The Discomfort of Change

"Doing things the same way over and over expecting a different result is insanity!"

People always say change is difficult and yes sometimes I agree with this. The most difficult changes in life are the one that you don't see coming. But should change be really difficult? Life changes are a test of character, test of your own self and it puts you where you are not used to living. I have to credit my mentor who by the way is a female self-made millionaire at the young age of 22. She said change is not difficult rather change is uncomfortable. It is hard to be taught by someone younger than you are but when I met her I was an empty cup with my back against the wall, I heard her story and her story is so similar to mine though in my mind more difficult. Back in 2007, 2 months before graduation a tragedy struck her family, her father the primary breadwinner died of cancer being first born she was put to the test having a housewife for a mom and a still student sister during that time and mind this her parents are living in LA while she was here she even described the situation being she is an OFW here while her family is in USA. Given that she is a nationalist because she is a product of UP she decided to stay here. She was pushed in a situation and a position of a huge change. She was given a responsibility that was not her choice.

Most people will crumble at this situation but my mentor is resilient and determined. She knows she can only provide results and not excuses in the face of adversity where quitting is not an option.

 Another true story of a young woman who overcame a life changing event to be one of the youngest millionaires in the Philippines. At the age of 18 while in between semester in college her dad left her and get this he is the only one she has in her life. She literally was alone(she is Japanese), she has no relatives just friends in Manila. She had a choice as well to adapt to the change, live and prosper or crumble. Guess what choice she made? At 24 years old currently she earns an average of 2 million pesos a month, married, has 3 kids and has a wonderful family. Now I believe that is success.

 So by now you are asking how they did it. It is very normal to ask yourself that question nothing wrong with that but the real question you should be asking is WHY they did that. Just imagine you are on the way to some family reunion and you are running a bit late you want to attend to and haven't seen your family in a while and as you drive the way to go to the reunion is blocked by a minor road accident that occurred just 5 minutes before. Now you call your folks asking how they got there and they told you about the way, little did they know an accident happened after they have passed the way. By now your "how" has been nullified, that how is no longer valid but you still have your "WHY", why you should be there. If something similar happened to you in your life did you stop? Did you go back to where you came from and quit? Or did you asked around and found a new way?

 You see there are changes in life that happens to us, some we see some we don't, some we want some we hate, but these changes happen and sometimes we need those changes especially when we are going nowhere. Changes are not difficult it is just uncomfortable. Just like anything in life there is a first time and what we do is we accept this change and we adapt!

 For example you broke your arm due to a roller blading accident, do you deny it happened or you accept it and seek medical help? Same with any changes in life we need to accept it, understand it and adapt to it because if we know our "WHY" then all we need to is find a way and go through it!

 The fact is sometimes we have to go out of our comfort zones for a better future, for a better destination and for a better life. If we want something better in life we have to introduce a good change in our lives.

 Introduce a change, accept the change and adapt to the change!

 And:

The Demise of my Ipod, A collection since 2006 gone.... And finally the rebirth of my IPod

The Demise of my Ipod Songs, A collection since 2006 gone....

My iTunes suddenly turned on the sync mode and that was that I lost all my songs in my Ipod Video 6 years’ worth of songs and playlist gone with the wind. I felt my heart broke and my stomach dropped I didn't feel like listening to any music even if it is the same I want to hear it from my Ipod. It was a huge loss my Ipod has been a part of my life for six long years it has been with me with all my out of town and out of country trips. It has comforted be during long walks, hard commutes and Manila traffic. In a few seconds it was all gone. It was like a haymaker thrown at my jaw and I got Knocked out I didn't see it coming.

Given that my Ipod is old, I don't even know what generation it is all I know is it is Ipod video 30gig that is it. It has been broken all these years but I got it restored simply because I love it, it is my partner. People jog with their dogs I jog with my Ipod, I work out with it, I drive with it, heck I listen to it while taking a dump and the list goes on and on.

My playlist is like my mood I have a rocking playlist when I feel like energetic or want to be energetic; I usually use this at the gym. I have my shindig playlist I play this when I feel like partying or dancing, yeah I do that after years of clubbing last decade it got to me. I have my sentimental playlist I listen to this when I feel in love or I want to share my love and maybe relax look forward to a great date. I have my classical playlist I use this at work to keep me focused and mentally stimulated while working. My classical playlist is so valuable ever since I used it my efforts at work were greatly rewarded with praises, promotion and increase. And lastly I have my sleep playlist, a collection that helps me sleep at night and during powernap to give me peace.

I looked around at my community (which I will not name for now), I saw time passed me by my IPod is obsolete; people use Iphones and ITouch to listen to their music. Same with work I don't see people use my IPod model even at the gym nobody uses it anymore it too big for a workout session. It got me thinking maybe I should get an ITouch it has better features, larger screen display and I can watch better movies.

I tried looking at sulit.com for used ITouch that are in good condition. I thought about getting those since they are cheaper and I trust Apple I know those things are made to last. The second hand Itouch I saw are all loaded with the owner's songs and playlists I got excited for something new. The Itouch has a lot more to offer than my old IPod, I can imagine the fun I will have with it, playing better games instead of the old solitaire, watching clearer movies and so on. Suddenly I refreshed my memory of my old IPod it has a movie feature too hence the name IPod video, I remember the times I loaded simpsons episodes there and watched it during late night commute since back in 06 I finish work at 11pm. How long did I use that feature and I remember not a while it was the music that really mattered to me in the long run. Not the pictures not the movies but the music! My music!

So I reflected on it should I rush buying an Itouch something that will make me feel really good and excited in the beginning maybe a few months. What is the use of the new Itouch really... Yeah I will get to listen to something new maybe some of the songs there are songs that I used to have as well but all in all the loaded ITouch has a different character compared to my old IPod. It is simply not me and it will not influence me in some way because in the long run I have been developed by my own choices. In a few months I will just be looking for my Ipod in that Itouch and will realize I have wasted money on something that is not for me. I miss my Ipod.

I have decided to understand that my songs are gone but who I am isn't. I accepted that fact and finally I started rebuilding my old Ipod, remembering the best music before that I always play and listen too, I looked for them. One by one, artist by artist, genre by genre I am building my Ipod for the better. I realized my past mistakes and checked my internal settings turning off the sync permanently so no matter where I plug my Ipod the itunes of my friend, the itunes of my mom, brother, sister will not change who my Ipod is. My Ipod's music can be heard and listened too who ever uses it and each itunes it attaches too it can get some good music from the owner of that itunes making it better too.

I have learned all is not lost, it is just time to refresh, learn and understand that I am in charge of who I am should I choose something that is not me in a rush because of a loss or wait relax sit down and realized what I have lost write it down search for it because in reality the songs lost were never lost it was just not in my ipod at that time and I can regain it make my ipod better than it has ever been.