Life for us as humans is radically changing… how exciting! Whenever such transformational change is afoot, some people feel uncomfortable and want to turn back time. Time never turns back, however, so here we are. Like waves crashing on a rocky shore, change has always been humanity's constant companion, reshaping our world in ways both thrilling and terrifying.
The transition from agricultural to industrial life unfolded gradually across the globe, with North America experiencing a major technological revolution between 1868-1900. The steam engine, mechanized textile production, and new iron production methods accelerated the shift.
As change began to feel disruptive for them, some people protested, shouting out things like, “These machines will rob us of our livelihood!”, or, “The fields are taken from us, the machines replace our hands, and what are we to do with our children?” Eventually, however, modern society found its groove as we modified our schools and culture to support the changes.
If you are my age, you lived through the next pivotal transition period, where computer technology began to rapidly transform. I remember my father’s first car phone, and him bringing home the latest hand held calculator for my older brother. When I headed off to university, my mother gifted me a typewriter that could memorize one line at a time - WOW! I remember feeling excited with the newness of it all. My eyes widened in awe as I witnessed each advancement, from spotting the first billboard with a “www” address noted on it, to sending emails while speeding down the highway.
If my aunt and uncle were alive today they would be 105. I clearly still see them hiding behind the door as I showed them a Skype video call. “What on earth?” they exclaimed. “What will they think of next?”
I grew up in a time of rapid change where each year brought new innovations that seemed almost magical to many people. Still, others worried about technology's growing influence on daily life . Of course, these are themes that continue to resonate today. The dance between wonder and worry has accompanied every leap forward, from the first steam engine to the latest artificial intelligence breakthroughs, revealing a distinctly human pattern in how we embrace progress.
Like it or not, here we are now in the next time of major transition - "the AI Era". We are just in the beginning stages. Sentiments today echo historical patterns, with worries such as, “AI will take all our jobs!” being commonly heard.
As we face this new frontier of AI and technological advancement, it is probably worth reminding ourselves that our relationship with the evolving world in which we live runs deep, and that, throughout history, humanity's response to change has remained remarkably consistent. Even the ancient scholar, Socrates (470-399 BCE) expressed familiar concerns, lamenting how younger generations loved luxury, showed contempt for authority, and disrespected their elders - complaints that echo through every era of human history.
So what are we to learn here? Yes, change is the natural state of the Universe and it is inevitable. Overall, we as humans tend to resist evolution, even though it is woven into the very fabric of our existence. Did you know that the adult body generates about 330 billion cells daily to replace dying ones? Our body is actually a mosaic of cells of different ages, all with unique demands and functions. Just look in the mirror - the person you see looks quite different from who you were 20 or 30 years ago. Where did that former self go?
Change - it’s ok! Yes, change is often uncomfortable because we don’t know how we will adapt to it, but, just as our bodies embrace constant renewal, so too can we learn to welcome the transformations that surround us. As we grasp this idea and get onboard with transformation, letting go of the old and welcoming the new, life becomes a whole lot less stressful. Just as our bodies naturally regenerate and adapt, our minds can learn to flow with change rather than fight against it too. All that is needed to expand into tomorrow is for us to embrace our imagination, creativity, and self-expression.
As you navigate our constant evolution, I invite you to embrace the enduring spiritual attributes of Life. Those are: Light, Joy, Love, Beauty, Peace, and Power. If you feel like you can’t find them in your life, then you aren’t looking hard enough. Try again. They are constant and always present, no matter what else the winds of change may blow our way.