I’m a pretty undisciplined person — I know that.
I also know that discipline (much like most other things in life) is something, that when exercised regularly, you get better at. But then I’ve never liked exercise.
So it’s at times like this, surrounded by boxes and dreading the thought of moving AGAIN, that I try to be thankful for these natural ‘new chapters’ in our lives. For many (most?) people there are no such natural breaks in life. Most people don’t find themselves moving every few years, being forced to clear out and reassess their lives (literally and metaphorically). Instead they have to choose, consciously, to stop and look up.
Given the way that life relentlessly keeps on moving forward it is a miracle to me that some people do this—clearly they’re the disciplined ones! I know if I wasn’t forced to I probably wouldn’t.
Of course there is a lot to be said for those who keep on with things despite the sameness of it all. Often it is all too easy to just throw in the towel and start afresh — the lure of the new can seem all the more impressive out of the corner of your eye! However, when this faithful ‘perseverance’ turns into lazy ‘comfortableness’ we know we have a problem.
So as we face all the challenges of another new start–building life in a new place, making new friends and getting to know new places–I try to remember to be thankful for this natural ‘new chapter’ in our lives. It is a time of fresh starts full of forgiveness, opportunities and, if I let it, full of thankfulness as well!
What things act as ‘new chapters’ in your life? How do you avoid your own personal groundhog day?
2 comments:
I couldn't find a way to comment on the "medium" page, so I'll do it here.
Thanks for the perspective. Sue and I moved from Kenya to UK last week and so there are new beginnings for us too. However, these are mixed in with old friends and patterns because we're moving back to a town that we've lived in on and off for 30 years. It's helpful to recognize the need to stop and reassess. Otherwise we'll just slot back into the same old same old.
Thanks Dave. You're very right in so much that changing back to situations that aren't completely new can prove some of the most challenging. You've often changed a lot, because of your different experiences elsewhere, but the place you return to might not have done so much. How do you, sensitively, make changes to the way you live in that 'familiar' place? Tricky...
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