Wednesday, October 19, 2011

pocket change

When I first started blogging almost six years ago, life around me was changing at a frantic pace. Our nest emptied, my father died, all his sibblings and spouses died, my mother downsized again, our dog died, our church was going through difficult times and dear friends were moving to other places . . . and then there were the dramtic changes at both of my work places. Changes so many and coming so quickly I often wondered if I could keep up. I think blogging helped me as a place to express myself creatively, and gave me a quiet room in my life where I could focus on something else for a few minutes. It became a hobby.

Around that time I remember reading an article written by a 50-something woman who was expressing similar feelings about the significant transformations in her life. She gracefully was accepting a new stage of life, but I'll never forget how at the same time, she expressed that she had reached the age where, should she die, no one would gasp in shock and say she was too young.

I was just learning how to incorporate photos into my posts and mentally began to compose a post about change. I decided to call it "pocket change" and carefully practiced on my camera's little close up lens to get a good image of coins. I decided to put the post off until things settled down a bit.

Now, nearly six years later, you can probably guess that nothing has settled down. Change has become the new constant of my life. I put off writing this post as everywhere I looked, life was transforming. I believe it is somewhat unique at this time in our world, partly due to technology. I don't think my mother experienced anything quite like this when she was my age, though of course she has plenty to adjust to at nearly ninety, and she does so with such grace and contentment I am in awe and thankful for her example.

Since this is my 1000th published post, I decided to dig up the coin photo and go ahead and write the post about change. There's not much more to say except this: my prayer is that I will always adjust to change with joy and grace, knowing each one that comes along is part of God's plan for me. He gives me strength for each new learning curve in my nursing career, for each glitch or new element in my computer design program and for each new "whatever" that arrives in life,

I find myself sighing a lot, which may be a way of whining. I'd rather not sigh, but instead find joy in each moment of being alive, find gratitude for having the ability to work, and find delight in each experience that comes my way. And as for the changes? May I accept them as part of life and tuck them away ... like "pocket change."

23 comments:

  1. Great thoughts...I find myself (now at 60) trying to live with more grace. There are times when I "forget", BUT the effort is so worth it, and when I feel that sense of peace it's wonderful! Really appreciate your blog!

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  2. Have you been reading my mind, my friend? What a great post! Yes, God has a plan. Thanks for that wonderful reminder that He is in control! It is not always easy to let that idea be our first though when we experience the not so pretty side of change!
    Congratulations on your 1,000 posts. This is QUITE an accomplishment! I celebrate you and your blog today! You have made great "pocket change" in all the lives you touch through your wonderful blog! Here's hoping for 1,000 more!
    xo Yvonne

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  3. What a beautiful post! We can resist change or we can embrace it, I choose to, like you, accept it with grace.
    I will remember the "pocket change" thought for a long time, thank you!
    Hugs, Cindy

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  4. Anonymous10:10 AM

    This is beautiful, Dotsie. I have been going through similar changes - and not doing as well at it. So thank you - thank you for writing about what I have trouble expressing, and for sharing you with us. You are a joy to know.
    Hugs,
    Zuzu

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  5. Wonderful post for your 1000th. I can relate in many ways. Sometimes God has to give me a little push and sometimes he just says "work it out for yourself" and I know I can do whatever needs to be done. I agree with Yvonne about your "pocket change".

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  6. What a timely post for a fall day. You will have touched a chord in many of us, I'd guess. At this stage in life change is not always about grand adventure - sometimes it's sweet and sometimes it's bitter, but it's tremendously important for us to face the changes and adapt to them. It's how we keep growing. Not easy sometimes.
    Thanks for provoking thought!

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  7. Congratulations, Dotsie! Wow, 1,000 is a huge number of posts to me...I barely get in one a week!

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  8. Anonymous10:51 AM

    Perfection in a 1000th post! Congratulations to you! Sorry to hear the change thing is never ending, though. Hope you've had time to rest - seasons - and then, more change.

    I started my blog this past March - as the Lord led me to finally get a grip on something I've tried to do for five years. Finally, in my 6th year of feeble attempts, I figured it out and haven't looked back. And, like you, the Lord has used it mightily as a place for me to retreat to in an intense season of stormy seas and great change.

    Great metaphor. I may have to quote you in my altered art journal of the things God has ministered to me easing my way through the "change" - as I collect the coins, keeping them in my pocket close to me, and I am richer for it.

