How do you respond to changes in your life?

It's starting to feel a little more like spring, which has lately put me in the mood to do some cleaning and organizing. In the past couple of years, in fact, I've noticed that I have come to enjoy the arrival of spring much more than I used to, and I think that cleaning is one of the reasons I look forward to it. There aren't many things that compare to that feeling when it starts to get a little warmer, being able to wear a t-shirt instead of a coat, the anticipation of cherry blossom season...and it's that time of renewal and freshness, I suppose, that really drives me to get started with my "spring cleaning."


Furthermore, spring in Japan also a time for change. Yet in (sharp) contrast to my eagerness for "spring cleaning," though, is my chronic resistance to change. This year, there have been and still will be a few changes in my life, some of them personal changes--like looking for a new house--and others less personal. But I have never really been the kind of person to welcome this type of "newness." The irony of this situation, however, is that these changes can sometimes be equally as rejuvenating as a thorough clear-out, although maybe in a different way. It has been some of these recent, and in some cases unexpected, adjustments that has prompted me to think about other times in my life when things have been shuffled around or modified, or even when I have tried something completely new. What I have realized is that it actually isn't so hard for me to think of ways that these changes have been more positive than not, and consequently, has helped me to feel a little more at ease about things still to come.


One of the situations that comes to mind was the class I took for my senior thesis assignment, as part of a requirement for the completion of my Bachelor's degree in History. Every graduating student had to take it, but the topics for courses would change each term. The term I decided to take the class, there wasn't anything I was exceedingly interested in, which meant I had a hard time being enthusiastic about my research. I ended up taking a class centered on autobiographies written in Early Modern Europe. Sounds stimulating, right? But as the course went on, one of the most important things I noticed is that our studies went so much deeper than that. We had discussions about education, poverty, family relationships, personal motivations...even fashion. In fact, some of the areas of my subsequent history studies (and general interests) have evolved as a result of that course. The lesson? Trying something new can be good for us because it can open our eyes to new pursuits.


Another type of change I have experienced is one that involved a lot of frustration. There was a time in my life not so long ago that I unexpectedly lost both my job and my apartment at the same time. (The company that I was working for went bankrupt, and my apartment was part of the company's housing.) This was a totally different form of change. It was the first time in my adulthood that I experienced something so life-altering, and for me it was a very dark time. Yet in spite of the anxiety and emotional stress that followed, when I look back on this time I can see the growth that I experienced, in addition to so many other blessings. I was able to experience the kindness of friends who offered me a place to stay, I became closer to my family, and I grew spiritually as well. Even though I wouldn't necessarily recommend this experience to everyone looking for a change, it definitely taught me to appreciate what I have and to not take things for granted. The lesson here is that even unexpected, undesired and unpleasant changes in circumstance can still produce some good in our lives.


No matter what sort of things change in your life--your job, your home, your favorite television program--I'd like to encourage you to try to make the most of it. While it may not be something we always enjoy or even expect, I think change becomes a much easier pill to swallow when we try to stay focused on the good things that can come from it. (And in the mean time, don't forget to clear out your closets...that feels good, too!)
▼▽▼▼【講師】Melanie先生のバックナンバー━━━━━━━━
・【The Ticket That Changed My Life】2010.01.29 (Fri)