Change is strange- it’s downright scary. Studies about change, though, suggest that it’s not the change itself that gets us. It is, instead, the uncertainty. And that uncertainty is enhanced when the change is something that we didn’t choose, something where we didn’t have a say or a vote.

Add this one: when we are cast a change where we have to change our self-image, how we think of ourselves, we resist that change even harder. We fight it tooth and nail, casting blame, generating theories about malicious intentions behind the change. We even jump up and down and hurl barbed words just like our furrier ancestors did when they threw barbs.

This fighting of change- it’s called resistance. And we all do it. And each one of us has arenas that can pull for a full court fight-or-flight more than others.

And okay, I'll admit mine- what if, just what if, our beloved eons becomes overrun by the likes of Britney Spears or Paris Hilton? YIKES... fight or flight will be called for then.

A changing of the guard- or at least of the entry age to get in the gate- that’s just what
we are facing- and what we can face down- with the shifting of age limits at eons. It is change and it is unsettling- we wonder what will the face, so to speak, of eons become?

Will it become overrun by young whippersnappers?

Or, ee gads, will my daughters’ peers come trespassing onto my space- as in eons, not as in my space.

We become self-conscious of the identity that had become comfortable for us here like when we are at home in our most comfy and whole-riddled sweats and we hope that the person at the door is Fedex and not a friend who has never seen us in quite so ratty clothing.

Well, the certainty is that the age limit has changed.

So how will you choose to deal with it?

A. avoid it- go to face book or my space or leave the world of networking
B. accept it – and keep on doing what you have, networking with your current eons friends and hanging out in your favorite groups
C. alter it- try to change it
D. alter your response and approach to the whole thing- explore more of eons than you had. Learn from those new whippersnappers. And take comfort in and relish those opportunities when they learn from you!!!

Personally, I was drawn to eons for the energy of those in the group- fascinated and exhilarated by the energy and passion for life that people over 50 sill have and the joy that they feel in life. If we can inject more of that- and if we can teach younger members, no longer trespassing, about the joy of living on purpose and with passion, then I say ‘welcome’ one and all.

And, hey, maybe Britney or Paris will join and bring with them some, shall we say, eye-opening photos? Or, better yet, maybe they will visit or join and take from us some wisdom, a perspective on the longer view of life. And we will still get to laugh at their whacky photos...

Change- you gotta live with it so let's look forward and move ahead!

Looking forward,
Pam Brill