Change: Why Fight It?

I would imagine that at some point in a person’s life they sit back and reflect on it. Reflect on their life as it has been, as it is, and as you imagine it to be in the future. I know I have and I’m hoping I’m not the only one in the small circle of people I know. I think that it’s important for a person to do in order to grow and evolve. I’m not the same person I used to be. None of us are. Even if we’re not consciously trying to change ourselves, it still happens. Change is the one constant in everyone’s life.

Change is something that you can guarantee. It will happen. And yet, so many people fight it. Myself included. I hate change. Change is an unknown and the unknown terrifies me. I think it must be terrifying for most people.

Here’s what I don’t get. If change is inevitable, why fight it? If a specific change does not affect your life in any way, why fight it? For example, the right for certain members of our society to marry.

A Supreme Court decision in 1967 made interracial marriages legal. I’m sure there were those who opposed it. Did society change because of this decision? Not really. It allowed people who were in love and wanted to marry to do so. It allowed interracial couples the same rights as others. The only people it affected were the couples that, until 1967, were not allowed to legally marry.

This year, a Supreme Court decision allowed those same rights to gay couples. And, once again, there are those who oppose it. Why? I’ve heard countless reasons. None of which I would consider valid. Did it change society? No. All it did was allow members of our society the same rights as everyone else.

Did it affect you personally? Yes? You have or will marry the person that you love? Or a friend or relative will marry the person they love? Great! No? Then why do you care? What valid reason (not including religion or opinions) could you possibly have for not wanting two people to have the same rights that you do? It doesn’t take anything away from you, so I don’t get it.

Change is inevitable. You may as well accept it because it’s going to happen whether you like it or not. It’s just a matter of time. We, individually and as a society, will continue to change and evolve. Or at least I hope we do.