Hello Friends!

Spring is so close now. This long winter, although beautiful, is finally about to yield. As one friend said via Twitter the other day “I’ll take these blizzards over the smoke of last summer anytime.” A valid statement for sure, though we are all surely looking forward to the sun.

This weekend we’ll also spring forward with the clocks. Many people are opposed to that. I’m neutral, as it doesn’t affect me either way, but I know many individuals and companies who want it to end. Either way, it’s not a practice the globe embraces as a whole community.

I think what this stirred in me was underscored by my partner talking about Trump’s salute of the Chinese government implementing a “president for life.” Once you’re in charge, you can do anything, you can enforce and change pretty much whatever you want. Although that’s an entirely different kind of column — one I’m not going to chat about here — this one is about change.

Not the kind you find in your couch or the bottom of your gym bag, but self change and the honesty of it. Perhaps change is not the most inspiring choice of word — let’s go with growth, evolution, emotional maturity.

It’s true that everywhere we turn we have people offering their two cents (like I am now). Videos meant to help us jump off the hamster wheel and enjoy life more. Memes that evoke thoughtful sharing to a friend in need, instead of meeting in person for a hug and a chat. It’s still thoughtful nonetheless to reach out in whatever way we can to let someone know we are thinking of them.

I’ll echo Brianna Wiest with a little snippet: “As a society the fact that the phrases ‘self care’ and ‘self love’ exist says something.”

Change is not always the next stop in our personal growth, I believe it’s acceptance. We may find ourselves in a place that we are unhappy with, or still looking for that proverbial open door to appear.

Even if it’s closed, nothing can happen (good or bad) if we don’t at least knock or quietly turn the handle and peek in. What if we just accept our choices, own them, really own them, without judgment or blame.

That’s a tough one for sure — we tend to like blaming others for the crappy stuff, but don’t often give them kudos for the good stuff. We say: “Oh yeah, I did that all by myself!” But if something goes wrong, we tend to point the finger rather than accepting it and owning the fumble.

It’s OK, I promise. To mess it up sometimes is only human, right?  To accept those errors is freedom from anger and a cluttered mind. If we focus on how we want to feel, rather than what we want have, life unfolds in very different ways. Implementing change is a commitment.

Is it necessary to get ‘beach body ready,’ to find the perfect mate, to take that trip. “You’ll never do it if you just think about it,” a friend said last week while about to embark on an amazing adventure. Ain’t that the truth!

We can think about it all we want, but the follow through is essential to starting the journey. Again, do we need to ‘change’ to do this? Or just accept what is? How do I want to feel, what is the return on investment? Self love, compassion and kindness. Yes, I get it, we need the almighty dollar to do some of these things, but so much of the feel part is free.

When my incredibly insightful teenager reminds me to be unapologetically me, I know I’m on the right track. If we dig deep, really deep, our pocket full of change may offer more than we realize if we take the time to accept what is right now, embrace it and either let it go or continue merrily skipping along the path we’ve created with your change jingling happily, annoying those who spent all of theirs trying to become something that does not allow them to feel like their truest self.

Your life is waiting friends. Live it now, any way you want; you have nothing to prove, just be your perfect self!