Changed for the better

or worse. I used to think that people never change. It's a cliché people use all the time, especially when it comes to touchy subjects: I mean, haven't you ever heard, "Once a cheater, always a cheater" or something like that? I thought I would never change too, but it turns out I was wrong. Everyday the world around us changes and no one is exempt.

What I want to know is how things have affected your lives and changed you, either for the better or worse. Sometimes when listening to a certain song or reminiscing over old photo albums, feelings come over me that calms my soul and makes me want to be a better person, more gentle, more kind, more loving, but then I get cut off in traffic, and I'm ready to punch someone's lights out while cussing up a shitstorm.

These small moments of sporadic change I find don't really change me. Sure it puts me in a better or worse mood, but I'm still the same person with the same mannerisms as before when I think about it carefully. Sure these small events may push us towards change, but I think the bigger events in our lives are what causes us to change, for the better or worse, like getting married, having a child, witnessing the death of a loved one, killing someone, getting into a horrible accident and becoming maimed, winning the lottery, spending time in prison, living as a hermit, etc.


One big change in my life happened during my early school years. As a kid, I was pretty shy and introverted and didn't really make a lot of friends, so it was kinda sad for me. Most of the times I would spend my recesses alone and doing things by myself like climbing the jungle gym or playing a singles game of handball. Well, that all changed when a nice kid befriended me. Now that I look back on it, I have found that this has always been the case.

I've moved around the country several times now, and it's this same story everytime. I would move to a new place and be all alone again and back to my old self, and somehow someone in my class would just be my friend. I still think about all those great people to this day, and the kindness and warmth they brought me. I was always much happier when I was around them, and it made me appreciate other people more. I found myself opening up more to people around me and just being more friendly towards everyone in general.

I have fond memories of those days long past, and I still cherish their memories in my heart. For sure, all those old friends of mine helped change me for the better. I find myself sometimes looking out for that person that used to be in the same situation as me and try to see if I can't be a good friend to them like my old friends did for me.

Jam it back in, in the dark.