Major Changes

A few weeks ago, whilst I sat on a tatami mat supping green tea, 6500 miles away from my comfort zone, a very dear friend said to me:

"Be warned, everyone who has come here has gone home and made major life changes so be prepared."

I was in the middle of Japan on a trip of a lifetime soaking up the culture,  atmosphere and scenery; what a spectacular backdrop to an amazing trip! 

Her comment hit me hard and got me thinking and, I'll be honest, initially the spoilt child in me came out in me, just a little bit. What if I don't want to change? Can't make me! When I set my internal toddler tantrum aside, I realised I was afraid. Would I somehow fail the universe or miss an opportunity if I didn't change? What needed to change? How major does a 'major change' have to be to deserve the title? Arghh!

In today's ever changing world we are constantly being asked to adapt, to develop, to fit into moulds or boxes that represent how society thinks our lives should  be. It's a race and we are constantly being asked to keep up or fall by the wayside. What would happen if we just said..... 

"hang on... look at this... let's take time... let's switch off our mobile phones (gasp!) and have a real conversation."

Now I'm back in the UK and my routine has once again kicked in but my mind is still pondering the challenge and question of 'major change' and how it could affect (or should that be infect) me. I have said, in a previous posts, that a change can sometimes be better than a rest and I still firmly believe that. 

Then it occurred to me, those people who had been to Japan and then made 'major changes' in their lives actually did something even more amazing first. They changed their perspective and were honest with themselves about what they really wanted. Stories of realising that you want to get out of the rat race to start a family,  aspirations to become a published writer, owning your own business, take up a new hobby etc all these things came about because the person shifted their mindset and decided to make it happen. Other people only see the physical ramifications of the mindset change so in truth they have no idea just how 'major' the change really is or when it really happens, maybe taking the trip was actually the first physical representation of the 'major change' but of course no one but the individual would know this and they themselves might not even have realised at the time ... ooo that's deep!

So what about me? Well since coming home, I have signed up for a half marathon and started a running programme (you have to understand the enormity of this as for me as I am not athletic at all!), I have made some tough decisions and been honest with others, I have recognised the situations that don't serve me well and I have truly opened my eyes and ears to many possibilities and opportunities around me. I'm taking each day as it comes, but I know when I look back at my journey in a few months time I'll be able to say "Wow, I made some major life changes."

As an aside, If you ever get the chance to experience Japan grab it with both hands, find yourself a guide and limber up for that flight, it's well worth it.

Take a moment, raise your hand...

.... and pat yourself on the back!

Yes that's right, I am asking you to physically pat yourself on the back. Now for added impact I want you to say, out loud, "Well done, you did it!" How does that feel? Strange? Good? Are people looking at you like you've been at the mulled wine? Good, let them look. Let them hear that you have done a good job. Revel in the feeling of success, why shouldn't you?!

It doesn't matter what "it" is, everyone's "it" will be different. Maybe you've handed in an assignment on time, maybe you remembered to post your Christmas cards before the postal deadline, maybe you finally sent that email that's been lurking in your draft box for days, maybe you stood at the front of your kids carol concert and made a total tit of yourself just for giggles and actually enjoyed it......for all those things and for every other "it" out there ...... pat yourself on the back! 

Look what you can achieve, bet you didn't think you'd been so productive and had fun in the process. So often I find myself thinking about how much I still have to do rather than stopping for a moment to reflect on what I have already done. We should take pleasure in the wins however big or small they are, listen to the laughter and join in, reflect on the friendships we've cultivated and be thankful for the people around us and supporting us on our journey, dance round the room like a looney just for the hell of it (I find this is most effective when accompanied with loud music but it's your call) ....heck we deserve it! 

Hey, if we don't blow our own trumpet sometimes, no one else will do it for us.