The Pain of Change

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

 

Today, I find it hard for my words to flow.  Why?  Because there is “Pain in Change.”  

• It is painful to face realities we would rather not see.  
  

  Pain of Change

• It is painful to lose all that you have worked to obtain; in the flash of a moment.  
• It is painful to start over.
• It is painful to go through rehabilitation; no matter what the cause or reason.  
• It is painful to experience injustice.  
• It is painful to live in fear.
• Change can be painful.

My mind is reeling from the news of the devastating earthquake that  hit Nepal.  My heart is breaking concerning the civil unrest across our nation presently highlighted by the demonstrations being held in Baltimore, Maryland.  In my being I am also reminiscing about my mother’s year long battle to regain her health.  Yet; my thoughts gravitate to the challenges my family has faced with job loss and job change, along with its resulting emotional and financial baggage.   

Nature can come in fast and furious and unleashes earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and tsunamis depending on weather conditions.  Fire, snow and rain can wreak devastation to anything in its path when it comes with relentless fury. Lives can be lost, property destroyed and businesses may close.  In the midst of all this pain is change.  People come together.  We mourn the lost, we learn, we create better methods, we restore and we rebuild.  New businesses arise out of necessity replacing the old, outdated  or no longer relevant.  There is pain in change.

When faced with injustice people act or react.  That action or reaction can be peaceful or violent.  America fought to be free from the tyranny of England; yet, it has a dark dirty secret, that is in our struggle to be free we have often imprisoned others.  True to its desire to promote freedom people are given the right to free speech;  they are allowed to protest and demonstrate to bring awareness to wrongs or injustices.  Sometimes this brings to light things that we would rather not see, hear or acknowledge but are forced to face.  Those that gather meet to be heard and acknowledged.  Although; we may not agree with the methods or actions of every participant, there is pain in change.  

I have sat with many family members as their loved ones faced illnesses,  surgeries or their transition from life as we know it.  I have cried with, encouraged, bought food in and presided over funerals.   I have seen the challenges that some had to face when making lifestyle changes as a result of their illness.  Last year this became first hand knowledge when I stood at the bedside of my mother.  I had to believe against all odds she would triumph over her health crisis, live and regain a sense of independence.  She did not leave the hospital the way she went in; thankfully, in many ways she is more healthy and vibrant than ever.  There has been ups and downs along the way.  Many things we used to do or had planned to do may or may not ever happen.  We have learned the joy of loving each other without condition, appreciating every moment we share together and being open to give and receive what and when we can.

Finally;”having dealt with the loss of half of our income during the time of my mom’s illness, I know first hand the pain of change.  I know what it feels like to watch two of the most important people in your life struggle without the ability to solve their problem.  Each fighting for their life but in two very different ways.  There is pain in change.  During this time I also chose to change jobs, starting over with new people in a new profession. I had to set any insecurities I had, any fear I possessed and any control over the outcome aside and endure the pain of change.  All of this occurred while raising a teenage daughter; going through all that they go through and still being mom, counselor, friend and advocate.  Today all is well with each of them.  My mom has a clean bill of help, my husband is working for the USPS, my daughter is happily preparing for prom and we all have shed many tears to get here.  Life is full of change.  Some of it for the immediate good and other changes seemingly must be endured when it feels like it is anything but good.  Yes, sometimes to get to the change we must go through the pain.

Our world and its inhabitants need our help.  It needs us to endure the pain of change in order to grow and develop.  It needs us to aid and assist those in need, the sick and oppressed.  It needs us to stand up for good, firmly but peacefully.   It needs us to be supportive of each other, standing by and in support of family and friends.  It needs us to see the good in each other, while pressing each other to be our better, higher selves.  It needs us to be open to change no matter how painful or arduous the process.

 

Much Love, Many Blessings…Namaste!!!

 

Ms. Sheila