Life Changes and We Change With it — Often More Than We Realize!

Earlier today, I found myself looking through one of my big paper files in which I keep notes on scraps of paper, scribbled with ideas for things to write about.

Every now and then, I like to go through these files to see if there's something that catches my eye and makes me feel inspired the write a new essay or article... but also to get rid of anything that has become hopelessly dated because it was related to news that's no longer news. And sometimes I find things that I can hardly believe represented my opinion, at all!

I think it's a good idea — exercise, even — to go through our old writing and see what's there, as much as anything as way of tracking our own progress (or sometimes lack thereof!) and to see how we have changed over time.

When I look back across the past couple of decades — keeping in mind that I've actually been a blogger for close to 25 years — there's little doubt that I have mellowed out quite a lot, and let go of a lot of the anger and irritation so I used to have with life and people in it.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that I was outright intolerant, but I definitely didn't have a lot of patience with those who were dogmatically stuck inside their "canned" principles without actually having given personal thought to what they claimed to be representing.

Maybe this mellowing process is simply something that happens to us as we mature and put on some years, we chill out a bit and find it easier to just let stuff go, rather than getting all riled up every five or ten minutes.

Truth is, I am well aware that I don't have all the answers! Actually, I'm not sure I have any answers, beyond your basic "what's for dinner" and such! And so, getting on my soapbox to start "correcting" people about their perceptions of life is hardly a productive or particularly compassionate approach to anything.

Although I have no fear of speaking my mind, particularly when pushed by people, I have always been much of a peacemaker.

It was never been my job to tell people "what to do," although I have no hesitation in showing them potential alternatives very openly. But once I have done that, I tend to just walk away from the situation and allow them to make up their own mind. If they end up thinking that what I had to offer was great, cool! If it turns out they don't care at all, also cool!

As that old saying goes: "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink!"

Not my place to ever "make" anyone try to take my words as facts. Plenty of people like that in the world. Most of them seem to be politicians! And they are annoying!

Anyway, I came away from sorting my "ideas file" with the recognition that I have changed — for the mellower — but my core beliefs about many things remain rock solid.

And I'm OK with that!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend!

How about you? Do you keep a file of creative ideas? Do you ever revisit your old writing/creations? Does doing so make you aware of the ways in which you have changed... and stayed the same? Leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

(All text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is ORIGINAL CONTENT, created expressly for this platform — Not posted elsewhere!)

Created at 2024.04.13 01:07 PDT
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