God, Give Me The Strength...

To accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

I love that serenity prayer.

Act 62:

“It’s never too late… To Accept Change

The only constraint in life is change. In nature, in society, in relationships, at work, things change. And they change constantly. See it as part of the larger picture, as normal. Don’t fight it. Adapt to it.” – Patrick Lindsay

Quote in book: “They must often change who would be constant in happiness and wisdom” ~ Confucius

I’m not very good at accepting change, because I don’t like change. I like routine. When I’m happy and content, I like things to stay the same. Obviously, when I’m not happy…I’m ok with change. I think I don’t like change, because I’m a control freak. Most of the time, the things that change in my life are out of my control. I’ve been getting A LOT better at accepting change, but I’ll never like it. Lately, I’ve just been trying to go with it.

The biggest change that has occurred in my life is that my father is no longer alive (6 months tomorrow). Once I accepted this change, I’ve really opened the door to accepting a whole bunch of change in my life. I can definitely say that I’m not the same person I was 6 months ago. I know I keep talking about it, but these blog acts are very similar… so I’m gonna try to not repeat myself.

The one thing I’m not sure that I have said is WHY I’ve tried to change over the last couple of months (if I’ve said this before.. I’m sorry). At first the change was out of necessity, because I’ve been trying to find out who I am w/out my father. Almost everything in my life reminds me of my dad. All the things that are important to me and the very core of who I am is in part because of my dad.

For example, I like sports, because I used to watch Sport Center w/ my dad at night just to spend time w/ him. My mom and my bro were never really that into talking about sports, so I filled that role for him. I love sports and actually always have the TV set to ESPN when I’m on travel. I’m an engineer because of my dad. He was one and I always wanted to be like him. I tell corny jokes like him. I’m a kind and compassionate person, because I learned that from him.

At first I wanted to try to change some things about me that made me think of him to make me miss him less, but then realized that I wanted to embrace the things in my life that he gave me or influenced me to like/do. So, I decided to try to change the things that he didn’t like about me, to honor him… change the things about me that I’ve always wanted to, but was too lazy or too stubborn. I think y’all know the change that I’m talking about… the change in attitude and outlook on life are both to change my life to make it better. Hell this entire blog series is to do simple acts to “Change” my life, so how’s that for accepting change??

When I saw today’s topic, I consulted The ORACLE. I found this eHow Article on accepting change. I liked it. I’ve copied it down below to make it easier for all of you.

1. Anticipate change. Since change is a natural part of life, expect things to change fairly often. This prepares you for change and prevents you from getting caught off-guard when it happens.
2. View change as an opportunity for growth. Since growth can't occur without change, look at change as a positive rather than a negative thing. See it as a means of developing personally, improving your circumstances and bettering your life.
3. Recognize that learning to accept change doesn't happen all at once. Most people go through the following four stages before finally accepting a change: Denial, Resistance, Exploration and Commitment. So, give yourself the time you need to thoroughly deal with each stage and then move freely and naturally from one to the other.
4. Be flexible. Make the best of changes you can't prevent, rather than wasting your energy fighting them. Channeling your energy in a positive direction gives you not just a greater sense of empowerment in handling the situation, but also greater control over the final outcome of the change.
5. Accept the change. Embrace the opportunity to break new ground. Welcome the chance to demonstrate your ability to face a challenge creatively. You'll emerge from the experience stronger, wiser and more confident than you were before.

Not sure how you feel about change or how good you are at accepting change… but if you’re reading my blog on a regular basis. First, THANK YOU and second, that’s been a change in your life over the last 2 months. I hope the experience hasn’t been horrible for you. =) Who’s ready for some trivia???

Trivia – 100 points up for grabs

10 Points: Name the Artist who sings “Changes” who was tragically killed in 1996 in vegas. He also went by Makaveli

10 Points: Name the Artist who sings “Change Your Mind”, which is off the Hot Fuss album

10 Points: Name the Artist who sings “Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song”, which is off the From Under The Cork Tree album

10 Points: Name the Artist who sings “The Change”, which is off the Fresh Horses album

10 Points: Name the Artist who sings this song called “Change”, which is on the Play On album

What'cha gonna do with the 36 cents
Sticky with Coke on your floorboard
When a woman on the street is huddled in the cold
On a sidewalk vent trying to keep warm
Do you call her over hand her the change
Ask her a story ask her her name
Or do you tell yourself

You're just a fool
Just a fool
To believe you can change the world
You're just a fool
Just a fool
To believe you can change the world

10 Points: Name the Artist who sings this song called “Change”, which is on the Fearless album

And it's a sad picture, the final blow hits you
Somebody else gets what you wanted again
You know it's all the same, another time and place
Repeating history and you?re getting sick of it

But I believe in whatever you do
And I'll do anything to see it through

Because these things will change, can you feel it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down
It's a revolution, the time will come for us to finally win

10 Points: Name the artist and song of the lyrics below

If I had to live my life without you near me
The days would all be empty
The nights would seem so long
With you I see forever oh so clearly
I might have been in love before
But it never felt this strong

Our dreams are young
And we both know they'll take us
Where we want to go

Hold me now
Touch me now
I don't want to live without you

10 Points: Name the artist and song of the lyrics below

Ten years living in a paper bag
Feedback baby, he’s a flipped out cat
He’s a platinum canary, drinkin’ falstaff beer
Mercedes rule, and a rented lear
Bottom feeder insincere
Prophet lo-fi pioneer
Sell the house and go to school
Get a young girlfriend, daddy’s jewel

20 Points: Name the song of the lyrics below. Name the artist that performed it. Name the Movie where this song was popularized.

What's that playing on the radio, why do I start swaying to and fro
I have never heard that song before, but if I don't hear it anymore
It's still familiar to me, sends a thrill right through me
Cause those chords remind me of the night that I first fell in love to

Those magic changes my heart arranges
A melody that's never the same, a melody that's calling your name
It begs you please, come back to me
Please, return to me, don't go away again, oh make them play again
The music I wanna hear is once again, you whisper in my ear
Oh my darling, aha

I'll be waiting by the radio, you'll come back to me someday, I know
Been so long since our last goodbye, but I'm singin' as I cry
While the bass is sounding, while the drums are pounding
Beatings of my broken heart will climb to first place on the charts

Oh my heart arranges, oh those magic changes, oooh yeah