Gradness Madness

It was jarring, how quickly life changed on that day 11 years ago.  We were reminded that life can change on a dime: a phone call, an accident, a betrayal, and suddenly we’re careening down a different life path.

I’ve been reflecting on this, and how often we think of this as a bad thing.  But remembering how quickly things can change can also help us through the tough times.  When I was on the job market, and receiving rejection after rejection, I tried to remember: today could be the day.  The next phone call could be a job offer.  The next position posting could be perfect for me.  And then the perfect posting, and the offer, came along.  Suddenly I had a whole host of new “problems” - finding an apartment in a new city, getting ready to move.  That five-minute call changed my life.  Believing that the call would come … that kept me sane.

A colleague and I were talking about “bad days,” days when you just can’t seem to find your groove, and she said “I tell myself that an hour from now, I can be sitting in a hot bath, or walking my dog, or whatever.  I just have to make it through another hour.”  Things will change, and we won’t always have to endure a tough spot.

It’s also important to remember when things are going well.  We shouldn’t be discouraged by the idea that good times won’t last, but rather, allow it to help us appreciate the happy moments.  That’s what makes the times with friends and family so special; because they won’t last, we cherish them.  And when the tough times come, it’s important to remember that we’ve been through rough spots before, we came through, and the sun will shine again.

Change is inevitable - we can’t control that.  But we can control how we make sense of it.

- Flynn