Perspective

“Things are different now. You’re older. You won’t be treated the same, talked to the same, or listened to in the same way. You can’t remain the same anymore…”

At that moment, a realisation struck me. You’ve probably read or heard something similar before. So, what insights do I have to offer?

Transition--

Change.

Can you remember how much you grew from grade five to six? Or what your haircut looked like in your first year of high school? Can you remember your favourite pair of shoes from seven years ago?

Maybe you think these minor changes are superficial-- or perhaps insignificant in the grand scheme , and yet, humans love talking about themselves more than anything. When you travel somewhere new, you share your experiences with friends. When you ace a test, you tell your parents. But if we enjoy talking about ourselves so much, how come we struggle to recall such simple changes in our own lives?

On the other hand, some changes are harder to ignore–moving to a new city, switching schools, getting rejected from your dream university, going through a divorce, or losing a parent . People dwell on these for weeks, months, even years. Yet, they are also just changes–life transitions, some of them are quite common. Still, accepting them can be difficult. Moving on can feel impossible, even when these changes are inevitable. The real question here isn’t whether these events are worth dwelling over, but: How much of my life am I going to spend upset or regretting past changes?

Transition is an interesting thing. It happens every day, sometimes so subtly that you don’t even notice it.Other days, it’s so vivid you can feel it with your eyes closed, hear it in your sleep, or smell it in the air.

Transition is inevitable; it’s essential for civilization–and for each individual.

Perhaps we should pause and appreciate the transitions in our lives, no matter the emotions they stir: sadness, happiness, anger, fear or anxiety. After all, they shape our character.

So consider this: Will you see the cup half empty, or half full?