Change can mean many things to different people. As a designer and draftsman, I have learned to accept change as part of my job. Over the span of my career, and life in general, I have met many people who resist any type of change to “the way things are to be done”. Their reasoning usually follows along the thought process that “it has always been this way so why change now”. The only problems with that type of thinking is that without change we would never make any progress. Sometimes change can be found in places you least expect.

It was apparent to me when I opened this package of Fig Newtons that one of them decided it was time to change the status quo. I’m sure there is someone out there who would think this Fig Newtons is defective but I see it as just wanting to get out of the rut.

A rut is a grave with no ends. – Alan Lampkin

For those of you who know me well, you already know that the last five years of my life have forced me into a lot of difficult situations. For those who are new to reading my blog, I have endured two spine surgeries on the same herniated disc within two years. Late last year I found out the next disc up has failed. What happens to my back in the future is unknown. This brought me to a fork in the road of life. One path would most likely dead-end in self-pity and a reliance on pain medications. The other path would be more difficult because it would require me to accept a new normal which would involve a lot of change. I decided to choose the path to the new normal and have embraced the changes along the way. Many have been difficult and require a lot of patience. I have also discovered that I am now better able to handle situations that use to be a struggle. Changes that we are thrust into can make us stronger if we look for the lessons.

Things do not change; we change. – Henry David Thoreau