Change

Change is defined as making the form, nature, content, future course… something different from what it would be if it was left alone.

Change is a mixed bag for me. There are types of change I love: the seasons passing, moving house and knitting. Taking a simple skein of yarn and turning it into something else is magic to me. It is giving that simple wooly string its full potential.

We haven’t moved house in nearly 25 years. The Husband who I think has a full on case of wanderlust spends time researching places of interest to him because if I gave the nod we’d move tomorrow and next week and a month after that. What I love about moving is the setting up of the new home. I can satisfy that feeling by rearranging my cabinets or moving the bed to the other side of the room. For now we’re here and the wanderlust will have to be virtual.

The kind of change I’m really bad at is the people kind. When I was a kid I wasn’t a great student. I struggled with reading which just makes learning more difficult. Even though school wasn’t where I wanted to be I still disliked the school year ending because it meant I’d have a new teacher and a different mix of classmates. When my children were young I was proud of them as they moved from stage to stage but I missed the familiar things like them reaching out to hold my hand when crossing the street or coming home excited to tell me about their day at school. The people part of change is hard for me.

As I look out into the world I see changes that I do not like. Too many people are self serving. They use cruelty to get their way. They look to their fellow human beings as a thing to manipulate for their own ends. They don’t allow opinions other than their own. Leaders divide their people into factions and work them against each other. Others use portions of their population as virtual slaves.

As a member of the human race I want kindness to be the way. I want leaders to treat their people fairly and with dignity. I want everyone to wish their friends and enemies the best. We can disagree and still get along. Compromise should be the way not intimidation. Honesty should be the norm not a pleasant surprise. The words used should be the words meant.

I believe if we be the change we want to see in the world we can make a difference. If we call out bad behavior we can stop it. If we expect more from people they will bring it. If we don’t tolerate leaders taking advantage of their people we can hold them accountable for their transgressions. If we bring kindness and forgiveness it will return to the norm.

Will you join me? Will you call people out when they behave badly? Will you make wise shopping decisions to avoid rewarding companies who treat their worker’s cruelly? Will you help me be the change you want to see in the world? If we don’t do it who will.

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