Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Change is constant, and other paradoxical nonsense

Someone far wiser than I said, and I'm paraphrasing, that change is the only constant in life. I love that idea because it is deliciously paradoxical. If things are changing, by definition they're not constant. But if things are always changing, that becomes a consistent element. That's neat.

Another neat paradox: This sentence is false. Chew on that one for a while.

I understand that sometimes change can be annoying.  The relationship between change and comfort has to be acknowledged here. If your life is always changing, it's really hard to become comfortable. It's difficult to get in a routine and really get a firm grasp on what's happening and what you can do about what's happening. It's like you can't ever get your feet under you, solidly, and feel secure in that footing. It reminds me of The Enchanted Forest and the crooked house from the fairy tale. That's what living with change can seem like - walking in the crooked house. Sure it's fun for a few steps, but when vertigo sets in and your stomach flips on itself and your knees weaken and you bump into a wall or a corner, it's not so fun anymore - and you're only in the front room.

Yes, changes can annoy you, if you let them. Just like classes can bore you if you let them, and drivers can infuriate you if you let them, and chores can burden you if you let them. Change can also challenge you if you let it, just as music can inspire you if you let it, and friendship can steady you if you let it. We can all let life happen or we can live it. I've found that the more challenging the situation, the more I learn about myself and, to blatantly pilfer some words from Thoreau, the more marrow I can suck out of life. A steady hand and a steady mind in the face of a tempest is one of the most powerful traits we humans can posses. (That's a metaphorical tempest mind you. If you're actually in a hurricane or a tornado or a monsoon, please seek appropriate shelter. It's okay to run from a natural disaster. If it's an earthquake, though, running might be difficult. See the previous paragraph.)

But just like most aspects of life, moderation is helpful. If you don't do well with change, and you understand that it is inevitable, find something in your life that is comfortable, something that give you peace of mind, peace of soul, maybe a piece of German chocolate cake. That comfort can help steady you amidst the consistent change of our lives.

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