And About My Friends....

Change.

Seems it's on a lot of minds these days.  I'm not the only one.  Reading many of my favorite blogs this week I see that many of my blog friends are regarding change, embracing it, suspicious of it, planning it, wanting it, or resisting it.  All with varying degrees of enthusiasm and dread.

Susan at 29 Black Street is planning it.  A move out of her big old brick house. She'll make a brand new home in a new location near a beloved friend.  And, thinking of more little veins to send out into the world from her richly creative heart. 

J is seeming to finally be embracing change even if it isn't a permanent change (and really, what change is).  Who wouldn't look forward to a summer in the awesome landscape of Alaska growing raspberries and looking for peace.

Mmm is "facing great change...potentially...and not sure I want to face any of it", resisting it for the moment, seeming to dread it a bit. 

Judy did make a big change.  Moving to a new town, leaving behind so much that she loved and now not convinced at all that "change is good".  But as always happens in the course of a life another crossroads looms ahead and this time she's determined to put a positive slant on change.

Emily is contemplating a changed body: svelte, strong, supple, and submitting meekly to a hard driving trainer in order to accomplish the change.

Mim has gone through the trauma of unemployment...one of so many families stricken by the cruel economic crisis, but now is hopeful for change. As the season changes and is brighter, so she and her husband hope will their prospects also be brighter.

Paris plans a reinvention, a master change as her intrepid resilience carries her into a new life, a new world populated by new, loving people.

fire byrd is counting the minutes till her big change, a move to the sea that she's dreamed of for a long time.  She's relishing the idea of change, and already creating her base of support in her new home town well before she even moves there. 

Pherenike is receiving signs from the universe of an approaching change.  She's not exactly resisting, but she's wary.  Does she really want it?  Does she have a choice?

Robin is considering the idea of a change that reaches backward, not forward: to detatch significantly from the internet or not.  Whatever her decision she'll abide by it with an awareness and acceptance that the consideration of change will have given her.

I write encouraging comments to my friends urging them to take change by the horns and wrestle it into their lives.  And I mean it.  I'm a cheerleader for change.

But in the back of my head a little voice is laying on the sarcasm.....yeah, so when are you gonna wrestle your way into your garage?  The barn?  Except for the huge change of Katy leaving, all the rest of my potential changes rely upon my selling my house. But I can't show it until I tackle several areas of disrepute, particularly my big old garage and bigger damned old barn, both full of remnants of the past:  collectibles, tools, furniture, photos, books, rugs,...oh, so much stuff.

I am overwhelmed at the prospect of banishing it all, but I wonder if I'm truly overwhelmed or is it a disguised resistance to change?  A panic driven clinging to the known and comfortable.  A trepidation of the unknown.  I don't want to believe that.  I fancy myself an enthusiastic acceptor of change. An adventuress into the unexplored.  A traveler into virgin territory. 

That's what I want to be.  

So, you know what?

If I find that I'm something less....

well I'll just....

change!

Comments

[susan]

I have wished for as long as I can remember to have the powers of Samantha on BeWitched. And if I could only have those powers I would wish with all my heart that I could go to sleep one night tucked into the nest of down & flannel with my family of pets tucked in with me, twinkle my nose and hear that funny little twinkle clinking noise and wake up in our brand new tiny life. I keep saying that I'm doing it - I'm selling, I'm moving, I'm changing ... but I've yet to really believe it myself.

I mostly feel trapped ... but I do talk a good story.

[Mim]

Ahhh Anya,
Wish I lived closer I'd help you as last year I condensed living from 3 countries and 4 places into this one house.. it took me months.
And then they fired our butts!
Oh well....
A barn and house to go through and your gdaughter leaving.
It all seems a bit much to me from this angle, but you seem to be the eternal positive spirit.
And that after going through your divorce.
Bravo to you and thanks for your support. It means more than you know.
It's just a crazy ride I'm on here on this eastern side of the US while you are in the west.Sending good thoughts your way.

[Judy in KY]

Anya, I agree with what Mim says, that you have such a positive spirit. You have shared that positive spirit with all of us, your friends. I have come to realize that a positive spirit is what it takes to face change. You have taken so many steps, one at a time, to get where you are today. I believe you will continue to tackle all your challenges with your usual courage and humor.
We certainly do appreciate your support. We, in turn, are here for you.

[fire byrd]

Change is so tough to contemplate but once you start the process then it takes a life of it's own, and the fear miraculously disappears. So good luck with yours.
xx

[anya]

Thanks for the supportive words. Susan, I used to dream of being Samantha also. I'd be happy to wiggle my nose and banish all that stuff into oblivion.

Mim, I wish you were to help too. My friend Linda said she'd come help. I hope she's as tough as Susan's friend m'lou.

Judy you are so right about a positive spirit. I've gotten pretty good at dashing any negative thoughts that come into my head.

I know that is true byrd. I've experienced it before in the face of a difficult change. Perhaps I forgot it. Thanks for the reminder.

I'm packing up my computer and sending it to the doctor right after I close out this comment. See ya in a week or so. Hope I can handle this....I'm feeling withdrawal pains already.

[susan]

Actually you know MLou wasn't tough at all ... I think I was just ready to say goodbye and let go of all that stuff.

[Paris]

"I fancy myself an enthusiastic acceptor of change. An adventuress into the unexplored. A traveler into virgin territory." <<<---- I so LOVE those words, Anya. And I am going to print them off and post them right here in front of me. Might even post it on my own blog, if you don't mind!

Change is scary. But as I have learned this past week, taking CHANCES to make change...is what I am all about now. I dont want any regrets. And I definitely dont want to find myself sitting and wondering "what if"...I want to KNOW, no matter where it leads me to in my life.

Love you!!!

*hugs*

[Mmm]

"A panic driven clinging to the known and comfortable. A trepidation of the unknown."

-So very well put, Anya. Not sure what happened to my previous blog comment so am attempting to rewrite it here.

I love how you capture all the thoughts on transitions form those of us in your blog world.

BTW, I did want to say a huge thanks for your most recent comment on my blog about change too. I have rearead it about 4 times now. Very intriguing for certain. TY.

[J.]

I've definitely put off and resisted, but it doesn't help. I too cling to the known and comfortable. Part of me is deeply resentful because the whole situation has been put upon me, but I have to deal with it no matter what. I think you'll be fine, there's so much that's brave about you.

[Paris]

Anya..thinking of you...

xo