If Sameness Is A Demand We Make
When I lived in Hawaii, if the temperature dropped to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, we felt we had been hit with serious winter. In California, 41 degrees was enough to cause complaints. Here in Canada those temperatures are considered balmy when they occur in January and we celebrate the warm weather!
It is all relative to what we consider normal. Deviations from the norm are either something we resist or welcome. What determines our reaction is how much our “norm” includes the possibility of change, surprise, unexpected occurrences. In Calgary we know that the Chinook winds will surely come and raise the temperatures dramatically a few times every winter. We count on that change to be part of our “norm.”
If sameness is a demand we make of our partner, our job, our children, our friends, our world, then we are going to be seriously challenged when the inevitable happens. People grow; they evolve; change their minds, rethink their politics, get new jobs, move to different cities. They find new friends, gain or lose weight, take up yoga while we sit in front of the TV. If we feel a loss or a threat from their growth, it is time to expand our sense of what “normal” is.
As the song says “Everything must Change. Nothing stays the same.” The temporariness of form or experience is something we can rely upon, absolutely. It is in the variations of weather, the ups and downs of relationships, the shift from toddler to teen, the necessity of learning new skills, that keeps us in harmony with the nature of things. A kind of non resisting ability to let things flow is a high awareness and a healthy way to live. Knowing that change will surely come, we are more likely to treasure the moment and celebrate it now.
--Rev. Carol Carnes
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6 Past Reflections
On May 12, 2010 moreblessing m wrote :
As humans we need to adapt to the changes that do happen around us.
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On Mar 12, 2010 Somik Raha wrote :
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On Mar 10, 2010 Devan wrote :
Yes life is change but people are afraid to adapt to a changing world much less a change of attitude.Prhaps people do not know how to adapt to a change in mentality eg.Does it relly matter if we view the glass as half full or half empty.On a sientific level the quantity does not change so it does not matter,but as a versatile and intellegent animal who incorperate emotions it doesbecause if we view it as half empty we create a sence of depletion and a need to fill that void however if we view it as half full we also create a sence of fullness thereby eleminating stress.If people are aware of this power they have we will be creating a peaceful environment.
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On Mar 9, 2010 Ali wrote :
Nice points to be noted:
"Everything must Change. Nothing stays the same.”
People grow; they evolve; change their minds, rethink their politics, get new jobs, move to different cities. They find new friends, gain or lose weight, take up yoga while we sit in front of the TV.
We count on that change to be part of our “norm.” It is time to expand our sense of what “normal” is.
CONCLUSION: A kind of non resisting ability to let things flow is a high awareness and a healthy way to live.
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On Mar 8, 2010 Jay wrote :
Aw yes, 'Change'! The one characteristic of the Universe that we have the most trouble adopting. And yet at some level we grow to reaize that the only real security lies in change. And the more we evolve, the more we learn to embrace the quality of change--eventually awaiting its ever new experience with awed anticipation. And in aligning our intention with an increasing 'need-to-know' and a sense of 'allowance', we find oourselves movimg into a state of being at one with the change--and then finally, becoming the change itself as a homeward bound co-creator......Jim