Change is in the Works

New Directions and Opportunities

Photo by Gary Meulemans on Unsplash

I’ve exercised, had breakfast, and finished my household chores. As I sit here this Friday morning, the sun is shining; the cats are sunning themselves, and I’m thinking about changes. I’ve written about the topic many times during the last four years, but it’s resurfaced again.

My perspective differs from most; I’ve lived through seven decades of change.

In the 1940s, when I was a youngster, a loaf of white bread cost 10 cents. I walked half a mile to and from school four times daily in the rain and snow. The scariest thing was crossing the main street without a crosswalk. Children were to be seen and not heard. I regularly visited with the neighbors, and our front door was not locked—it was that safe. As a teenager, I rode the bus downtown by myself to go shopping.

As a wife and mother in the 1960s and 1970s, I bought three gallons of gas for a dollar at the corner gas station. Our first house cost $13,000, and that loaf of bread cost about 25 cents. We lived in a neighborhood where kids walked a block to school and had lunch while they were there. At school, they had fire and earthquake drills. They rode their bikes downtown and to the library. I don’t remember having to lock the front door, but maybe.

In the 1990s, when my grandsons were young, a loaf of bread cost roughly 75 cents, and a gallon of gas ranged from $1.00 to $1.50. They walked to and from school, but my younger grandson went to a private high school, so he carpooled.

We lived next door to them for nine years, so the boys spent plenty of time at our house. We played cards with them many nights, bowled in a league, and had many fun times together. The neighborhood was close-knit. However, we did lock the house and car doors.

Today, schoolchildren are typically driven to and from school. They practice lockdown drills in case of school shootings. Gas costs around $5 a gallon, and a loaf of bread costs about $3. That first house we bought is now valued at $189,000. My great-granddaughter asks questions and is included in our conversations.

Many changes have occurred during my lifetime. Some were wonderful, others not so much. However, that’s not the point; it’s more about my ability to accept and thrive in the face of them.

Experts say managing one's feelings about change involves acknowledging them, focusing on the present, and developing strategies for coping with uncertainty. Maintaining normalcy, creating comfort, and reframing one's thinking about the change are also helpful.

They also say that focusing on change creates hope for the future. By doing so, people shift from anxiety and turn their concerns into curiosity and wonder. Conversations about possibilities can inspire positive emotions, such as excitement, confidence, team spirit, and a sense of accomplishment.

So, accepting change means acknowledging my feelings, identifying their positive aspects, and cultivating a growth mindset. It's about being flexible, managing stress, and viewing change as an opportunity for growth and learning.

And managing life changes means acknowledging them, preparing emotionally and practically, maintaining routines, seeking support, and prioritizing self-care. Focusing on what can be controlled, practicing mindfulness, and building resilience are helpful.

Sometimes that is easier said than done, I am finding.

However, this week, our family had a very special life change, which was very easy to accept. On Tuesday, my second great-granddaughter was born. She and her mother are doing well, her older sister and the rest of the family are enchanted. I can’t wait to meet her.

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Janice Walton is a psychologist, widow, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and writer. Her book Aging Well: 30 Lessons for Making the Most of Your Later Years is available on Amazon, and she has written articles for Substack.