Change.

Change is inevitable. People change, situations change and life keeps moving on. As people we are constantly changing. As the world around us changes it’s impossible to stay in the same place with the same frame of mind.

It can often be really hard to accept.

In one moment you know the ins and outs of a person. How they think, how they act and exactly what’s happening in their lives. Fast forward one month, maybe two and all of sudden you no longer have any idea. In a matter of moments you have lost the friendship, that connection you once thought could never be broken. It’s gone. But hey, that’s life right?

You meant to call, text maybe and catch up for that coffee. You were going to see them at that party and make an effort to see how they were going. But it was Uni, work and life that got in the way. It was change.

Thinking back to this time last year I have changed, a lot. Fresh out of high school I had the world at my feet and figured I should experience what life was like as a typical 18-year-old.

Being that kid that has always had my head screwed on the right way I figured it was time to “let loose”. After one too many hangovers I think I grew up. I was kinda like a bubble, floating along just fine until I woke up to myself and the bubble popped. It just wasn’t really me. I was turning into a person I didn’t want to be.

Don’t get me wrong I had some awesome times and those memories will be looked back on as the “good old days” but I don’t think they really benefitted me in any way.

I was still on top of Uni, showed up to every one of my shifts at work and had a social life. I had a really good balance.

But I’m too responsible, too predictable and not so carefree.

Although I know I can still have a good time I’ve realised I don’t have to change who I am to do that.

My life now is very much about routine and I spend far too much time in my room on my laptop. But I’m doing it for my career. I’m doing it because I’m predictable and I want to succeed. I am still that outgoing, party loving person I was but somehow I’ve changed. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing, I’ll probably thank myself in years to come, but it’s strange.

My one piece of advice: if for some reason you have lost contact with someone that was once close to you, call. Not everything has to change.

#ashleighdwan #beyondthestory #journalism