It is in the nature of all things to seek stability and equilibrium. For atoms and for people, extended periods of being unable to achieve a balance can become disastrous. Yet, in an ironic twist, the universe has been built in such a manner that nothing can be permanent. Even the planet on which we live is constantly revolving around the sun, changing its position every single second.
If you rise early enough some mornings, you will find the sun peeking over the edge of treelines in the east. Its golden light would filter through the leaves and blanket over the city. On such a morning, the earth is raw and perfect. In its purity, you will find a deep joy in the sense of permanence that a sunrise brings. The sun has always been rising in the east since millions of years ago when great boulders loomed over people like giants. The sun will continue to rise in the east a million years in the future, when those boulders would have become sand.
Can you imagine waking up to a morning when the sun rises in the west? What does change mean to you?
Recently, I discovered the story of the Choluteca Bridge. The Choluteca Bridge at one point used to stretch over the Choluteca River in Honduras. It was strong enough to survive a powerful hurricane with only minor damage. Nevertheless, it became quite useless after the disaster. Why? Well, it is because the hurricane affected the surrounding land so severely that the river changed its course by the time it was over. Now, the bridge is simply a piece of infrastructure that stretches out over a smooth piece of land, while the river flows cheerfully next to it.
The story of the Choluteca Bridge is a touching reminder that as young people, we must be capable of adapting to change. Oftentimes, we associate stubbornness – an inability to change, with the older generation. However, it is true that the young generation has been acquiring this attitude too. Since this new era of technology has brought us to a point of great comfort, we seem to have unknowingly trapped our minds in a box that inhibits innovation. Change means to alter or modify. The world around us has adopted change as its natural state of being. However, as people, we need to make conscious efforts to change or else we may fall behind.
Fixing yourself into a rigid mindset while the rest of the world is changing and adapting to different circumstances is not too different from becoming the Choluteca Bridge. You may avoid the pains and obstacles that attempting new things will always bring. However, you may also end up becoming useless and lost while doing so. Sometimes, growing involves leaving behind things that you love and cherish. Refusing to become a better version of yourself simply because you are afraid of this part of growth will inevitably lead to a dull life and a worldview that is out of touch with modern reality. Let us, by beginning to change, become bridges that stretch like a bright mind to a better future, and not bridges that lead to nowhere.
Renika Anand is currently a student at Marian Academy.
