Last Monday, I mentioned a favorite quote to Bill Thomas. It comes from the Italian novel, The Leopard, by Giuseppe de Lampedusa:
“If we want things to stay as they are, then things will have to change.”
Bill got quite a kick out of it, and I told him that I loved it even though I wasn’t totally sure I knew what it meant. But it’s not so much a lack of understanding as a realization that this seemingly contradictory statement can apply to so many things–elder care, culture change, dementia. You can even go outside the Changing Aging arena and apply it to a marital conversation, or a parent talking to a teenager.
I think there is a lot of hidden wisdom in this statement. I wonder how the readers of changingaging.org see it? I would love to have you send in your thoughts of what this statement means to you, in your life, in your work. Let’s get a thread going and see what we can learn about change.
Bob Peacock says
October 24, 2010 at 9:56 amThank you Mr. Moore for your insight. It is so true for many of us, we get into patterns and traditions and get far too comfortable with them and then before we know it, we are frustrated, old and cannot figure out why we are bitchy, very irritable and facially older looking. Simply put, because we have not embraced change but comfort at the sake of our health and well being.
I for one, need to look outside the box of comfort and complacency and get on with living life before I can even attempt to help someone else who may be at or near my age.
This is a great quote and I am sure the meaning is something different for others as well. Certainly makes for great food for thought and hopefully ” GREAT CHANGE”
Gordi Moore says
October 22, 2010 at 7:53 amIf a tree in your garden is of the variety that grows very tall, and you want it at the height it presently is, you must change its normal pattern of growth by pruning …. If you want the tree to stay the way you like it, it will have to change.
As an older person, if I want my physical ability to remain as it is right now, exercise and careful diet and drinking habits will have to be a part of my daily routine. To stay the same, I will have to change.
My outlook on life has always been positive, even when I’ve encountered difficulties. For me to maintain my happy, positive outlook, I can’t just allow myself to “grow old”. I thrive on change.
I grow a day older each day. That’s life. I can’t change the clock of ageing. I can, however, be of youthful mind and being. I look forward to change because it allows me to remain in the present instead of growing into an old age state of mind.
My wife and I have just finished remodelling our kitchen. A major upset in our living habits. The lighting, appliances, cupboards – doors and drawers – have changed. It has been a mind and habit altering experience. It has taken our condo from the past into the present. It is a challenging yet delightful change.