…time is a powerful force….. Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they’re finished. The person you are right now is as transient, as fleeting and as temporary as all the people you’ve ever been. The one constant in our life is change.
—Dan Gilbert
Do you agree with Gilbert? Have you ever thought of yourself as finished? That how you were was the way you would be for the rest of your life? I haven’t. I’ve always thought of myself as a growing organism, sort of like a tree. And if I was always changing, why not try to have a little say in how that change would occur?
Now, of course, Andy and I are very aware that we and our lives are changing. One of the reasons for his projects up on the land is to try to make things easier as time goes on. He’s hoping to extend the time he’ll be able to go up there and enjoy it — he’s already noticed a big difference in the amount of wood he needs to heat the house. As he says, chopping wood is a much bigger deal now than it used to be.
Yes, the next ten years will no doubt bring big changes. In the meantime we laugh a lot more than we used to, and we’re enjoying what we have while we still have it.
What about you? How are you and your life changing?
(Thank you, Liz, for the idea for this post!)
January 29, 2015
Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. The former when totally unexpected nice things happen and the latter when health issues crop up. I however accept that life has to be like that and so, it is no big deal.
I’ve never wished I were younger than I was. That must mean the pluses have outweighed the minuses so far.
i worked with a man once … well actually he worked for me.
i was manager. he literally would FIGHT any kind of change. i always dreaded new policies or procedures because i knew i would have to ‘gentle him’ through it much like one trains a skitterish horse! he would puff up then sull up then openly harangue about it … until he infected everyone around him! and yet he was very good at the job.
he simply couldn’t handle change. he’s retired now and i can’t help but wonder how he’s facing life.
change is the only thing we can count on! and no. to your question. i’ve NEVER thought of myself as a finished work! LOLOL!!!
i have lots of things i still want to work on inside myself. 😀 and it’s fun.
i’m so glad andy has his cabin. that’s wonderful. and you have your mind and your art!
and the whole world! LOL
i miss bhb here monk.
if you ever email her … be sure and say hi for me.
i always valued what she had to say. and i didn’t think her strange at all.
i thought her always delightful. i feel like i literally ran her off! so sorry!
so very sorry.
I agree about it being fun. I think of it as gardening — pulling the weeds and nurturing the flowers. Andy has his fruit trees, I have my inner work. They’re not that different. Well, except mine is best for lazy people like me. 🙂
I did tell BHB, and she will contact you.
dear sweet LOLOL tammy, No you didn’t run me off. Even if you thought me weird (a little) I’m OK with my different, weird, silly self. *I miss you but I’m taking time off from the computer. The clock was moving too fast. –No I wasn’t moving fast enough. I get more time now but not nearly enough. There’s the negative me again. LOVE YOU!
XO
well.
it’s mutual.
and just for you . . .
LOLOL!!! and a snoopy hug.
i should spend less time on here myself. 😀
Going back to work basically in my old job and old work group, but, again, as a contractor, is proving to be an interesting — and challenging — change.
How much will you be working? Is it more challenging to be working with former coworkers?
Right now, I’m working 20 hours a week. In a few weeks, it’ll go to full time. The contract lasts until the middle of next year. The challenging part right now is the studying. I’ve had to re-familiarize myself with procedures and policies and all of the changes.
Most of my former co-workers are gone, retired like me for the most part. There were 13 of us in my group before I retired. Most had had worked together for many years, with extremely low turnover. Three of us had been in the group since 1983. The staffing level has been cut to 9, I think, but there are only 7 positions filled right now. One fellow who had been in my group left the day before I started back this time. He was headed to a job in Abu Dhabi.
Staffing levels now assume augmentation with contractors for large initial license classes.
Only one of the group is someone I’ve never worked with before. The rest were all students of mine.
I absolutely agree with Gilbert. As an athlete, I can quantify the changes that are happening to me. But, I can also be happy with where I am now, enjoying it while I have it!
Yes, that’s the only way to go!
I think there are things that have been consistent in my interests and preferences and so on for a long time (for better and worse no doubt) – so change isn’t the only constant.
I think the way to sum up the change for me is that my life is becoming more intentional (I need to choose – I can’t rely on vitality to easily make up for lousy choices anymore); the main consequence is needing to be more moderate – these days I pay more for excesses.
Good point!
Oh, I absolutely feel like a work in progress. Everything is in constant flux and liable to change with every new bit of information or new opinion. I’ve never thought of myself as finished, that would be absurd. Finished means dead.
If not dead, then incredibly boring. No thanks!
well earlier this year, most of my friends (the best ones) thought I was settled in for the long haul at University AND then out of the BLUE I changed horses – apparently they had NOT expected that!!!
At the moment I am enjoying the new HORSE and it makes me happier…
Good for you!