A few weeks ago, artists Aylo and Seca finished an amazing mural commissioned by the Kirkham Cultural Consortium. I loved watching the mural take shape. I’ve drawn a quick illustration of them at work.
The real thing is fabulous. If you click the artists’ names above, you can watch a video and read an explanation of the mural.
This brings me to what I have been musing over. The mural has brightened a drab gable end with meaningful contemporary art. Whilst the overwhelming response to it has been a huge positive welcome, there are some who have not liked the change. I found myself asking, why? Some may not have separated the artwork from the regeneration and remodeling project on Kirkham High Street, which has been disruptive and is running late. However, I think there is a bigger issue. We humans are wary of change. Change often comes with cost and effort. Even when change is wanted, it can often feel out of our control.
I have experienced a lot of change in the last two months, and more is to come. We have moved house and are now beginning an annex extension build for my mum to live in. We have wanted these changes, but they’ve been stressful and exhausting. I’ve sorted, given away and skipped so much. I’ve packed and unpacked I have made untold phone calls to solicitors and agents. At the same time we’ve had both our boys start university one communuting and one living away in halls. Accepting the changes that have and are coming as my boys transition to adulthood is challenging. Of course I want them to grow up but I’m missing being a mum to little boys. It’s an uncomfortable conflicting feeling. And then there is my mum’s situation a new diagnosis of Multiple System Atrophy. We are dealing with change that is very unwelcome, deteriorating mobility and balance.
Thinking about how I can better handle change, I remembered the saying. ‘Winds of Change’. The phrase brings the idea that change happens, and we can often not predict or direct its trajectory. One thing is certain, and that is that change happens. When the wind of change blows, what will I do? I came across two analogies that I really like. The first is an old Chinese proverb:
The second is a different metaphor but a similar meaning.
The winds of change I have felt recently have definitely not been a breeze. They have felt gusty and unpredictable and at times downright hurricane. I can let these winds buffet me. Or I can learn to sail. I am determined not to be shipwrecked by change. I will put effort in to make the most of change. I will capture energy to empower my goals. I may not make it to my original destination but if not I will explore new shores.
Will you join me in a shift of mindset and take facing change from a sense of fear to adventure?