I have always seen myself as someone who embraces change, whether for the good or bad. As I've gotten older, I've had many experiences and met many people that helped shape me into the person that I am today. Maybe some changes are better than others, but I think that life has its own way of forming everyone into the person that they are inevitably meant to be -- but maybe I'm just overly optimistic.
Not everything has been perfect. We all have our failures and successes that we consider to be staples of who we are as individuals, and we all get to where we need to be one way or another. Life simply moves at different paces and directions for different people.
Unfortunately, those bad times seem to have a larger impact than the good ones. Personally, I have been through some crappy phases due to situations that not only caused conflicts with those around me, but myself as well, and it took a long time for me to build a mental bridge to walk on and move forward as a person. Regardless of anyone else's opinions about it, I am not the same person that I was before my happiness in life hit a lull.
But I don't want everyone to think that is a bad thing when it really doesn't need to be looked at that way. Life is not an easy journey, and as we grow older, we learn that through the experiences that mold our selves and our futures. While I will never turn away the support of my friends, family, or anyone who loves me, there is a point where those people need to realize that time has progressed and the past will always stay in the past.
Just because I don't do certain things like I used to, my interests may have changed, and I may present myself in a manner that may be unfamiliar to most who know me, there is nothing wrong with me. Not to say that you shouldn't worry about your friends or family, but a large aspect of growing up is simply accepting the fact that people change, regardless of anyone's opinions or desires.
If I wasn't OK, I promise I would ask for help -- I know that I don't have to deal with things on my own. But just like a bird leaving its nest, or a kid going off to the first day of kindergarten, you have to allow those around you to change even if it isn't what you may want.
The important message is, don't try to make another person into someone that they are not just because it is what you want to do. Remaining optimistic means that everyone will find their own path the way they are meant to, and we can't unfairly influence that. Always take care of those around you, and avoid making any problems worse in the name of improving people.
