measured and slow. Sometimes fast. Sometimes not fast enough. A lot of change is growth. Annual seeds sprout, produce and die in a single season. Trees take many years to complete the cycle. Some, like redwoods, can take millennia. Some beings. like tortoises, can live for more than a century, others like a ring neck pheasant have an approximately 3-year life span. It appears to me however that the human species as a whole changes somewhat slowly. At times there is no change in behaviors just the technology. War is a good example. Nations and ethnic groups war today, just as was written in the Old Testament and illustrated on cave walls. The change has been in the weaponry and now the killing and destruction can be accomplished from a far. Farming is another example. I once was told as a young man by an old timer, “Farming used to be a way of life, now it is a highly technical business.” This is true in the western world, not so much in developing world. Some human beings accept and treat others that are different than themselves for the better and a whole bunch of human beings have not learned to change and are more entrenched in hatred and bigotry than ever. Same goes for how some human beings treat our home, earth. Some take great care of it, others see it a nothing other than their own personal toy, to be used and discarded.
Myself, I have to always remain open to change. Change is a constant in Life.
Today is my birthday – I’m double nickels, lol I woke up this morning to seeing floating Harry Potter candles in my hallway – I LOVE IT!! My daughter made me brownies that were on the table along with some bday gifts. We plan to go out to dinner after work with my son too. Yesterday she treated me to a pedi. So far a great start of the day. 🙂
Michele….I smiled real big reading this. We are huge “Harry Potter-ites” in our family. What a fun way to start your birthday and such a loving, thoughtful daughter. No doubt a reflection on you. I hope the rest of your birthday continued on in frivolity and joyful celebration of your 55th!
My first thought is Carol’s emphasis on willingness. When I am willing to experience whatever changes occur, it makes the process so much less bumpy and scary. This is a timely question for me. Change — even when I initiate it — is a bit scary to me. I do love my routines. But I am trying to push my boat out a bit and broaden the way I spend my time.
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I do not consider myself a typical routine type of person so I will change things up to make life more interesting.
The tough changes are the ones out of our control and it is a process of acceptance at least for me.
For some reason I am the opposite. I welcome change I have left perfectly good jobs only because I had been there long enough. As soon as I master something, I move on. When I was doing a walk-run every day I had six or so measured routes and alternated them. Even small things like having breakfast for supper and vice versa. Always trying new things, new places. My weakness is a low tolerance for boredom. My husband calls me “I’m out of here Kazanjian.”
Lots of changes in my life of late….and some of them pretty big ones. It is my faith in the unchanging nature of the Divine and the steadfast Love, never ceasing, that guides me through all of the inevitable changes.
This question reminds me of a quote that I have kept close in my heart:
“It is true there is an ebb and flow, but the sea remains the sea.” Vincent Van Gogh
~Blessings to one and all. 🙏
Dear Pilgrim…I hope you are well this day my friend.
Those big and boisterous change moments are few and far between, in reality. For me, it is more of a ‘composting’ process of gradual but transformational change that takes its own time and moves at its own pace. For me personally, there has and is a focus on ‘becoming’, so in that sense, that is the support – moving steadfastly towards the point on the horizon.
To try to stay open to change, I’m not sure
any particular thing supports me. Change is
something so personal, so inner. I have been
stuck and I have been unstuck. It’s a deal you
make with yourself. A vow to make a change.
Taking one step, and then another. It’s so
difficult and it’s so easy.
The practice of being open and flexible,
less judgmental and less critical, being kind
and empathetic, are all helpful. I remind
myself of the changes I have made and I
support those who are trying to change.
All of this helps.
Thank you for this question 🙏
What supports me in remaining open to change? Willingness is my one word answer. My job is willingness. What triggers my willingness? The realization that Life is trustworthy and as JoAnna Macy says in today’s quote: “…We (I) belong to this world.” Or as Eckhart Tolle teaches, “Life is the dancer and you (I) am the dance.” Being One with Life instead of fighting and fleeing from Life is such a relief and an eye opener.
I read this quote recently and it reminded me that the only thing permanent is change: “Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won’t either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt, or death brushes near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. Tell yourself that you tasted as many as you could.” Louise Erdrich’s 2005 novel The Painted Drum
Taste and See…Risk and Know…Be Here and Now…Let Life dance you and romance you even when you’re shaking in your boots!
Your words will make a difference in my life, Carol. Thank you.🩷
Thank you for this reflection and quote, Dear Carol.
You rock, Carol
Beautifully spoken,
dear Carol…
all of it.
“Being One with Life instead of fighting and fleeing from Life
is such a relief and an eye opener.”
Yes, willingness. It all starts there.