    Joy!
    Kathy

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  9. Oh I love this. I can't believe it's been 1000 posts! I'll be eagerly reading for 1000 more!

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  10. Funny how blogging can be such a relaxing hobby. I know people tell me sometimes that it seems like an awful lot of work but then I think that of people that do furniture refinishing as a hobby...what a lot of work. Yet the finished product is always so rewarding.

    Your wonderful pocket change post I'm sure is very rewarding to you and helpful and a great reminder to us all that there is change in everyone's life, not just our own. Happy 1000th post! Keep'em coming!

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  11. Congratulations on 1000 posts Podso, that's a lot of sharing.
    Change is hard for many of us, especially as we get older. And I too, find the world just whizzing by without the time to do everything I want.
    My community and provincial volunteer hours take up a good deal of my time but it's our generation doing these things out of a sense of duty.
    I always enjoy your posts and hope to celebrate the next milestone with you.
    Hugs,
    Judith

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  12. Podso,
    Bravo! I am so delighted by this post. "Change is constant" has been a learning experience for me, as well!Those sighs...are the exhale which allows all of the bad toxins to escape our bodies...Yoga instructions! So whine or exhale away! My MoMa use to say..."In with the good air...out with the bad!" Keep writing...I adore your voice. Many times we are harmonously in tune!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  13. Beautiful and thought provoking! Just what I needed today. Thank you!

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  14. Congratulations! On reaching #1000 and on celebrating it with such a thoughtful-provoking and moving post. I suppose it's inevitable that change is a constant in our lives. Accepting certain changes is truly a challenge at times.

    Thank you for the recent comment you left for me. You asked where I store dishes (you're definitely not the first to ask). I always say I'm fortunate to have a lot of cabinets, closets, and storage areas, but it's getting crowded. I've sold a few and given some away. It's an addiction, but I guess there could be worse ones.

    Hope your weekend goes well.

    Bill

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  15. Well said, with grace & wisdom. =)

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  16. Dotsie,

    What a wonderful and wise post. Changes are all around us. Some of them are quite dramatic and sad. I don't think my mother had the information that we do. I think technology and the easy access to information make it easier for us or at least I have found this to be true.

    Wonderful photo. Congratulations on your 1000th post.

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  17. I LOVE this post. I think that I'll try sighing instead of whining it sounds like a better thing to do. Change is good so they say - I'm still trying to convince myself of this a lot of the time.

    Leann

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  18. Great post and I like the idea of pocket change. :-) Yes, life is in a constant change... only God is unchangeable. He is constant and never changes. I read a book on mid-life that pointed to that fact as the great stabilizer in mid-life changes.

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  19. Wow,a thousand posts!! That is quite an accomplishment. Great post.

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  20. I hopped over to visit from ZuZu's. Your post is beautifully written. You have touched a chord as I have reached an age when change seems to come along more often than I would like. I am so happy I happened upon your blog. Bonnie

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  21. I'm glad i sated a little longer on your blog to read this post, Dotsie! Congratulations on 6 years of blogging and 1,000 posts. That is a remarkable achievement!

    I love your Angy of "pocket change." I've found that life is full of change, whether we like it or not, so acceptance is the best way to deal with it.
    Each year we live is a gift and the blessing of being older is a greater appreciation and gratitude for that gift.

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  22. This was such a wonderful post!! So glad I scrolled down and found it. I watched a movie tonight where a man told his wife who was growing older that, if change didn't come, there would be no more future memories:) Like those pictures of memories we have...when our children were born..when they learned to walk and talk. All memories may not be pleasant, but I can see that you have been blessed with grace . Congratulations on your 1000th friend!! You're a blessing to us all!! xoxo Shine

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  23. Oh, how beautiful, Dotsie. How very beautiful. You are one of the most graceful people I know and you inspire me to try to emulate that grace. Man, there are so many changes. And, I have to tell you the last few years have been doozies for me... and, like you, blogging has become an area of growth and positive change. I am ever so grateful for having found the women I have come to call my blogfriends... My life has been enriched beyond measure. Thank you so much for being one of my greatest blessings... We will keep 'pocketing our change' as we move through these passages. Congratulations on your 1000th post and I am so glad you finally decided to do this post. blessings ~ t.

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