As winter settles in, I’ve found myself sitting with heavier thoughts than usual. Lately, the idea of death has been on my mind—not just the literal end of life, but the way everything we know will eventually fade. Everyone I love, my pets, my family, my friends—one day, they’ll all be gone. Even the things we take for granted, like the way we live or the world around us, are constantly changing.

It’s a heavy thought. And yet, it feels important to sit with it, as uncomfortable as it is.

The Weight of Impermanence

I thought about how we’ve let go of things over time without even realizing it. Horseback riding, for example, used to be a mainstream way to get around. Now, it’s more of a hobby or sport. In that sense, the use of horses for transportation has “died.”

There’s nothing we can do to stop these shifts. Change happens whether we want it to or not. And while I wouldn’t say “unfortunately”—because new things have to come to replace the old—it doesn’t make it any easier. There’s still this longing to hold on, even if it’s just for a little bit longer.

Is that why we struggle with change? Because even when things aren’t perfect, they feel safe. They’re familiar.

The Trade-offs of Change

I think about this a lot when it comes to personal growth or chasing success. Sure, I’d love to make millions of dollars per year. Who wouldn’t? But if I really think about it, what would that cost me?

It would change me—how I see the world, how I relate to people, and maybe even what I value. Am I ready for that? What if the way I see the world right now is something I like? What if I enjoy the simplicity of where I am, even with its challenges?

Is it so bad to delay change, to hold on to the way things are just a little bit longer?

Why We Suffer

Maybe this is why we suffer so much when things change—because deep down, we don’t want to let go. We want to keep things the way they are.

I think about my pets, how much I love them, and how I know my time with them is limited. Each one will most likely pass before I do. It hurts to acknowledge that. And yet, that knowledge makes every moment with them feel so much more precious.

Should I spend my time chasing money, knowing it won’t bring back these moments? Or should I savor every second I have, knowing they’re already slipping through my fingers?

The Gift of the Present

Every day, I’m reminded that time moves forward, whether I want it to or not. I’ll never be as young as I am right now. Every word I write, every breath I take, makes me a little bit older. When I think about it this way, life starts to feel like a collection of moments that are already behind me.

And yet, isn’t that what makes those moments so beautiful? The fact that they’re fleeting?

Unanswered Questions

I don’t have the answers to any of this. Maybe none of us do. But I can’t shake the feeling that life isn’t about trying to hold on forever. It’s about learning to let go. And maybe—just maybe—that’s where we’ll find the courage to embrace the changes we fear the most.

For now, I’m learning to savor what I have while it’s here. To spend time with my pets. To appreciate my family and friends. To feel the weight of each moment as it passes. And maybe, as I do, I’ll start to see change not as something to fear but as a part of the natural rhythm of life.