In an attempt to relax, I plopped on the couch and flipped on the TV. Who Wants to be a Millionaire is what popped up on the screen. Normally I would flip it straight to the Olympics, but for some reason I decided to watch it for a second. I started day dreaming about how things used to be way back when this show first started. Summer of 1999. I was going into 8th grade. The things I worried about back then seem so trivial to me now; i just have to laugh.
This thought progression made me think about what Mandy wrote on her blog this morning about change. (Check it out here). We get used to “the way things are.” But inevitably, things change, and they soon become “the way things were.” We create a “new normal” as Mandy said.
Today was another one of those days. Today I had to say goodbye to my great friend, mentor, and coworker, Gretchen…our student staff administrative assistant who i job-shared with for a while. With another team member leaving and so many new joining us, I’m slowly learning to say “thats the way things were”…because they arent that way any more. And to be honest, it really sucks. I hate change. I dont want things to be new…i want them to just go back to the way they were.
But im sure I would’ve said that in 8th grade as well. And if i wouldnt have gone through changes, and growth, and hard times…i would still be stuck in my little 8th grade world all worried about who I would sit with during lunch at school, all worried about what one friend said about another friend, all worried that i couldnt get my stupid locker opened in time and i was late for class. Without change, I wouldnt be where I am today. Change has to happen in order for life to go on.
No one seems to like change…we seem to be creatures of habit. But i’m trying to remind myself that change is necessary. It is during transition, and trials, and change that we grow the most and we become who we are. But that doesnt mean it will always be easy.
I just have to wonder…do we hate change because we were designed to be in relationship with Someone who is constant?
i LOVE your closing question, angie!!!
oh. and i thought you’d like to know, the friend who coined the “new normal” phrase is cindybeall.com… i heart her.
You were pretty much a loser in 8th grade. At least that hasn’t changed! Haha, just kidding.
I also love your closing question. I didn’t know Gretchen was leaving (as well)…dang. double dang. That is nuts. We for sure need some coffee. Maybe double.
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