As locals, we all have walked the beach many times. I notice that it never looks the same. Sometimes the change is gradual like at Gould’s Inlet. And other times a winter Nor’easter will blow through and completely rearrange the landscape overnight. Each time I look out at the ocean I am reminded that there are forces beyond my control that shape the world I live in. Whether we like it or not, the wind, waves and tides create a different beach every day.
Just like the beach is always changing, so is life. Certainly since I started EIL back in 2002, we have experienced a gradual change in the way we work, shop for retail, buy online, travel, date, watch tv and movies, and many other things. These are the expected slow currents of change.
But this spring we were hit with a “hurricane” in the form of virus and our lives have changed dramatically. Through all of the uncertainty, we have started to hear phrases like “new normal” and “return to normal” to describe what life will be like when we are no longer in lock down mode and are able to go back to our offices, restaurants, stores, etc. But if you really think about it, we don’t ever “return to normal” because whether the change is gradual or sudden, the world we experience is continually shifting and reshaping itself. So, with that in mind, consider this:
Change is normal.
While it’s reasonable to question and wonder how the world will change, the more important question to ask is, “How will I improve and grow from the change?” After all, it doesn’t really matter how the world changes if you don’t adapt to thrive in it. Change is inevitable but whether you evolve is a choice. Don’t return to “normal,” but instead return as someone who is transformed for the better and is ready to thrive in an ever-changing world.
John Krivec
