Accepting Change

Change is an integral and unavoidable part of life. Frequently, change is considered to be something positive. Two of the last three American presidents were elected based on a platform of change. Both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama offered change as the primary reason to vote for them. It was not so much that they had all the solutions to the issues but rather that simply voting for them would mean that things would change. Sometimes, change is interpreted negatively. People are afraid that if things change, everything that they believe in and stand for will slowly disappear. However, resistance to change, ironically, insures ultimate and fundamental change, in that, if we refuse to change, we guarantee stagnancy and finally, destruction.
Years ago I happened to catch some of the Kentucky Derby on television. During the broadcast leading up to the start of the race, the announcers were explaining some renovation that was being done to the grandstand at Churchill Downs. They were explaining that if major renovation was not done to the historical spires that rest on top of the grandstand, that those spires were in danger of actually falling off the roof. Therefore, in an effort to preserve what already existed to its original state, a change was necessary. Probably every major city has a historical society which focuses on the preservation of old homes and buildings. These societies seek to preserve by initiating change. They take away the parts and pieces that have decayed and rotted over time, while keeping the foundations and structures intact, thus returning the buildings to their former glory.
The same is true for us in life. All of us will age. All of us will eventually die. As we go through life there will be many inevitable changes that we will have to accept. Acceptance and acknowledgement of change is fundamental to a person's health as well as their physical and emotional well-being. A resistance to change can result in a denial of life and a fear to face the world. As we age, our bodies change. Therefore, it is necessary to begin a process, usually from a very young age, of preservation. Many of us, who are not used to regular exercise and a balanced, nutritious diet, are resistant to this change. We may wish that things did not have to be this way. Why do things have to change? We might ask. The moment when we begin to ask that question, it is important to recognize that change is simply a fundamental part of being. If we are completely resistant to change in our lifestyles, we will see bigger, unhealthier changes than we would ever want or desire to see. If we refuse to exercise, if we refuse to break ourselves of our bad habits, if we refuse to alter how we eat, our health will gradually erode. We will become victims of major illnesses and diseases. We will then reach the ultimate change, the end of our existence, earlier than we imagined and perhaps spiritually and emotionally unprepared.
Therefore, we must recognize change as something natural and move with it, accepting it and embracing it. If the thought of change is still something unpleasant, think of it as an act of preservation. A few planks and pieces of wood may have to be removed or sanded down every now and then, but the structure and foundations will remain in place, allowing us to stand in good health, long into the future.