Shrink Wrap

Today was the worst day I have, thankfully, had in a long, long time, and that includes the night of my appendicitis.  Pick any area of my life: romance, health, work, money, school, all of it was failing.  As I sat in my car on campus having a good sob to get over it before facing the class, I asked myself: how will you manage a second degree program? a job search? the time for training for a triathlon?

Sometimes change comes into our lives gradually, like the fable told in Holes of the man carrying the pig up the mountain.  At first, as a baby pig, it is a small burden.  As the pig grows, the man becomes stronger, until it is no longer such a burden for him to carry it up the mountain.  We make room for the change and almost don't even notice the difference.  Slowly, we stretch to encompass the new activity.

Other times, change is sudden, like registering for 12 credits after a 15 year hiatus from school.  There is a tense period of adjustment.  That's a lot of stretch all at once.

No one walks around with their lives wrapped loosely around them.  We're shrink wrapped.  No wonder change can be so hard.