Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
“Nothing endures but change.” – Heraclitus
I am handed this beautifully framed quote upon my resignation from my first job. The senior manager who gives it to me is one I respect and admire and as I read the quote, I know it is one of great import.
I read it and I feel the bitter sweetness of this moment.
I read it and I internally rail against its message.
I read it and I know, this is something I will strive to master throughout my life.
“Nothing endures but change.”
Crap. I do not want to change jobs. I have loved my job and do not want to go into the unknown.
But, I must.
I am anchored in my first company by my doe-eyed innocence when upon meeting its President I say, “Oh you graduated from Clark too, but that was the year I was born.”
I am anchored by my inexperience and in order to grow, I must leave.
I must move on.
It is time.
But I don’t want to go after receiving the attention of my bosses and coworkers with the parties, gifts and recognition of my achievements. I want nothing more than to remain.
But it is time. I must go.
“Nothing endures but change.”
Life is about change.
The seasons teach us – elegantly and beautifully, especially this season here in the northeast, of autumn. Summer becomes fall as the days grow shorter, the sun weaker, and the plants less hearty. It is elegant and inevitable.
The seasons teach us that everything changes.
Yet, we humans don’t accept the lesson easily.
Change is uncomfortable. Change is different. Change is hard.
Change may come from within as our own desires:
- I want a new job.
- I want a new experience.
- I want a new home.
Or it may come from outside as external influences:
- Our work status changes.
- Our children grow up.
- Our body says it’s time to retire.
Change may be sought from within or it may be unwelcome from without.
In either case, change comes upon us and we must deal with it.
For me, change has been central to my work for many years. The quote, given to me at the tender age of 28, impacts me to eventually shift from finance into consulting. Consulting always involves change. The work demands it.
So I think I achieved, if not mastery, than at least reaching and accepting the inevitability of change.
Forget career, life expects change.
Parenting requires an incredible ability to ride the wave of change with the growth and development of our children. There is always something new, something different, or something unfamiliar.
My mantra has become, “I have no idea what is around the corner. I only know 12, 13 or 14 years old.” Now, I have graduated to 15 years old.
After that, I have no idea.
So change?
I got it.
Yup. I’m on it.
Am I though? Am I really?
I have earnestly pursued my fourth career of author, following those of finance, strategic consulting, and mother.
As I shift from strategic consulting to writing children’s books, I think the change significant enough to carry me through at least a decade.
Turns out, I am wrong.
Change pushes at me again.
It whispers, “You must do something more.”
A desire to do something different to change people’s lives does not go away.
Change gets louder, “You must get back into consulting.”
But wait, what? I just shifted away from consulting toward writing.
Yet, the desire becomes a yearning. I yearn to offer some way to help people in their personal lives.
But, how?
The push starts in earnest, but without any clarity. So, I decide, if I am to get back into consulting, I want make the most impact. I concentrate on business as I have 20+ years experience. It’s what I know, it’s what I am good at, and it’s where I am comfortable.
Change gets even louder, “You must change your consulting from business to individuals.”
Wait a minute. I just become a writer about a second ago and as I continue that, I would like to rely on something I know, something I am familiar, something I can easily do.
Change shouts at the top of its lungs, “Change your focus. Take on a holistic view. Rely on your intuitive methods.”
Crap. When change shouts at the top of its lungs, it is very difficult to ignore.
So here I am.
Check out my new work at: http://www.kecfreedom.com.
I am going to continue with this monthly blog, to write books on family and children and now apparently, to consult in a holistic way.
“Nothing endures by change.”
Here we go.
As always, wishing you joy,
Kim
