We humans are a curious species. Longing for things to stay the same or to be different than they are. Yet, this only leads to a constant state of dissatisfaction. It’s like hitting our heads against a brick wall. The universe and everything in it is always changing, whether we like it or not. Our pens run out of ink, babies are born, people die, flowers wilt, relationships end, we fall in love, we move to a new house or get a new job.

Impermanence is a fundamental aspect of life. We know this intellectually, but resist it psychologically.

Do you find the idea of impermanence depressing? Do you feel time ticking away? We know that nothing lasts forever; that what is beautiful is ephemeral, gone in a flash. We don’t know what the future holds. So, what do we do with this uncertainty? Tibetan monk Thich Knat Hanh says that we don’t suffer because of impermanence but because of our ideas about permanence. We equate impermanence with pain and suffering and lose track of the incredible gift that life is.

What if you were able to shift your mindset and think of change in terms of opening up possibilities? What if you were able to see each moment as fresh and new? Could you then embrace, even celebrate impermanence?

Here are a couple of posts I’ve written on the subject of impermanence – Still Life Photography and Impermanence and The Sweetness of Impermanence.

Celebrate Impermanence is now available for free as a gift for you.

It’s a 38 page PDF publication, available through the button below. There are 12 reflections and associated challenges designed to get you noticimg, welcomimg, and celebrating impermanence in your own life. Themes include time, change, vulnerability, loss, memory, and joy, to name a few. The Introduction provides tips for approaching the material. Download through the button below.