Right of Change

There are 3 things that are constant in this world: death, taxes and change. As for death, it is a constant period. It is a popular example in law school as a day certain, “that which must necessarily come, although it may not be known when.” It sounds creepy but death is a perfect example. As for taxes, it is a constant condition. For as long as you are earning, you must report and pay taxes. And as for change, it is constant right. For as long as you haven’t entered into an agreement which merits some penalty for effecting change, you can very well exercise that right. Although it has not stop others from doing so anyway.

Last weekend, I found myself curled up on a chair not wanting to put down the book I was reading. It is a light-read by Sophie Kinsela, The Undomestic Goddess. It’s been a long time since I last spent a day reading for pleasure. The story is about a lawyer who is about to make partner in a top law firm. This has always been her plan. After 7 years of working for it, she will finally reap her hard work. However, she found herself in an uncompromising situation that will jeopardize her being a partner. Feeling lost, she went away to destination nowhere. Her sudden escape led her to the countryside of London. And what’s more surprising, she got herself a new job by mistake, as a housekeeper! Definitely far from her plans. But she played along with it thinking this is a perfect plot to distract her from facing her dark past. Everything is completely alien to her. She had to learn everything from scratch. Just as when she was actually enjoying and getting the hang of things, she found herself webbed back to her past. As a lawyer, it is innate to be curious and wanting for answer. In her case, she wanted vindication. When she got that, she was offered by the firm her old position. Of course, the rational decision was to take it. But before she takes that first step back into the law firm, she realized she didn’t want it anymore. She has changed her mind.

Probably most often, we find ourselves in the same situation as the character in the book. Just because we want something since time immemorial, it doesn’t mean we can’t want something else, right? In fact, being in the same situation for so long can result to a boring routine. But as with the character, she didn’t realize it until she got the chance to experience something completely different from what she’s used to.

Change comes in different forms, happens in different occasions and reaps different results. Most of the time, it is self-imposed. A decision made in consideration of something better or sometimes in a leap of faith. Other times, it is forced on to us. We have no choice but embrace the change.

I think change is good. It may seem scary at first tho. It’s like throwing yourself into the unknown. But that’s the exciting part of it. To be able to learn something new, discover yourself better and widen your reach. As long as you are determined to make that 360 degrees turn, I’ll exercise my right to change in a heartbeat.