Some change is in my control and some is not. As I add years to my age, I see more and more changes that I have no control over. I can plan a nice get away and the flight gets canceled or the car needs repair, or the weather doesn’t permit a safe trip. Many of my friends have gotten ill at the last minute and plans need to be rearrange d. I plan on visiting a friend, and she/he is too ill for a visit. What supports me is the knowledge that change happens and it is my response and attitude that has to be open.
Knowing that resistance and fear are a natural part of the process of change and that allowing the discomfort of these feelings without resisting them is a catalyst for that change and that change is a necessary vehicle for growth and learning which is essential for life.
Amen…
I do. I have to acknowledge that change is part of life, so I make my best effort to accept what is changing and be excited or hopeful about what is on the other side.
Being a wife, a parent, and a dancer are all about change. My spiritual practices, dance is one, are all about finding the center. When you dance you have to spot while you spin and turn. When you meditate you learn to allow the thoughts to come and go across the field of your mind. The center is stillness and is unaffected by the periphery. It does not mean emotionless or stagnation. I am learning to feel all of my feelings–which are temporary entities–and return to who I truly am.
There was a time when I wanted to know all the details regarding a change. Talk about naive; like I could know all the details. Another way of saying this, I think, is I wanted to be in control of a lot. However, over the years I have learned that while change can be challenging, it can also be wonderful. And letting go of the control is so much easier, energizing, and more enjoyable. So what supports me in living with change is acknowledging the inevitable flow of it in life, and remembering that I have survived so much change positively. Life is too hard when I resist it. So much energy caught up in that struggle that I want to spend another way.
Amen
I haven’t seen reflections from Kevin, who used to answer the question every day. Does anyone know if he is ok? Thank you very much! May everyone’s day be blessed with peace. 🕊🌟🧘♀️🌈
Thank you, Sheila. Kevin’s absence has been on my mind as well.
I’ve noticed his absence, too.
Yes, his reflection’s have been missed.
Change is a constant. Sometimes measured and slow. Sometimes fast. Sometimes not fast enough. A lot of change is growth. Annual seeds sprout, produce and die in a single season. Trees take many years to complete the cycle. Some, like redwoods, can take millennia. Some beings. like tortoises, can live for more than a century, others like a ring neck pheasant have an approximately 3-year life span. It appears to me however that the human species as a whole changes somewhat slowly. At times there is no change in behaviors just the technology. War is a good example. Nations and ethnic groups war today, just as was written in the Old Testament and illustrated on cave walls. The change has been in the weaponry and now the killing and destruction can be accomplished from a far. Farming is another example. I once was told as a young man by an old timer, “Farming used to be a way of life, now it is a highly technical business.” This is true in the western world, not so much in developing world. Some human beings accept and treat others that are different than themselves for the better and a whole bunch of human beings have not learned to change and are more entrenched in hatred and bigotry than ever. Same goes for how some human beings treat our home, earth. Some take great care of it, others see it a nothing other than their own personal toy, to be used and discarded.
Myself, I have to always remain open to change. Change is a constant in Life.
Today is my birthday – I’m double nickels, lol I woke up this morning to seeing floating Harry Potter candles in my hallway – I LOVE IT!! My daughter made me brownies that were on the table along with some bday gifts. We plan to go out to dinner after work with my son too. Yesterday she treated me to a pedi. So far a great start of the day. 🙂
Thank you Everyone!!
Happy Birthday Michele! Sounds like a great Birthday!
Happy “Earth” Day Michele. We’re glad you arrived here!
I remember back when double nickles
seemed old…
not any more.
I hope you have had a beautiful day,
dear Michele. ♥
Michele, Happy Birthday…Blessings always and all ways.
Michele….I smiled real big reading this. We are huge “Harry Potter-ites” in our family. What a fun way to start your birthday and such a loving, thoughtful daughter. No doubt a reflection on you. I hope the rest of your birthday continued on in frivolity and joyful celebration of your 55th!
Have a lovely day Michele.
Ah yes, double nickels.
Happy birthday!
A lot to look forward to. Enjoy the time with family and friends. We celebrate the gift 🎁 of you!
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday, Michelle. Here’s to a another good year around the sun.
Double nickels reminds me of Sammy Hagar signing “I Can’t Drive Fifty-Five”. Continue to have a good birthday, Michele.
Happy Birthday, Michele. Enjoy your day!🎈 🎂
My first thought is Carol’s emphasis on willingness. When I am willing to experience whatever changes occur, it makes the process so much less bumpy and scary. This is a timely question for me. Change — even when I initiate it — is a bit scary to me. I do love my routines. But I am trying to push my boat out a bit and broaden the way I spend my time.
Row, Row, Row that boat!