Griz Bear Comments: : Struggling to adapt to change
Posted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/gentry/Opinion/2598/
A lot of folks say change is for the better and that it is good for some of us old and set-in-ourways people to try new things and change with the times, but Iím a bit skeptical and not sure I always agree. In fact, I tend to think that some things just donít need to be changed at all. Why ? Well, let me explain.
No matter what kind of work a person does, thereís always change because someone else ó usually a boss ó thinks heís figured out a better way. Whether a school teacher, a truck driver or a newspaper editor, one can just figure on having to learn new things and new ways of doing what heís already done in another way for years.
Even though Iím a bit resistant to change, Iím not saying all change is bad. Many good things have come as a result of change.
Even though I like some of the old ways and am sad to see them go, Iím not quite ready to start typing my articles on an old manual typewriter again and I donít think Iíd ever want to set type by hand. To be honest, I must admit that some of the new methods and suggested changes have been quite helpful.
Even though I love shooting film and see definite advantages in doing so for the sake of quality images, rich color gradations and more-artistic styles of photography, digital works great for newspapers and Web publications. Thereís no need for chemicals, darkrooms and waiting to see what develops.
When I drove big trucks, things were continually changing. Trucks were computerized and driving methods adjusted. Certainly now, with the higher fuel prices, major changes are being made for fuel economy.
When I was in law enforcement, our old six-shot revolvers suddenly werenít good enough any more. We upgraded to semiautomatics and carried three times the ammunition on our duty belts. I always figured, if I couldnít hit what I was aiming at with six rounds, another 10 or 11 rounds in my gun probably wouldnít help me much ó except maybe for the effect of scaring off a bad guy by the sheer firepower. Iím not saying the change wasnít good, but my backup weapon was a revolver ó just in case.
I havenít figured out yet why people are so set on changing things in the church. I fear itís caused more confusion than enlightenment. Iím not opposed to new songs and the use of a variety of instruments, but I still like my old King James Version Bible and enjoy the old hymns and harmonies. All the new Bible translations and the new hymnals which change a word or two here and there and recompose the harmonies ó maybe to gain new copyrights on public domain material ó just make it more difficult for guys like me to follow along.
Well, with the continual changes going on out there in the world, it seems to me that the home should be the one place where a fellow can feel comfortable and not worry about things constantly changing around him.
But Mrs. Griz doesnít exactly see it that way. She seems to like change ! She likes to improve the looks of our house by continually decorating and moving things around. Itís something, I guess, I just donít understand and appreciate like I should.
When we owned our home, she was always coming up with remodeling projects while I was satisfied with the way things were. We remodeled the back porch and front porch, the bathroom, living room and part of the kitchen. I think the upstairs was next. She didnít like our old basement much and seldom went down there. She left it alone and told me I could arrange it anyway I liked.
Now that we rent, sheís limited to moving furniture and other interior decorations, but she does so quite regularly.
Not too long ago, she wanted to buy a book shelf for our bedroom. That didnít sound too bad to me, and it wasnít very expensive; so I gave in, bought it and put it all together. But, do you know, before I could put a single one of my books on a shelf, she had that whole bookshelf full of little bears and knickknacks and other decorative things. Well, being the wise man that I am, I just told her how nice it looked and accepted it for its eye-pleasing value. I did figure a way to attach it to the wall, so I wouldnít accidentally bump it and knock it over on myself since it didnít have a good, heavy set of books on the bottom shelf to hold it in place.
Not being able to afford new furniture, youíd think that most of the rest of our house would stay the same; but, no, she has to move around what we do have to different locations. Sometimes, when I come home from work, I find the living room completely rearranged. If Iím not paying close attention, I might even miss my easy chair when I go to sit down.
At night, itís risky to try and walk through the house because, about the time a fellow gets used to things and can find his way around in the dark, things change and thereís a coffee table or chair to trip over on the old pathway. I keep telling her, ì If I were a blind man, Iíd never survive ! î
And, whatís worse, are those bedroom changes. It gets kind of embarrassing to wake up during the night and try to make the short walk to the bathroom, only to run into a wall or a chest of drawers. And when I return and attempt to lie down quietly so as not to wake Mrs. Griz, I find that the bed isnít where I thought it was.
And, you know, the disorientation and hazards of tripping or falling over something in the bedroom ó all due to needless change ó can make a fellow just lay there in bed and long for the dawn so he can figure out where heís at and where heís going !
Iíve tried, at times, to convince people in my work that some of the required changes were totally unnecessary and could prove detrimental; but, you guessed it, to no avail. Iíve tried that at home, too, with Mrs. Griz, but every time I get used to things and where they should be, they move again.
Some changes may be good, but I have no doubt about the detriments of change when things move about in my house. But Iíve also learned that pushing my point and opposing change in the d Ècor of my home may bear even greater risks. Iíve come to the conclusion that Iíll have to accept change at home, too, and just trip and stumble and mutter a bit in the night until I get used to it.