Change Without Changing

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist, but you have ceased to live. -Mark Twain

It is, to my observation, that this world is filled with many types of different people. There are those of us that flow freely through life, taking each obstacle as it comes and learning with everything that life gives us. The good. The bad. AND the ugly. The ones that embrace each season they come to experience and let down their walls for change to take place. Much like a tree does every year.

Then, there are those of us that can never let go of anything. Sometimes it's because they like the way things are, but with time, change is ultimately inevitable. Time changes, but they are lost in the past. Sometimes it's because they experience something so devastating, they fear of letting it go because they don't want anything like it to happen again. It's almost like a constant reminder so they can never create such regrets to happen again. And sometimes, it's purely based on the fear of not having a certain element of control in what might happen to them. They become so afraid of the unknown that they are consumed into a life filled with doubt, a lack of self-confidence, and an inability to embrace anything and it stunts their growth as a person.

Now, I'm definitely not one to preach because up until recently, I was one of those people that could never let anything go. I loved how the majority of my childhood was and when it came time for me to take on my own life, I was almost reluctant to start at all. I was like the kids from Hook that said they would never grow up and they would stay in Neverland forever. But if you don't learn to let go of your leaves in Autumn, you will never be able to survive the winter with all your heavy, burdened, and broken branches.

So, being past the horrors of the so-called storm of life, I've learned that we don't have to ever grow up completely. If you just build your being like you would a tall, strong skyscraper, or a tall, grand Oak tree, then you'll change throughout your entire life, without actually changing at all. Meaning, you just add brick by brick, branch by branch to the same foundations that were laid down for you. Times change. People change. Work changes. Change with it! But never change who you are inside. Embrace the positivity that change brings to allow your soul to grow in deeper and deeper ways than you ever had before.




PS: Like some of the new editing techniques? Been without my computer now for a few weeks and without my usual programs. Trying new things! Layers have been my friend tonight in both these images in this blog and my flickr post here and here.

PSS: I wish winter coats didn't make you look like you have 30 lbs more on you than you actually do.

PSSS::::.... These two (1 | 2) songs are the soundtracks for my night.