Now that school has started and we made it through the obstacles of obtaining the perfect backpacks and the perfect outfit for those back-to-school photos, we can move our focus back to making sure we take care of ourselves as we continue to take care of others. As part of taking care of ourselves, there must be an understanding that we need to become comfortable with change. Change is never easy, and it comes on many different levels.
Over the past few weeks, I have seen tears from parents whose children are moving to a new school or higher grade, more and more people dealing with the loss of a loved one, and even those leaving one position to move on to a new venture. While emotions come with change, we need to understand that the seasons of life will continue, and we must do all we can to normalize what change may look like—from year to year, day to day and, in some cases, minute to minute.
Recently, I was asked to give the graduation speech at the William P. Clements Unit. Upon arriving, the pressure to deliver an inspirational word to the largest Windham School District graduation ever held in Texas hit me. (The Windham School District includes the educational programs within the various facilities of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.) My message to the graduates was to embrace the changes that each day of life presents and learn how to be adaptable—because if you don’t change with the times, it will leave you in the past.
I told them, “As the seasons of life continue to change, we must be flexible and allow those changes to lead us to the kind of person we desire to be today. Often, we dwell on the mistakes of yesterday, but life requires us to simply do better with the season that is on the way.”
When I finished, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room because the words I shared gave them hope that despite what happened in the last season, better days were coming—if they believed in themselves and their ability to do better.
We all need to be reminded of that each and every day. I sit back and think about everything that has happened since I decided to dedicate myself to the service of others. I have met people who were on the verge of giving up and others who appreciated a kind word. No matter the season, I always want to ensure I leave an impact on those who cross my path. I desire for my impact to be memorable when I’m gone. I want people to think about every interaction we have; I want them to believe that my interaction with them changed my life. Nothing is more gratifying than hearing someone say, “Because of you I chose to not give up.”
If we each strive to live this kind of life, then our reality could be one of love, joy and hope no matter what season of life we are in. I wish we could wiggle our noses and fix everything that goes wrong in our lives, but sometimes we have to weather the storm, sometimes we have to go through it, sometimes we have to feel like we are drowning so we can appreciate the life jacket when it comes. Many people think the woes of life only hit them. This is a misunderstanding. The struggle is not just for a select few people. It is something we all go through. It is one more thing that unites us.
We can all talk about a time we had to make it through. We can look back and say, “I made it.” And if I was able to make it, so will you. Be encouraged and continue to fight the good fight, for as the seasons change, you grow, and that growth is what makes us into what we desire to be.
Change is never going to be easy but if we learn how to accept it, learn from it, and most importantly grow through it, then we will always know that our tomorrow will be better than our today.
