Changes

Changes

They're not always noticeable - but they always happen. Fighting change is like tilting at windmills. You'll never win. You'll just grow weary and weak.

One afternoon at the gallery, another artist asked me, " May I ask you a question about your work?"

'Of course,' I replied.  

"These three pieces ", she said as she pointed them out. "Tell me about these." 

"Interesting that you pointed those out. Those are much earlier pieces. " 

"I could tell." she answered. "They're a bit incongruous."

I smiled, a bit sadly.

I shared our story - mine and Chaz's. Then, she fully understood.

Change was taking place in my work. Not anything I sought to do. But our life's journey; the challenges, suffering and disappointments had found their way into my work. It's grown quieter. I've grown quieter. I seek solace now, more than before. I welcome alone time - time with my thoughts, fears, hopes, dreams.

Change comes - whether invited or not. All we really control is how we react to it. What changes in us do we allow? How do we allow the changes to grow us, stretch us?

We've been in this chapter for well over two years now. I admit, I fought the changes for a long while. I tilted at that windmill - ALS - hoping to bring it to submission.

Then slowly, I learned that the only way to grow through this was to submit myself - not to give up, but to accept.  

Change comes - for everyone - in many forms.... health, finances, relationships...How will we accept it? How will we adapt? What will we allow it to make of us?