Change is powerful. We’ve all said the word or a variation of the sentiment. Whether we’re afraid of what’s to come or bracing ourselves, arms wide open, ready for the next chapter, we all see change through the same lens with varying receptions and interpretations. I like to look at the world like this – as a cyclone of change, moving this way and that, taking society to new dimensions. All around me the world changes. From the autumnal palate of November to the snowy globe of January, the scene changes. As the scene changes, the characters evolve moving from blonde to brunette, from stalky to toned, from vulnerable to confident. The world is an unfinished novel, and the theme is change.

The reason I paint this picture is to reflect on a homily from church this past Sunday. The priest approached the podium with the same easy stride he takes every Sunday morning, ready to drop some worldly knowledge on the congregation. I’m not going to lie, normally my mind wanders during the homily. It’s a part of the mass I know I should be actively paying attention to, but I have a tough time connecting. However, this time was different. I understood something about myself and the world on a deeper level, and it is the perfect way to start off a new year.

In my personal life I struggle with where I currently stand financially and regarding my career status. I relentlessly compare myself to my peers, feeling like I’ll never be where I want to be in life. I hate feeling like I can’t support myself because I chose a path that leads me from one obstacle to the next, whereas others may have chosen a simpler path.

And this is where I had to stop myself because I realized that I had lost myself. I got so caught up trying compare myself to others that I forgot to take a step back and understand that I haven’t a clue about other’s lives. I just made assumptions based off social media posts, but social media is deceptive in that it masterfully flaunts the seemingly perfect aspects of a person’s life, masking the difficult parts and hardships.

Sunday’s homily directly touched my life in a way that made me see the world differently. It took that seemingly perfect image of what life is portrayed as and sobered it up a bit to show that negativity does exist so that we may know the good in this world. The priest spoke of a former parish member who noticed that the homeless population in my hometown was at severe heights. He ended up establishing an organization that aims at getting those plagued with misfortune back on their feet. Hearing this, I immediately went to that dark, competitive place in my mind, thinking about just how costly this must have been and how much influence he must have had, but Father brought me right back with what he said next. He basically said that giving does not have to be this grand gesture; it can be small because a little goes a long way. We should not and do not have to apologize for our misgivings or how little we give because even the tiniest amount makes a difference.

Change comes in all shapes and sizes, and so does power. Money or status should not dominate how we feel about the world. There is still the human connection that we can hone in on to foster a change, building from the bottom up. I know I said resolutions would not define my year, and they won’t, but a personal goal for me is to be a part of the change. I’ve never been one to voice my beliefs because I’m private, and I respect the difference of opinion from my peers. Therefore, my change will be through words and interactions with the people I personally encounter daily. I’m starting small in the book of life, spilling my truth about coffee onto the page, sharing laughs and encouragement as the year progresses. No more one-sided competitions and feeling sorry for myself. It’s time to bring some change to the table because as the still-dead Thomas Hardy once said, “a little spark gives birth to a great flame.”