Reading this is a kind of synchronicity that brings clarity to my recent thoughts. It is not just heartache or trauma that brings the painful birth of new beginnings but good life changes do too. At the core of our being a new beginning is felt as an awkward awakening of some new behaviour cum attitude. There is a discomfort and a sense of disbelief as the new situation sets-in around you; and this is precisely why we often don't make the new grade. Some people cannot imagine, pursue, embody the behaviours and attitudes that such good fortune needs to thrive. It is almost harder to truly change when life life is good, like excitement can be harder to bear than dreadfulness. We can limit ourselves without fully seeing the changes that are offered; changes that are offered far more often than despair.
Thank you so much for this comment, been thinking about it all morning. It’s so true — when life is good it’s almost harder to believe that it can be even better. When things are complacent, it’s easier to just accept complacency. “Good” life changes don’t carry the same drive that feeling awful does; it seems harder to acknowledge that an upgrade is still available for us to accept & grow into. I love the analogy of “making the new grade”, feels so fitting.
Ahhh heartbreak. My first was at 19 and my second was at 54. They both came to mind thanks to your column today and how different they were to experience. The only book of poetry I have is by Mary Oliver so glad you like her to.
Reading this is a kind of synchronicity that brings clarity to my recent thoughts. It is not just heartache or trauma that brings the painful birth of new beginnings but good life changes do too. At the core of our being a new beginning is felt as an awkward awakening of some new behaviour cum attitude. There is a discomfort and a sense of disbelief as the new situation sets-in around you; and this is precisely why we often don't make the new grade. Some people cannot imagine, pursue, embody the behaviours and attitudes that such good fortune needs to thrive. It is almost harder to truly change when life life is good, like excitement can be harder to bear than dreadfulness. We can limit ourselves without fully seeing the changes that are offered; changes that are offered far more often than despair.
Thank you so much for this comment, been thinking about it all morning. It’s so true — when life is good it’s almost harder to believe that it can be even better. When things are complacent, it’s easier to just accept complacency. “Good” life changes don’t carry the same drive that feeling awful does; it seems harder to acknowledge that an upgrade is still available for us to accept & grow into. I love the analogy of “making the new grade”, feels so fitting.
Thanks for reading :)
<33 feels the feelings <33
Ahhh heartbreak. My first was at 19 and my second was at 54. They both came to mind thanks to your column today and how different they were to experience. The only book of poetry I have is by Mary Oliver so glad you like her to.
Love the poem...perfect