Embracing Change

Welcome to the Autumnal Equinox! Which is just a fancy way of saying the seasons are changing. The changing of the seasons is a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the nature of change in our lives. I will freely admit that I do not roll with change gracefully. I LIKE routine. I LIKE things the way I like them to be. I DO NOT want certain things to change. And yet they do, continually. Why?

Change is the nature of life

About two years ago my partner and I were riding in the car just having spent a lovely morning at one of our favorite places in Tulsa. We gushed “It is so wonderful! We hope it never changes!” Within a few months all the world was locked down and most everything in our lives have been changed forever, including our favorite place. LOL

Here are a couple of reflections on change and some practices to help us all embrace the changes of life with dignity and grace.

Try observing the cycles of life. A change of seasons is the perfect moment to see how life is continually shifting. When I was in the Navy we used to have a saying about the weather: “Smooth seas today, but the storm is coming.” It was a reminder to always be prepared for stormy weather because it was going to come—maybe not this week or next, but someday for certain. Of course, the opposite is true too, when life is stormy, it won’t last forever. Ride out the storm and you will see the sunshine and calm waters again.

Practice: This practice will help you see how you have weathered storms in your life. Look back at some important events in your life. Notice the changes that took place—changes in you, in the people involved, in the circumstances of your life. Were you prepared for the changes? How did you respond to the changes? What can you learn from change?

Try embracing impermanence. I first learned about impermanence from Buddhists. They taught me that not only does everything change, but everything I have and everyone I love will pass away. I, too, will pass away. Rather than see this as a cause for sadness, we can rejoice in knowing that whatever we have in front of us right now is all we have—a beautiful sunset, a loving relationship, and even a difficult situation. They are only here for a moment so be with them fully.

Practice: I have been watching a garden spider for the past two months. Each day her circumstances are a little bit different. It is quite fascinating to behold! I invite you to find something in nature—a plant, insect, the moon—and to observe it each day for the next month or so. You will attune yourself to its subtle changes and this will open you up to the subtle changes in your own life. Embracing the small impermanence will make it easier to see, appreciate and roll with the bigger impermanence.

Happy Autumnal Equinox, friend, with gratitude for the constant changes of life.