The Need for Change

One thing I have noticed as I get older is that it's harder to embrace change and find the energy to start the process of growth, like selling your house and thinking about all the work and the what-ifs, and asking yourself if it's worth it. Then your mind goes into how you could solve the problems that are the reason you want to sell your house in the first place.

At first, I thought it was laziness. Then I started thinking it was fear. Then I thought it was both. You're leaving something you know and replacing it with a different problem, like learning a new town or city and dealing with new problems or the challenges that a new house might present—living in a new social construct that might not be the same as the one you're leaving.

Now I can see what my parents went through. It wasn't change; it was being forced to change. As the old saying goes, a body that stays in motion stays in motion. A body at rest stays at rest. A will to change, to be excited about new experiences, to try new things. That's asking your mind to create new pathways.

I believe the fear of being let down is a powerful emotion. It becomes your whole world. Instead of being excited about the new adventure, you question whether it's worth the time, money, and effort. Recognizing this fear is the first step to overcoming it and embracing new experiences, even if, in the end, you wish you'd just stayed home and been bored, because it cost you nothing.

I am starting to see that being curious, forcing self-change, and working that muscle is almost more important than physical muscle. I learned to survive, go to school, get a job, get married, buy a house, raise a family, and save for retirement, then get sick and die.

I know that sounds harsh, but if I don't move forward, I'll end up fulfilling that dream I just typed. However, if I start moving forward, there is a chance that between retirement, sickness, and death, I can do more than be fearful and bored, complaining about doing the same old thing.

To stop worrying about everything and have a dream, have a plan. Creating a plan can give hope and motivate me to take that first step toward change, making the process feel less overwhelming.