UpBeat Living: Change and Coping

by Kebba Buckley, M.S., O.M.

In a Charlie Chan novel, set near Honolulu, the characters comment on this—in 1918. Would you believe, “We live in a time of very great change”? You might say, “Well, duhhhhh!” Yet this quote is from Britain’s Queen Victoria, in 1861. Change is a normal part of human experience.

Recent years have been times of exponentially increasing change. Twenty-two months ago, Millenium commentators cited many examples of technological, economic, and social change during the 20^th Century. On December 31, 1999, CNN cameras showed public celebrations with fireworks near the White House, the Eiffel Tower, and the Pyramids. At the times when the White House and the Eiffel Tower were designed, each was debated as a drastic departure from the architecture of the time. One was thought too plain for its purpose, and the other too stark. Each, in its time, was regarded as representing too much change. Yet now, each is a beloved symbol. My guess is that the Pyramids were hotly debated in their time, too. Yet they now stand among the greatest architectural achievements of humankind. One of the truths of humanity is that we accustom ourselves to change.

Throughout human history, people and countries have eventually adapted to the results of invasions, wars, plagues, natural disasters, population migrations, economic shifts, and technological change. For each person, there is surprise, shock, grief, sometimes anger, sometimes denial, and eventually acceptance of each change. As individuals and countries, we ask ourselves how we want things to be, and how we can best get there. We then assess what resources we bring to a situation, and we apply those as best we can.

I wrote a column on September 11, as the World Trade Center and the Pentagon had just been attacked. I was one of the writers who said this day would live in infamy. The skies were suddenly made silent, and in that silence, our thinking changed forever. While we saw the ugliest, angriest sides of human nature in those attacks, we also saw massive kindness, caring, and service to others, blossoming everywhere. That week, it seemed everyone was looking at everyone with new eyes—huge, hurt, inquiring eyes. Many people became more aware of the beliefs, ethnicities and national origins of those around them. I noticed more attentiveness, even in traffic. Some of us cried for days.

In the weeks since the attacks, we have seen cultural, practical, and economic shifts. It has become wonderful, rather than “corny”, to love this country and display our flag. It has become normal, not “dorky”, to speak admiringly of firefighters, police, and veterans. It has become “normal” for men to speak of strong feelings and shed tears. It is common to travel less by air, pack less, and expect longer lines for airport security. War movies of all eras are back. It is normal, now, to celebrate our freedom and talk about global peace. Businesses are doing their best to recover, and consumers are spending a bit more. Optimism has been returning. We have been adjusting, as individuals, as peoples, as countries, and as a Planet united in active dialogue.

This morning, Veterans’ Day, the sun is shining against a clear Arizona sky. It’s a stunning day. Arizona’s own Diamondbacks won the World Series last week, and the whole state is in an upbeat mood. Three hours ago, I was watering my flower garden and feeling grateful for the Good, of my life and of this Planet. It was also a crisp, sunny morning in New York City’s five boroughs. In Manhattan, the disaster site was still being cleared. In Rockaway, Queens, people were hearing an unusually loud jet engine sound, followed by two explosions; a plane was crashing into homes. At this point, we don’t know if the plane fell apart, was generally sabotaged, or was taken down by terrorists. We are looking around again, with huge, hurt, inquiring eyes. At least two hundred forty more are dead, and change is upon us again. An often-quoted adage from timeless wisdom says, “Nothing stays the same but change.”

Whatever your belief system, you can be a part of the world’s next set of positive changes. Golda Meyir said, “Anyone who thinks one person can’t make a difference… has never been to bed with a mosquito.” Would you believe Bob Dylan if he sang a song called, “The Times, They Are a Changin’”? Would you believe these words: “Come Mothers and Fathers throughout the land/… get out of the new way if you can’t lend a hand/ for the times, they are a-changin’.” Will you change with change? It’s up to you.
Kebba Buckley is an author and columnist, scientist and ordained minister. You can reach her at KebbaBuckley@aol.com.