I am a circle
I am a triangle
I am a quadrilateral
I am an oval
I am a star
But what shape are you?
I am all shapes...
I am a shape shifter
Change is the only constant for me
I am an Amoeba!
I am re-learning some rudimentary terms these days with my kindergarten kids, which I had obliviously jilted off my mind. We read about Living, Non-Living and Growing recently. 'Living' and 'Changing' are by and large synonymous. You can't live without changing. This is a fundamental principle followed by one and all. From single cell life like amoeba to the most complex versions of life like humans, we are changing every single moment and this is called 'Growing'. But is it possible that we have forgotten these basic things happening to us? We see ourselves in the mirror daily and recognize the image to be the same year after year. The gradient of change is so slow that it seems imperceptible. We forget that we are invariably altering. We forget that every next second we are a new version of ourselves. Some cell inside us changed, died or was born as we crossed over that fraction of a second. Even now as I type each letter my cells degenerate, regenerate and restyle themselves. When everything about us is involuntarily buzzing on the lines of change perpetually, Why have we stopped accepting change voluntarily?
We fear change. We are comfortable in our no-change cozy cocoons . We try to shy away from the very attribute that supports our existence. We try to duck behind 'no-new beginning' zone. We make ourselves so comfortable with a particular place, situation, job or way of living that we do not want to rise up to any challenge life rolls towards us. We just want to stick to something...be it a miserable job, an unhappy marriage, an abusive relationship or even a city for that matter. We shun the very thing that defines our existence - Change. We actually live in a 'pause' mode.
The values and beliefs, notions and fashions change with each generation. But the seniors do not want to accept the ideology of gen-next. This tug of war between parent and progeny thwarts the natural flow of change in life and society. Even the Languages, Cultures, modes of communication, food habits all transmute and evolve. We can not arrest the momentum of Life and Living. Then why do we hold ourselves from this natural evolution? Why do we live in controlled patches? Why don't we embrace the whole Earth and infinite Sky as the domain of our Life. We are the 'living' and 'moving' Dams in ourselves trying to control the flow of Life.
Stability is the foundation on which Life stands. Stability of this supporting space, continuity of our own breath and vital functions is cardinal. But it does not require us to cohere to something eternally. This stable base (upon which life grows) itself is floating, spinning and revolving incessantly. Everything in this Universe is roving, emerging or diverging. Anything to do with Kinetics. Anything but Static. When the entire cosmos bows down and embraces change, why are we so reluctant about it?
If we zoom in our receptive senses and observe, a single celled life "amoeba" too projects outward and grips life, changing its shape in this process. It not only survives but thrives in its changing identity and shape. If a single cell can accept and acknowledge change as the way of Life, why can't we humans - the most complex organisms on Earth?
If we talk about Matter...though its devoid of any life yet it imbibes the law of perpetual change. Mountains break down to rocks, rocks to boulders, boulders to pebbles and pebbles to sand. Sand in turn accumulates and rises as Mountains again under huge pressure over a long period of time. A full circle of Nature. Water keeps rolling in all three states of gas, liquid and solid. Trees keep growing from and going back to the soil they came from. To cut the long story short all Life and Matter are governed by Change.
Let's accept and approbate the gospel of life i.e. 'Change' and shrug off that which makes us inert. Come let's work out our bodies to move and grow wings on our strong backs to fly and chase happiness. Let our bodies be units of countless amoebae to propel, shift and grow. Let's be shape shifters and ditch all that makes us numb, sad and dissatisfied souls. Let's not wriggle in the swamps of misery. Let's not be stuck in hopeless agonized situations but reach out to 'Change' and move on with our lives to a better version of ourselves. Let's be an amoeba of change.
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I wish to see how many of you all are ready to cast off inertia and leap for a positive change. Please oblige your keyboards and fill up the comment box with your views :)
Keep evolving,
Alka Tiwari.
The key to a healthy life is to strike a correct balance between change and stability. So beautifully written, your words inspire to look at life from a fresh perspective.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great feeling to know that my words inspire you Kalpana. Thank you so much.
DeleteTotally new perception of life. I won't mind being amoeba and change my life for better. Loved and agree with your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteYes, why not...me must not miss any opportunity to learn from anyone or anything to enhance the joy and quality of our life, even Amoeba for that matter :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
Dear Di,
ReplyDeleteYou have smoothly oscillated between Science and Life.
Quite seamlessly!
Yess I would like to be an Amoeba. Shapeless, Formless, and eventually Timeless.
This inertia or resistance to change basically come from our Age old Animal Genes when Survival was the Main goal, and every small action was first evaluated on "Safety Parameters".
Thanks, it was lovely reading. Amit Mittal.
Thanks Amit! So nice to hear from you after long. Hope all is well at your side. Science too is all about life and matter around us...How can it be separate? I hope the Amoeba gang expands and creates more happy and contented individuals with whatever they have and wherever they are. And have this amazing capacity to propel themselves out of redundant and sad situations to whatever gives them the true joy of living. Keep visiting my blogs.
DeleteSurely! My pleasure. And now we are in NOIDA. Waiting for you all at our Home!
DeleteI often think what the change is.
ReplyDeleteOh! to my mind thought strike change is nature.
If nature is change why we strive for constant
Every single thing go for change.
Even hard rocks tend to change.
Why we afraid to accept change
Humm! the answer lies within
Still we search everywhere what is change
Small new born infant with glowing eyes,
When first see mother that is change
Slowly and gradually he is exposed to the world
Old man also prepare for next journey
Change is inevitable sooner he accept
Better the journey for new experience.
Like the sand in the hand flows smoothly
Time in the world never stops
Change around us moves swiftly
I often think what the change is.
OH to my mind thought strike change is nature.
Deep thoughts Anadi...beautifully captured in this poem! Thanks for taking out time to write back such thoughtful and poetical comment :)
DeleteNicely explained that life should not be on an auto-pilot mode :)
ReplyDeleteThank you littlehappynotes for your appreciation. Being humans we must control the steering wheels of our lives.
ReplyDelete