CHANGE

I'm distracted by the weather. By this abrupt change of season where leaves have turned color and dropped from their thin summer limbs. Where longer sleeves and jackets are necessary for cooler nights. Where people with motorcycles wonder how much more time they have to surf the road.

I imagine winter's dead zone. Piles of filthy snow and melted slush. People in boots and long coats and down jackets. Scarves and gloves. Cold apartments and chilly walks to the car.

I imagine the holiday season and the rush that comes with it. Bright red taillights pouring from parking lots and garages. Last minute thoughts and ideas that tumble around inside busy minds, The loneliness of a long night when nothing moves.

I crawl inside myself when the weather changes because I'm uncomfortable. Shorter days leave me less optimistic. Darker nights lengthen my imaginations.

Change is as certain as death. It happens to all of us. None of us can avoid the inevitable cycle of life just as we're unable to dodge its unforeseen consequences. I'm not comfortable during change because of the odd fluctuation of temperaments and states of mind. I can hope for the best, which is I suppose is what we all do, but I can envision the worst as well.

So let it change and so be it. Its simple advice, but so difficult to absorb. I change when everything else does. But nothing changes unless I do.