In the past two-and-a-half years, Ryan and I have experienced our fair share of change. The word "change" -- the act or instance of making or becoming different; to transform or convert --- is cycling through my mind like an unstoppable force lately thanks to a recent change at work. How much change can one person go through and accept before fighting back or is accepting change the answer?
My life as well as Ryan's has been transformed by the following events, some unforeseen and others planned:
- Ryan and I got engaged
- My dad lost his job
- Ryan's grandma and grandpa passed away two weeks apart
- My dad went to rehab for alcoholism
- Ryan's step dad was diagnosed with cancer
- My parents filed for divorce
- My dad got in a car accident
- Ryan and I got married
- My parents divorce was final
- Ryan and I moved to Boston
- Ryan and I got new jobs
- Ryan's step dad and my now father in law died from cancer
- I got pregnant on accident
- I had a miscarriage
- My job was changed at work without my consent - not huge but a topper to all else in my mind
In essence, I guess I am searching for some sort of stability or reason for change. Is it coincidental that I am working for a company that has organizational changes every few months and lays-off people like a snake shedding old skin?
What I am starting to embrace, but always knew as others do, is that change is just a part of life. It brings happiness, learning opportunities, a chance to join the Boston clan and say "fuck", a time to cry, a reason to have a glass of wine, an excuse to go to your favorite restaurant, or a perfect way to change life for the better if you dare.
Ryan and I did take a dare by moving to Boston and changing our lives, and even among the heartache we've experienced with change while living on the East Coast, we've been given the opportunity to create new experiences for ourselves here, to transform the "West Coast" way our minds think and to embrace what is truly a different way of living on the East Coast.
Like so.
"Can we really just put our Christmas tree on the street for the garbage guys to pick up?" Ryan asked.
"According to the Public Works department, yes," I responded.
You know the holidays are over when you see x-Christmas trees lining the sidewalk of the busiest street in Boston - Massachusetts Avenue.
So in closing, although the last two-and-a-half years have been full of ups and downs, I am accepting change as part of life since the two truly do go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other.
