THE TIMES ARE CHANGIN’

THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’

I have never been much a Bob Dylan fan, but he is a great poet/writer and the times are changing.  As Summer slowly fades into Fall, I tend to reflect on the changes, that are occurring around me.  We trade sandals for Wellies and swim suits for jeans and a hoodie.  The hurricanes seem to be bigger and more destructive, wildfires seem like they won’t stop, and earthquakes occurring in places where they haven’t in dozens of years.  We have very little control over Mother Nature and others, but we can make personal changes.  Here are a few thoughts on taking control or making changes: these are the things the help:

• Change something about your home or work – paint a room or wall a new bold color. Work a little later and either re-arrange or clean off your desk.  The changes will help your attitude toward going to work or coming home.
• Change your social circle – go have coffee with the new guy in accounting or the elderly neighbor two doors down and get to know them. Step out of your comfort zone and meet new people.
• Change your routine – take a new route to or from the office, hike a new trail, take up a new activity or pick up an old one.
• Change your attitude about something – this one’s hard. Instead of complaining about the traffic on Belt Line, listen to a podcast and be grateful you had the extra time to learn about a new topic. Don’t yell at the driver next to you for doing something you think is not right, try and have some sympathy and understanding.  Perhaps they’re having a bad day and giving them a smile might make them feel better. Smile, laugh, pay it forward or eat a Cheeto. Life is short we might as well enjoy.
• Change your eating habits – I don’t mean go on a diet. Just change what you eat or how you eat.  Try a new restaurant, a new recipe, or have breakfast for dinner (the kids will love it).

Whether it’s the weather, family, the environment or you, one thing is constant and that is change.  Change is good; change is necessary.  To quote Bob Dylan:

Come mothers and fathers

Throughout the land

And don’t criticize

What you can’t understand

Your sons and your daughters

Are beyond your command

Your old road is rapidly agin’

Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand

For the times they are a-changin’