Ch-Ch-Changes

By Ava Cuvay

You likely know the common saying about how the only certain things in life are Death and Taxes. I’d like to respectfully disagree, or at least add to that small but mighty list: Change.

Change is a constant in our lives (is that irony or an oxymoron?), and I’m finally grown up enough to admit that I’m horrible at dealing with it. Even good change. As much as I’d like to think I can “roll with it” when plans change, it lends a lot of stress to my life. Maybe I’m a creature of habit (yes), maybe I’m a “the devil you know” kind of gal (to a certain extent, for sure), or maybe I’m just set in my ways (I hope not, but it’s very possible.)

Whatever the case, I require stability in my schedule, and only small, infrequent changes.

And when has life every thrown us only “small, infrequent” changes?

Like almost a year ago, when my employer downsized me out of my job. Or last Fall when I decided to take a stab at being a Substitute Teacher. Or last night when hubby said “let’s go buy that shelf unit and dining room area rug you’ve wanted.” Even good change throws me for a loop, because it never arrives when I’ve planned for it. What? Go shopping for my rug when I was planning on [insert tedious household chore]? Uh…. Uh… uh… I guess we could do that… ;-)

I should be better with change, especially given my decision about four years ago to become a published author. Especially considering how the writer’s life is fraught (filled?) with change. The industry as a whole is in a constant state of flux, and this necessarily trickles down to us as individual authors. We have to act and react. We also have to plan and replan (then act and react again) to our individual careers. Balance what’s working with what’s not, try new things, evaluate and contemplate promotional opportunities, and ultimately determine what best fits our writerly needs at this particular juncture.

Like raising kids, being an author comes with no manual (although some people will claim they have all the answers) but with a constant underlying sense that we’re not doing enough/not getting it right/not accomplishing what we expected we should. Hence the continual reevaluation of our careers, where they’ve been and where we want them to go.

For me, it’s often exhausting—emotionally, mentally, and physically—because it’s filled with change. I’m not complaining about being an author. I love it, and I certainly wouldn’t trade it for anything. In fact, I have every intention of continuing in my writerly journey, and would encourage everyone else who has this dream to do so as well. It’s exciting, and challenging, and fulfilling, and never boring or stagnant. It’s a glorious endeavor.
 
But all the change….

So, what kind of change (good or bad) have you experienced recently?

Comments

  1. One of my favorite songs is "Turn, Turn, Turn," which comes straight from Ecclesiastes, especially "there is a season." No one told me that life seasons changed as often, suddenly, or sometimes awfully as they do. But it keeps things exciting, doesn't it?

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  2. 9 has given us a lot of change with bebe - more independent, more everything...some days I think I'm coping well, some days....yeah, y'all know.

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    1. I worry that I’m running out of time with my kids... and then there are the days they can’t leave the house fast enough!

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  3. The older I get, the more change seems to get thrown at me. One of the most difficult aspects of change is losing members of my extended family. In the past year two of my cousins passed away, and just recently, one of my aunts. My husband and I are "the old ones" in the family when it seems like yesterday, that title belonged to my grandparents. But change also brings good things, like new partners for my daughters and new, exciting jobs. Like you said, Ava, change is a sure constant.

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    1. I think we need to just look on the good side of change... which is getting harder for a crabby ol’ gal like me ;-)

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  4. Too many to enumerate, but mostly, change is why I chose PEACE as my word for 2018--because even in change, I need to be peaceful... hugs, Ava!!

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    1. I think your word is a great way to approach change!

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