For change to be such a natural thing, it seems awfully hard at times. The world we live in and all that is in it is in a constant state of change. We are born. We grow up. We grow pubic hair. We grow old and we finally die. We are in a constant state of transition just like the weather, the climate, and public opinion.

Since change is apparently a natural thing, why is it feared like the plague to some and like breathing fresh air to others? I look at change like I do getting a hair cut. Eventually, I have to get a haircut. I know this and accept this. When to get a haircut is basically my choice and I can put it off if I want to, but there may be consequences to my lack of action. Something of importance may come up unexpectedly where it would be best that I look good and here I am looking shaggy and unkempt. I can stay on top of things by getting a haircut on a regular basis and this might keep me more prepared than before, but, as we all know, not every haircut makes us look better. When this thing of importance comes up and I’ve prepared myself for it by getting regular haircuts, now I find that I have a bad haircut which is probably worse than no haircut at all. A bad haircut is one of those variables in life that we just have to live with.

Whether I didn’t get a haircut or took the initiative to get a haircut only to get a bad haircut, kind of makes both decisions equal. Either way, I would have ended up at my important engagement feeling a bit self conscious and not in my best form. It all seems a little pointless, doesn’t it? Well, it isn’t.

If I hadn’t cut my hair, I would know exactly what I was going to look like…shaggy. But by trying to stay on top of change and getting my haircut, I at least had a fifty-fifty chance that things were going to go my way when the time came. We can try to stay the same and hope that everything will turn out better even though we know the real outcome or we can go ahead and make the change and pray that we get a good haircut. Still doesn’t sound like much of a choice?

Well, it isn’t.

Life is a series of choices and non-choices that we either make or we don’t make. There are consequences to both. We all grow up, grow old, and then die. We all go through change whether we embrace it or fear it. Change will happen, so the question is not will you change, but it is how will you change?

To me, I know I’m going to have to get a haircut, so I might as well look good as needed. If I get a bad haircut, well it’s not something to be happy about, but it is temporary thing…like everything. My hair is going to grow back and maybe then I will get a good haircut. In the meantime, my smile might divert other’s attention away from my poor lopsided ears. Smiles have a way of evening out lopsided ears.