or as fast and strong as a storm charging at trees forcing their once sturdy branches to twist
and even break off, change happens, change is inevitable.
But then is it change of who we are that we see or just a change in our priorities?
Is the change that occurs manipulation, a change by force?
Or a realization of what really matters?
Why are we so afraid of change when we should embrace it, for it is through change that we grow, that we progress as individuals and as a collective society.
I fear that our habits as adults have put us in a place where any perturbations or agitation to our cycle sets us off on a tirade, at times a gossipy-hateful chastisement of whoever was unlucky enough to bother us. We are used to our ways, in synch with our rhythm, and don’t anybody dare to mess with it lest they desire our wrath.
We forget how everyday, we encounter experiences that will move us just a little bit askew of the rhythm we have gotten used to. And this is not only theoretical, it is also biological.
Our brain is more plastic than we know: all the wirings of our neurological system undergo changes every minute for as we learn a new thing our neurons become ablaze with excitement.
We are programmed for change.
As children we are encouraged to learn new things, to mold ourselves anew everyday, to embrace new findings and knowledge so our wondrous organ up above can be invigorated and expanded to accommodate all the newfound knowledge and in turn boost our development.
Why then, have we allowed ourselves to be stuck in certain ways once we have reached adulthood? Can we really not change after a certain age?
And if we do, then is that change because of manipulation, meaning it is forced and unwanted, something wholly negative?
A father once remarked that he is impervious to change, that at his old age he cannot be expected to even try. Now, ten years later, the man who was once a dictatorial, unreasonable head of the household is a man who encourages open discourse and finding compromises. The man who everyone feared is now the man whose phone rings constant with inquiries for advice at reconciliation and reasonings.
What of the man who has changed from an indifferent and aggressive partner to a doting and devoted man of his family? How is this change negative? He who is endeavoring to be a good father and husband is belittled as weak, as being puppeted about by invisible strings whose grasp on him is so tight he is unable to think straight.
What of the woman whose current enlightened moved her to reject the ways of an unbridled, lascivious life to become a model of modesty and decorum?
Or the once truant student who is now striving to be studious and dilligent with marks testifying her dedication and perseverance to lead a better academic career.
Have they been manipulated by third party forces to stop their partying ways, postpone social gatherings, to focus on priorities that can uplift them and their conditions? Are the changes they have made or are making so detestable that gossip-mongers must spread it about like wildfire?
Is a smoker who have called it quits for his family betraying his friends who smoke?
And is that a bad thing? What of the alcoholic who promised to stop alcohol for his family?
Are they “party poopers”? Disloyal? Ungrateful?
Whatever other belittling terms gossipers can bring up to bring them down?
What does it matter to anyone if someone is trying to make a better living for themselves and their family?
Would we rather have them continue their old ways, to heck with the pleas of their loved ones?
Would we rather have them remain aggressive, dictatorial, violent, truant, lascivious, indifferent, irresponsible?
We call can’t have our cake and eat it too, we cannot be so obstinate against change. Defiance of change will only leave us broken or worse, blown away.
To build a successful society,
we need to embrace change,
embrace progressive efforts of change not derail them.
