Why does the word change make me cringe? Is it because I think of change when I’m evaluating myself against others? If I change will I compare better from a success or accomplishment or material possession standpoint? Is it because I often associate change with pain and guilt and fear? Is it because there is usually a financial consequence to change (either I have to spend money or divert money from where I’d like to spend it)? Change is something I might need to do, but something I usually don’t want to do.
Why is it ok to grow but not to change. Heck, there are even popular sayings like “change for the worse” or “don’t ever change” to help us resist change. I’ve made plenty of changes that looking back I don’t consider as growth. Maybe I need to change that.
verb 1. To make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone 2. To transform or convert
noun 20. A transformation or modification
noun 30. A balance of money that is returned when the sum tendered in payment is larger than the sum due.
In our little household plenty of obvious things have changed in recent years. Our house has changed into one that’s half the previous size. My vehicle choice has changed into one less than half it’s previous size. My first choice in soft drinks has changed. And, I’m consciously forcing myself to drink much less of it. We’re about to buy a car that comes from the factory with a cord and a plug (which matches our tiny house that gets electricity through a cord and a plug). Even our clothing sizes have changed. See! Change often means less, not more.
Internal or change-of-heart kind of change is a much bigger struggle for me. It’s still January and this month we’re encouraged to reflect on our past and to chart our year’s course. I don’t want to end up with definition #30… leftovers. I don’t like leftovers. To me it’s stuff kept around and warmed up for re-use (because it likely wasn’t good enough the first time or that new and exciting alternatives were not planed for).
Jon
Our View From The Road 