CHANGE IS COMING … soon
Friday, March 10, 2023
Change is happening 24/365 and always has been.
And always will.
Whether we ask climate change activists or grade-school kids growing a bean in their classroom, change happens every day, and we resist change as fiercely as children try to avoid going to bed.
But just like getting good sleep, change is mostly good. Once we experience that change – whether driving a shorter route, switching internet service providers, shopping in a new place or getting the latest ‘upgrade’ on your phone’s operating system or a bunch of apps …
At first, everything looks different – there is an adjustment period, and then we get used to something new, and we can’t imagine returning to the clunky old version.
But it is easy to change.
But there seems to be something in our DNA, a resistance to change from what we are used to – and I don’t think it’s about age because I remember my resistance from a long time ago, and it seems to be intact to this day. Intellectually, I know change is good – but learning new things, new ways, and new techniques triggers my resistance and an urge to find the brake pedal.
Ask yourself, of all things that have changed in the last 20 years, what I prefer to reverse, to change back? Most of us face that challenge to keep up, as one of being a slow adopter and working to manage how far we are behind.
Today we are taking a breather, looking forward to a change of scenery. We’d planned on being away, but a shift in direction seemed a better choice – perfect for a closer to home one day trip rather than two, and with a snow dump in the forecast …
I had been booked to Chair a Toastmasters contest in Edmonton this Saturday, but when that event was cancelled – and with our Friday calendars emptied, Hazel and I thought the better alternative would be a one-day trip up to Banff – weather and roads permitting – for escaping from our devices and keyboards to visit Banff Upper Hot Springs at Sulphur Mountain, enjoy some site seeing, great food, the fudge shop on Banff Avenue and be snug as bugs back home in time for date night …
We’ll get outside, walk in some snow, breathe chilly mountain air and wish you all a wonderful weekend …
P.S.: Regarding the changes, I’ll introduce readers to Substack.com – the first change will be for my weekly Monday Morning Minute publication at https://markkolke.substack.com/s/monday-morning-minute-100-words-of - which we’ll be testing over the next couple of weeks as the set up involves a ‘free service, and upgraded paid services. When ready for launch, there will be an advance announcement to all current subscribers welcoming them to the new platform – the subscription options are set out when you click the ‘Upgrade to paid’ button, which takes you to three options (one of which is free) and at the bottom of that page, an additional option to gift a subscription to someone else. And, as you’ll see if you explore the platform – brim-full of options for readers to access a broad range of writers and some very cool options for writers and want-to-be podcasters. And, just to be precise about this – ALL current subscribers are being transferred across and will be already subscribed under the free status, and they can upgrade to the paid options at any time, with the option to return to the free option whenever they wish. I checked our progress last evening and confirmed the archived previous issues have been moved across from Mail Chimp. So far, it’s had some challenging moments – but I said earlier, embracing change is usually the way improve things …
And, if all that goes well, then change for Musings readers too!
P.P.S.: when it’s time, a similar transition for Mark’s Musings will, I hope, be transitioned in a similar fashion – same writer, delivered in a different format. I’m looking forward to that, and I’ll keep you informed of changes as they are ready to roll out.