I am a pragmatic woman. Some say too cartesian because of how I think and process matters. Anyhow, I must say that my life experiences led me to where I stand today. They all taught me, some harshly, some less crudely. But it does require some pain to master anything in our human lives. Not necessarily suffering, because it is more a mental construct that can occur without any physical discomfort. I was aware, quite early on, that we are mortal creatures. And over time, I got more and more certain that the only thing we know for sure the moment we are born is that we will die someday. So what did I decide subconsciously and more and more intentionally for almost 4 decades now? I will drain the cup of bitterness and enjoy Life as much as I can! I thrive by constantly learning, invariably acquiring new skills and knowledge, and doing my best to make the most of anything thrown at me. When my close friends were lamenting the "wasted" years I spent in a highly toxic personal relationship, I felt on the contrary that the teaching was huge. A few years earlier, it was my family and close friends again who would feel sorry for me about what had happened to the company that I founded from scratch and that I considered my "baby". Weirdly enough, even back then, I didn't perceive the loss as a "failure". According to the variables at hand, it was inevitable. I had tried and tried to set things straight, but I was battling alone against many. And this instance somehow transferred me back to when I first landed in Germany, at age 12, and I didn't speak one word of German. I was shy and introverted and didn't have my parents next to me to guide and protect me. But I managed to adjust, learned a challenging foreign language within a few months, and even made friends after some time. I felt greatly at ease in Germany, much more than I used to in my country of birth, Lebanon. This is sad. For no matter how hard I tried, and I still do, specifically, since I moved back to Lebanon in 2011, I remain an alien on Lebanese soil. I am not sure what type of adaptation is required and I have no doubt I do not want to venture there. You see, not every change we encounter is meant for us. I know change leads to growth in general. I aspire to move forward, at my pace, acclimating myself to changing state of affairs. I might seem slow because you know, change is not always comfortable. It is however painful to remain stuck wherever one is at, even if it is currently a good place. Because, as the adage goes, everything changes and nothing stays the same. The only constant in Life is changing...
Some quotes on embracing change:
Don't let the word change scare you. Rather embrace the fact that we have choices and can choose to make changes at our own free will - Unknown author
To exist is to change. To change is to mature. To mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly - Henry Bergson
Life happens. Adapt. Embrace change, and make the most of everything that comes your way - Nick Jonas
Become a student of change. It is the only thing that will remain constant - Anthony D'Angelo
Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights - Pauline R. Kezer
Embrace change. Envision what could be, challenge the status quo, and drive creative destruction - Charles Koch
We can embrace change by knowing we serve an unchanging God - David Jeremiah
There is nothing so stable as change - Bob Dylan
The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance - Alan Watts
And with this post, the 45 Things I Learned series is coming to an end.
Will resume the M W F schedule of 2022. But...
A new project is going to be launched soon. Stay tuned!
