Change is part of life

More than 50 years ago, U.S. President John F. Kennedy said, “Change is the law of life.”
How right he was . . . and still is!
In the early 1960s, when Kennedy was president, what amazing changes already had happened in my young life. Growing up in an eastern farming community, I now was living in a western city.
Born in the United States, I now was a resident of Canada. Growing up a daughter, I was now a mother.
And it seems to me that the pace of change has been accelerating ever since.
As I remember, there was very little change in my young life. All of our neighbours stayed the same. No one ever moved.
We always shopped in the small village of Lowville, N.Y. and bought our groceries at the A&P. The stores were always the same.
For more serious shopping, we drove 25 miles to Watertown. There we shopped at J.C. Penny and F.W. Woolworth stores.
As for school, I had the same teacher for all of grade school–Miss Peck. And in high school, Mr. Davis was our principal and my homeroom teacher was Miss Foley.
No teachers left while I was in school and no new teachers were hired.
In my home church, our ministers were ordained for life. The same for bishops.
How different life is now! People always are on the move. Moving from state to state and within the same town. And children move from school to school, almost always having a new teacher each year.
Stores come and go, as mega-stores displace hometown favourites, and brave entrepreneurs open wonderful specialty shops. Even the “old faithfuls,” like F.W. Woolworth, falter and fail.
Churches are the same. Some die and new ones spring up. Pastors are hired for three-year terms.
And on top of that, technology is changing at break-neck speed!
All this change is hard on human beings–men, women, and children. Although the young may think they thrive on it, the reality is that change always is difficult. Even good change is stressful.
And not all changes are good. Many changes are not of our own choosing and some very major changes can be completely devastating.
But when change happens, it’s up to us to adapt. It’s up to us to meet the challenge and form new patterns if necessary. Try to look for something positive in the changes that you encounter.
For instance, if you have to give up your home and move to a retirement community, focus on all the new friends you will meet. And how nice it will be to eat your dinner in the dining room when you don’t feel like cooking.
Attitude makes a huge difference.
Always remember what President Kennedy said 50 years ago: “Change is the law of life.”
These quotes from early in my 2016 calendar are helping me cope with constant change: “This month marks a fresh start for me, and I welcome it with open arms” and “Life brings me only good experiences. I am open to new and wonderful change.”
Carry these affirmations with you and repeat them often. Then watch for the positive in each change that comes your way.
Marie Snider is an award-winning health writer and syndicated columnist. Write her at thisside60@cox.net