Change can be confusing and unsettling. Change can be life affirming. Change can be devastating. Change can be rejuvenating. Change can create fear, anger and sadness. Change can bring joy and elation. It can be any combination of these. Basically what I am saying is that change, in whatever form, has an emotional response.
Right now things are changing on many levels. In how we live, how we respond to death, how we work, how we play, how we love, how we communicate. We see major changes in the politics of the world’s economies and in the ecology of the planet.
All of the above awaken emotions within me. But they are only partly the reason I feel impatient and restless, bordering on anxious right now. I know things are changing much of it beyond my control. I do know though that within all of this change, there is opportunity to grow. And I have to grasp that opportunity. I can’t sit still. It’s not in my nature.
Initially change unnerves me. I start to sleep badly and feel tired. I can drift into forensic introspection of my life so far. And then it doesn’t take much to build resentments and overreactions to minor set backs, releasing a tsunami of feelings that can overwhelm me with negativity and bitterness.
My coping mechanism sometimes takes time to kick in. I start with venting at someone; so sorry to everyone I’ve done this to. However the outburst of resentment usually triggers a reaction to make amends for the negativity. I start to remind myself that I have a lot to offer. And of course I return to my mantra. I have to accept the things I cannot change. I need courage to change the things I can. And have the wisdom to know the difference.
I know I posted recently that the past shouldn’t define your future. But that doesn’t mean I can’t learn from it. Repeating the mistakes of my past would be rather dumb, as it will inevitably produce similar results. On the flip side though, evoking memories of my resourcefulness and successes would be a great place to start mapping out my route through the turbulence of all this change.
At this point, changes start to inspire me. I start looking forwards and planning how I can latch on to the energy it is generating. When something inspires me, I give it everything through passion and drive to deliver positive outcomes. I have done this so many times in the past so why not again?
And to quote a bit of Sam Cooke…
There have been times when I thought I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will.
And with all this in mind, the pictures today are ears of grass, changed by editing and mixing whilst listening to Erland Cooper’s new album Hether Blether, released at the end of last month. Whilst I was writing I was listening to Sketches of Spain, an album by Miles Davis, originally released three months before I was born. Topped off with a bit of Sam Cooke of course. It was all very peaceful and just the ticket for today.
That’s all for now.
Ronnie xx
