Changing

I love witty sayings and quotes; the wisdom, the thought provocation, the cause for reflection that a few words or a short saying can have.  While I have many favorite little sayings, I believe the one I "like best" or find the most continual meaning in is an old saying from ancient Greece, by the early philosopher Heraclites.  He provided that "One cannot step into the same river twice."

Heraclites statement spoke to the transient nature of things, and our world is in constant flux.  We cannot step into the same river twice because by the time of our second step, the river has changed; its water distribution is slightly different, its flow may be altered, its constitution will have changed.  My affinity for the saying lies in the fact that I agree with its meaning, and find that remembering the meaning is a good thing.  The world is constantly changing.  We, as individuals, are dynamic, rather than static, personalities.  As a result, our relationship with the world and with each other are in a constant state of flux.  This is why sayings like "this too shall pass" and "time waits for no man" carry such truth.

Thus, it is impossible to stay the same; one who thinks they are have bought into an illusion.  Laziness or inaction does not mean that you stayed the same person you were yesterday; it means you were a less active person than yesterday.  As things are always changing, and, more importantly, as we are always changing, we have choices to make each and every day.

We can choose to change in positive ways or in negative ways.  But even if we attempt to decide not to choose, we're still changing.