Change By Linda Stowe.
People like to blame the ills of society on change. They say people wouldn’t have such short attention spans if it weren’t for the Internet. Obesity wouldn’t be such an issue if it weren’t for fast food. Cable TV made us more sedentary. Rock music caused teenagers to go out of control.
These naysayers seem to imply that if it weren’t for change, life would be a lot more pleasant. Would it? Or would it just be harder? And boring. People like novelty and are more apt to take the easy way. Therefore, change is inevitable. We crave it almost as much as the air we breathe.
But the thing about change is that it seems to have a cycle. First, people are skeptical, and some are totally against it and warn of societal collapse. Then interest grows and increasing numbers of people try it and it may even become a craze. Then the craze dies down and folks become distracted by the next new thing. And that which was once scary and new becomes just a part of everyday life. How long ago was it that microwave ovens were the scariest thing on the market?
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Polly here. What Linda said is true. When things are new in our society, they are greeted with skepticism.
The automobile is a prime example of this. At the beginning, the auto was met with disdain. “We don’t need this change. There is nothing wrong with my horse and buggy.” But soon, that all gave way to wide appreciation. In fact, it went beyond that. The automobile became a necessity in most people’s lives. Everyone bought one. Two, three, or more. Today, there are about 1.5 billion vehicles in the world.
And now, 138 years later, after Carl Benz filed for his patent for a “vehicle powered by a gas engine” on January 29, 1886, we understand that all that burning of gasoline had damaged our planet beyond repair. But people don’t want to give them up now. That would be change.
As Linda said, the cycle continues.
This happens in our personal lives, too. Many times, we prefer the status quo. But something comes along, and change begins. We are reluctant at first. But over time, that newness shifts into the ordinary. And round and round we go.
The cycle of life. The circle of life. In all things.
It seems that change is the one “constant” in our Universe.
Change By Linda Stowe
