As the air turns cold and we tuck away our Halloween costumes, I can’t help but notice the incontestable voice of change. It looms in the breeze, next to the burnt orange leaves that gracefully dance their way towards the damp ground. Regardless of your supposed preference for warm weather, I think it’s important to reflect on the turning of season, noting all it can offer.
Taking the time to appreciate change in all its glory is a daunting, yet rewarding task. It provides us with the tools needed to succeed in its untold omnipresence and allows for growth, reconciliation and peace. Being proactive about acknowledging who we are in the face of change is both a personal choice and responsibility. I for one adore change, as it brings me closer to the person I hope to be—who I choose to be. Amidst the cold, I encourage you to invite change inside, and offer it a warm cup of tea. Ask it how it’s doing, and watch change smile back.
For those who know me personally, you’d agree that change and I have a unique relationship, and to all those who don’t, I sincerely hope you can find a sense of solace in what I share. Returning to my lovers’ quarrel with change, I adore it while simultaneously question its every intention. Despite its puzzling capriciousness, change is something we all require, and I believe should desire. Trusting change and the unknown weight it carries has become an integral part of my personality. More recently, I’ve begun to embrace change at every opportunity, believing in its doctrine almost like a secular religion. I believe it acts as the fuel, driving us closer to the person we are meant to become. It leaves room for interpretation while coincidentally spelling things out. That’s not to say it doesn’t scare me or riddle me with questions. I simply believe the risk associated with change, in all its variability, is worth every ounce of reward it provides.
Without change, we are stagnant beings, living day to day in a perpetual cycle of normalcy. While routines are important, they are made valuable due to the inescapable force of change. We combat change through said routines, through our free will and existentialist philosophies. I argue that despite its seemingly futile notion, battling change through our daily actions is a noble act, and I believe equally contributes to our growth and success. I simply insist we flip the narrative away from change being our enemy in battle.
I embolden you to let the hostility dissipate between you and your old friend change, and resign as a crusader against it. Instead, by reflecting on what change has brought you, find balance and acceptance between what is known and unknown. Rather than letting its presence wash us over in fear, let it guide us in the dark. Take change in arms and allow yourself excitement at its vague feet. Introspection and time spent studying what change has done for you may provide you with this freedom. Let change inspire wonder, beckon curiosity, and evoke bewilderment. After all, seasons may change, but so do we.