This week, as I was watching one of my favorite YouTubers (Grav3yardgirl aka Bunny) rant about life, I had a revelation. Her rant was discussing how people sometimes act like change is an awful thing and how people were saying they missed how she used to be. When she had started her channel, Bunny was struggling with a lot of things and made videos to focus on something else while creating something people all over the world could enjoy. She makes several important points about life, how we treat others and how what you say can really hurt others. If you would like to hear what she has to say, please watch the video below.
I can't tell you how many times people have said that I've changed since high school. High school ended four years ago for me, and honestly, I could not be more excited that I am not the same person I was then. You cannot go through a year of life without coming out a different person than you were at the beginning. Everyday will pose a challenge, and figuring out how to get through it will change you. Likely, the transformation will be for the better.
It's Ok to notice someone has changed and think to yourself "oh, they're a lot different." It's not Ok to be nasty and tell someone that you preferred them before these changes took place. Change is a part of life, if you cannot embrace it then you need to work on it for yourself. But, if your friend is struggling and their lifestyle is dangerous, please help them out as best as you can.
Life is a journey, and along the way we end up totally different than when we started. Look at a picture of yourself from a year ago, do you still feel like the person in that photo? I know when I do this I feel a sense of nostalgia, looking back to how things were. Embrace the differences, embrace life's challenges and embrace who you are.
If we stayed exactly how we are today, forever, life would be boring. There would be no excitement for new things and it would become dull and meaningless. We evolve so that we can enjoy life and navigate it more easily, it might take a while but that's all part of the process.
If you desperately need a change but can't figure out exactly what it is that you want, go discover it. Try new things and do more of the things that you love. If you can't figure out the new thing that you want, at least you're doing things that you enjoy.
So when someone tells you that you've changed, even if they aren't being nice about it, tell them that you know you have. Life is too short to do just one thing and to stay in one place. Don't be offended that you aren't who you used to be, none of us are when we really think about it. Instead, embrace that you have grown and evolved into the person that you are destined to be.
