Change Happens: Crawl, Walk, Run, Cycle, Drive! 

(Or for the more intellectual types: Changes in mobility from birth to adulthood)

Some time after birth, children learn to crawl, then walk, and then run! Then comes the BICYCLE!!!!

Imagine a very young child who’s already learnt how to walk and run, receiving their first ride-on plastic bike, the type where the child’s feet reach the ground to push them along.

After a year or so, the same child gets a new push-tricycle with less than effective pedals and a rear handle for parents to control speed and direction.

With growth and change comes the next upgrade, a bigger tricycle with real pedals, and then later a mini-child-size bicycle with rear trainer wheels! The child is ecstatic with their new-found independence and freedom!

In a few years time  the child realises the trainer wheels are holding back his/her progress and no longer look cool! The handle streamers and the noisy-clacker-thingys on the wheel spokes are long gone. The child begs the parents to adjust their bike and remove the trainer wheels. The child desperately wants a change! Change leads to good things, like going faster around corners!

After a few spills and grazed limbs, the child learns to balance on two wheels minus the trainer wheels. Life is good!

That’s until more growth and change happens and the child needs a bigger better bike. The child begs his/her parents again for a new bike! What will the change be this time: new BMX bike, new mountain bike, new racing bike.

Again the child learns and adjusts to the changes that come with a new bigger bike, but after some practice, is thrilled reaching new speeds and levels of mobility.

Depending on the size and age of the child at this point – another change may be required. Improved newer model?

However with time, the child eventually grows old enough to get his/her driver’s license! Oh Boy! That’s a big change for the parents and the child who is now a fully blown teenager! And this teenager desperately wants this important change! Imagine the freedom! Imagine the possibilities if Mum and Dad would share their cars!

Well true freedom only comes with that first purchase! Typically any street legal car or motorbike will satisfy at this point, because the teenager is so delighted with their change in status from  ‘totally reliant on parents and public transport’, to ‘fluently mobile’!

Later on, after working for a few years, the young adult can afford a better car or even their dream car! Well maybe not the Porsche or Lamborghini!!!!

In this scenario change meant that something new  and exciting was about to happen! Yes there was bumps and grazes along the way, but the child welcomed and embraced change, because change meant growing up! Growing up and facing change was a bonus back then!

Imagine that same child refusing to accept and embrace change. Imagine him/her aged 21-years riding a 5-year-old’s tricycle!!! Imagine that same 21-year-old riding that same tricycle along the highway or motorway! Ineffective, tricky and down right ridiculous! Much like a clown at the circus, and we laugh at that clown!

All change requires some level of discomfort and adjustment, as we learn new and different ways. When we fail to accept and embrace  change, we create extra pain and distress, adding to the initial discomfort that generally first accompanies change. When we avoid the inevitable, the inevitable comes whether or not we are prepared!

Good news! You get to choose your level of discomfort or comfort associated with change! If you fully accept change happening in your life, adjusting your attitude and remaining upbeat and optimistic, you can survive just about any changes! Every cloud does have a silver lining – but only you can find it! Any for every door that closes another one opens………

by Monica Jakovich

Become a Possible Being.