I watch the ripples change their size but never leave the stream of warm impermanence and so the days float through my eyes.
These words from David Bowie stopped me in my tracks this week.
The phrase warm impermanence felt particularly powerful. We spend so much of our
lives wishing certain things would stay the same, yet change is woven into almost everything around us. The seasons change, our bodies change, our priorities change, and life keeps gently moving forward whether we're ready or not.
Let’s stop and think for a moment because the idea of impermanence can apply to so many things: ageing, children, grandchildren growing up, changing health, retirement, friendships, habits, even the evolution of our Pilates practice. I think every
one of you will find your own meaning in it.
It made me think about how much of life is temporary, even things we once thought would always be part of our lives can quietly fade away, making room for something new. But it can be tricky to think about this, because despite knowing that change is a natural part of life, many of us still find it difficult when it arrives.
There is a level of comfort in the familiar which we become attached to, settling
into routines, habits, places, and relationships. We have a picture of how we think life should look, so when something changes, it can feel as though the ground moves beneath our feet.
Sometimes we welcome change with open arms — you only have to think about the change of the England Football Coach. Everyone loved Gareth Southgate initially, fell into the familiarity of him at the helm and his stoic determination to support his players. Many fans had already created an
image of England winning and how the World Cup would be coming home. But changes happened, England didn’t win, so a new Manager was appointed. Everyone, so it seemed, welcoming the change.
There will be many in that scenario who would have preferred to stick with Gareth though, believing he could be the one, not wanting a change at all, specially a Manager who wasn’t known very well. For these people there is the element of resisting change, wishing things could
stay exactly as they are, but that is never going to happen, especially with the England Football team, it’s all just temporary.
Part of living well though, is learning to hold both, appreciate what has been, but remain open to what might be. Honouring what has ended, without rushing past it, but being curious about what is beginning, even when there is uncertainty. Maybe we would cope better with change if we stopped trying to force ourselves to move on, and learn to
trust ourselves through the transition.
We can start to trust that we can adapt, trust that we can learn, trust that something meaningful can emerge from the unknown, and start to believe that every new opportunity or experience begins when we let go of something old. It doesn’t mean we forget, or dismiss it, it just means that we start to recognise life continues to unfold.
I can always reference our Pilates classes because every movement begins by
leaving another one behind, every breath asks us to let go of the old air, so we can take in the new. Adjusting, adapting, finding balance which is a complete reflection of life.
So let me refer back to my quote from David Bowie, because it basically says that he isn’t fighting impermanence, he is observing it, and describes it as being warm which implies finding comfort in the impermanence of life. We don’t cope with impermanence by stopping change, we cope with
it by learning to flow with it, because it isn’t the exception, it’s the nature of life. A continual process of releasing the old and staying open to the new — not always easy, but definitely where growth happens
We can all create a little space for something new this week. And it could mean letting go of the old.
Have a good week everyone — keep looking, moving, and feeling good.
With love and support,
Jane
xxx
