Change

I'm the sort of person that absolutely hates the thought of doing something unfamiliar. But once that unfamiliar thing becomes a routine, when that strange unimaginable act becomes what I live, eat and breathe every single day, I get emotionally attached and will never part with it. But then something happens, something called change. And then the cycle begins all over again.

Change has never been easy. It has also never been very hard.

I think first and foremost, as humans, change is something we try to avoid at all costs. It is after all, human instinct to cry after leaving the water-filled sanctuary known as our mother's womb. We cry because change happens, because we are trust into unfamiliar surroundings, because we are given life and life is hard. Then we forget about time spent in the womb, we get caught up with life and we learn that we love it, then we cry when death comes to collect us from the safe bubble of familiarity we've created here on Earth.

Humans have always been such silly creatures.

But then again, I'm a special kind of human. I'm a Malaysian, born on Malaysian soil where unique customs and traditions are carried out. We Malaysians have always preferred our homes gated, our 'teh's tarik-ed, our education painfully inconsiderate. We are probably the most stubborn people on this planet when it comes to change.

When you think about it, we're also the most easily swayed.

Years ago, when our education system was changed to uphold the English language, people got angry. There were massive debates, a lot of contradicting opinions. The parents were angry. The teachers were angry. More importantly, the students got angry.

Now, as our nation struggles to reinvent it's already flawed education system in a way that prioritises Bahasa Malaysia, people are angry. There are massive debates, a lot of contradicting opinions. The parents are angry. The teachers are angry. More importantly, the students are angry.

While all this happened, 'Change' was busy chuckling at how easily humans can create a big problem out of a tiny bit of unfamiliarity.

Here's a suggestion to those who'll listen. Embrace change.

Instead of taking the short cut to work like you always do, use another route. Get your teh-tarik with extra manis. Say hi to the kids you never talk to. Abandon your routine and improvise. Accept the fact that things change, people leave; life doesn't wait for anybody.  Pop that bubble you're trapped behind, and take a look at the world. It is big, it is here, it is ever changing. It is yours for the taking.

Perhaps then, when we learn to except change, when unfamiliarity is treated as an opportunity to learn, perhaps then we silly creatures called humans will finally be able to move forward from the close minded hypocrites we have all become. Perhaps then, change will become an appreciated constant.

But then again, it's only a suggestion. :)