Change and change only is the constant...

We do come across several changes in our lives, every single day. Can we avoid the changes? A BIG NO is the answer. We witness changes in all walks of life, all the time. This has been going on for several centuries and it will keep continuing. So, how do we view the changes? Different generations see them in different perspectives. Whether one likes it or not, whether one accepts it or not, the changes keep taking place. Changes do not wait for our 'liking' or 'approval'.

Let us take the example of 'breakfast' in Tamilnadu (India). My grandfather had 'porridge' made out of different millets. My father used to take the 'previous night cooked rice' with buttermilk or water. I used to take dishes made out of dough (rice + dal (pulse)), either in steamed form (Idly) or in fried form (Dosa). My daughter demanded other types like 'puri', 'appam', 'noodles' etc., for breakfast. My granddaughter used to take corn flakes and milk. The younger grandson of mine wants bread, butter and jam. The next generation (my great granddaughter) would take donuts, pastries for breakfast. I just wonder that the future generations to follow might pop up a 'tablet' which contains the required quantity of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins!!!

Can I now complain about the food habits of my younger generations? No way! Whether I like it or not, I have to accept it and move on. Should I contradict their views on this change, I will get a 'stare' and rebuke ('Grandpa, you don't know anything').

Another example - the dresses our forefathers wore. My grandfather's costume was a plain white cloth wound around the waist and a towel which was used in multiple ways (to wipe off the sweat, to sit on, as a shield against scorching sun....). My father added another item - a vest to cover the body. We started using shirts, pants. Next generation - jeans and 'T-shirts'. The present generation is very well advanced. They use 'torn jeans' (which we would have thrown away as unusable!). When questioned their wisdom on using such clothes, I got a despicable reply ('You are outmoded and you don't deserve to live in this world').

I am sure that the same thing (changes) would have been happening all over the world. Only the items would be different from what I experience in India. Music has changed...., the way we travel has changed. And a welcome change is that more and more girls are taking up lofty positions in Industries and businesses. Many dare to venture into new avenues.

The way we work now has changed totally (180%). Did we expect it a few years back? Can we complain? Some changes we like and some we don't. 

We can extrapolate this analogy to anything and everything. Changes are for real. If you don't like them, keep your eyes off, pretend to ignore! That is the only way. I don't say that all changes are bad. Any change that happens has to be towards the betterment of the people, not detrimental.

Okay, these are all physical changes which could be tolerated (even if we don't like). Very big change has taken place in the 'attitude' of people. People no more tend to be helpful to each other, no compassion, no empathy. If someone is drowning or going through a real crisis, the bystanders take videos of the scenes and post them on their social media. Selfishness has reached a different level. Corruption in all walks of life and nepotism are accepted by all, as normal occurrences. They are not 'bad words' any more. These changes cannot be digested, especially by old-timers. But is there a choice? Either accept or pretend to ignore!