Change and Transition

Life is comprised of change and transition

"Who are you? said the Caterpillar...

"I--I hardly know, Sir, just at present," Alice replied rather shyly, "at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have changed several times since then." Lewis Carrol, Alice in Wonderland.

When the Caterpillar asks Alice, "Who are you?" she finds out she doesn't know who she is anymore. The Caterpillar aggravates Alice's uncertainty about her constantly changing size.

Is Alice the same little girl, or has she changed? If we interpret the Caterpillar as a phallic symbol, then Alice, being a young adolescent, is a woman who is now having her menstrual cycle and experiencing powerful sexual urges.

In psychology, "change" refers to the external event or situation, while "transition" is the internal, psychological process people go through as they adapt to and come to terms with that change.

Adolescence is not simply a change but also a transition into adulthood. Sexual feelings arise. Boys experience seminal emissions, and girls begin their menstrual cycle. They want to be grown up, to change from children into adults. Without their full awareness, they are changing and transitioning into full adulthood.

I moved from a rental apartment to a new condominium that I purchased. I made that change instead of continuing to pay rent, which felt like a waste of money.

What I failed to notice was that my body and life were undergoing a transition into old age. I developed peripheral neuropathy, and that caused problems with my balance. Later, when I thought about it, I realized that I was having balance problems long before the diagnosis, but I paid no attention until it gradually grew much worse. I suffered several falls, resulting in injuries. It was when I fell and broke my hip that everything changed in my life. I failed to realize and understand that I was changing and transitioning into a new stage of my life.

The transition into old age has led to my moving into a senior community with a support system for those with a variety of physical problems. As I write this essay, I am doing my best to adjust. I realize that this is a whole new life and not something temporary. I am having difficulty sleeping through the night. I often feel tired and have no appetite. I know for certain that I feel depressed.

Society loves to tell us to embrace change. However, adjusting to change is difficult. The process of transition touches every part of you. It might upset your sleep, reduce energy levels, or even change how you see yourself. You may question previous choices or discover qualities you didn't know existed. Often, the inner adjustments determine whether change sticks or feels superficial and temporary.