The Only Thing Constant Is Change...

I am sure you are familiar with the phrase, "The only thing constant is change." My question is what comes with that change? Is it understanding, growth, the potential for learning, the opportunity for self reflection, strengthening of faith? Over the last nine months I have experienced so much change in life. Everything including divorce, career change, new home, new friends, old friends that have come back into my life, stronger connections and ties with family and an over abundance of self reflection. Some of these changes have been directed by me and some have been fully out of my control. As I work to accept this constant ever changing life and grow from every experience some things are just too challenging to understand.

It is never easy to say goodbye to someone you love. In any capacity, whether it is a friend or a family member it is so hard even when you know they will have no more suffering, no more pain, there is a selfish side that still wants them here because it is too hard to comprehend life without them in it. I had to say goodbye to someone yesterday. Someone that has been an integral part of my life for over 20 years and I found myself asking what do I say? What do you tell someone that you love like they are your own flesh and blood in their final moments? How do you say goodbye? How do you let them know how much they have meant to you for half of your life? I felt like my words just weren't there. When I walked in the hospital room and said who it was, eyes opened wide and eyebrows raised in acknowledgment. I joked, reminisced, thanked and said I love you. Eyebrows acknowledged our conversation but I was waiting for the jovial loud laugh and voice and for it to not be reality that this would be our final goodbye. So young, so kind, so generous with spirit and heart, funny, loving, and genuine, made me ask again, why? Why is change constant? So this morning, I pray for understanding and that he is peaceful in his transition to heaven.

We never know what is in our life plan. It clearly is not up to us to make those decisions. Please hug those you love a little tighter and let them know how important they are to you every day. I am learning that we cannot take any day for granted. We need to learn from the lessons we are given to become more generous, kind, and loving people. In the quiet and stillness of hospital room with faint beeps of machines you realize that all of the material items you have are not important, you understand that hatred has no place in the world and that relationships with your friends and your family and the memories you create together are all that really matter. This life is temporary, we cannot live it in fear, in anger, in anxiety, or in frustration. We should live it in the spirit it was given to us, with love and peace.