Change

            Change is a thing we as humans are used to. We may not be prepared or used to the changes themselves, but we have become accustomed to the fact that change is inevitable. To most people, the definition of change is an event we have the ability to react to. It is noticeable, tangible, and can be life altering. Other times change comes in small instances, often ignored, but these changes are still noticeable. It seems that definition of change is ‘an event or variation from the normal.’ However, when we look deeper into the meaning of change, as well as its opposite, our entire view of the definition begins to change.

It is the change that goes unnoticed that often has the largest impact. It is this type of change that could possibly redefine the entire definition of the word. Life is full of things that go unnoticed. It is full of constant variations. These may affect who we are, how we act, and how we appear. They are also constantly changing the world around us, as well as the people around us. These constant changes can lead to a new view of the word.

To better help understand this new view, it is best to look at the opposite of change. The opposite of change is the constant, or static. This is the period during which our everyday lives occur. It is the time that holds our same, monotonous moments. Each day seems exactly like the previous day. But if this is true, then where does the change occur? The answer is that change is always occurring. Those minute, unnoticeable changes are constantly shaping us and our world. It turns out that the only constant in life is change. Change is the only thing we can truly rely on. There is little true static time, or constant.

So rather than the definition of change being an ‘event or variation from the normal,’ it is ‘the change that we actually perceive, from the constant change that is actually occurring.’ In other words, the change we do happen to notice is what becomes the ‘change’ to us.

Our lives are constantly in motion and we are being bombarded with constant variations. Most of these simply go unnoticed. Many of us find that when we look back at our past, we see how different things are. We grew up, and barely noticed. Our personalities evolved and we might have become different people. The people around us changed, but since we changed together, we hardly noticed. This change was always occurring, we just never really noticed, or took the time to notice.

This realization can have positive effects on our life. Maybe we can take the time to notice and pay attention to our lives. The more of this constant change we see, the more in tune we are with our lives and the lives of others. This in turn can lead to a deeper appreciation for the life we have and for the constant change that shapes it, as well as an empathetic appreciation for the lives of others.