The Connections Bridgewater-Somerville Edition June July August 2021

KIDZ CONNECTION PAGE 14 theconnectionsnj.com 908-367-1664 • 908-367-0502 • fullfunpartyrentalfun@gmail.com Affordable Prices Rent for Any Occasion Local Bridgewater Business FULL FUN PARTY RENTAL We rent bounce houses, trampolines, tables, chairs, tablecloths, coolers and more... Se Hablo Español I was recently asked to provide an inspira- tional quote to a high school graduating class in Maryland. I re ected on the past year and decided to use it as a learning experience for the future. “It used to be that if you walked into a bank wearing a mask you would be arrested. To- day, if you walk into a bank without a mask you will be asked to leave. Go forth into the future knowing that you will need to adapt, shift, and change to facilitate your own growth, success, and for the good of your community.” Living in the pandemic has created a world that is markedly different from the one in which we are familiar. We had very little, or no choice, but to change our daily routines, behavior, and social interactions. For those who successfully and emo- tionally surrendered to the Covid World mandates, life was compromised but tolerable. If you did not accept the changes in life- style, routines, and cultur- al norms, most likely you have been angry, bored, or even depressed. Critical to the successful coping with the pandemic chang- es and limitations on our lives has been the ability to adapt, shift, and make changes. If you follow my col- umn, you know that I often use sports (and food) as metaphors for life. So, if you were coaching a football team you probably have a game plan when facing an opponent. The plan for a suc- cessful win will undoubtedly capitalize on your team’s strengths and accentuate the opponent’s weaknesses. But if that plan is not working, you have to make adjustments or even complete changes at halftime. You explain to your play- ers the adjustments and changes needing to be implemented, even if it is completely contrary to your original plan. Your team must make ad- justments on both offense and defense and play within the new parameters as a result of what you learned during the rst half of the game. As clearly experienced during the pan- demic, our life game plan had to be ad- justed, shifted, and even changed due to the limitations and parameters imposed on us. Ask any graduating high school senior or entering college freshman. Unexpected and unwanted changes in life are not only applied to life in the pandemic. Changes in life may not always be as dramatic as they have been in the past year, but there will always be changes. When change occurs, you must adjust, shift, or make sweeping modi cations. This applies not only to major life implications and decisions, but to speci c situations, problems, and deci- sion-making. Most people prefer consistency. It is pre- dictable and makes you feel comfortable. Change brings on the unknown and unfamiliar, often resulting in anxiety, discomfort, and unwillingness to change in an attempt to keep things the same. The “same” is not always an option. Of- ten, change is imposed on us. Sometimes self-im- posed change is positive for growth, happiness and success. In either case, change means that you may have to give up what you are most comfortable with. It is important to step back and try to objectively evaluate how you need to change based on what is be- ing presented to you. When you are too close to a situation, it is often dif cult to see clearly. Then, it is often dif cult to real- ize you need to make a change. It can be a career change or a relationship change, or a change in your routine. Making regular adjustments, shifting and changing aspects of your life can lead to much happiness and success. And, it can derail depression and boredom. The need to make changes vol- untarily, and adjust to changes imposed on you, will be present throughout your life. It is like playing a football game that lasts forever. Fortunately, you can take as many halftimes as you wish to adjust your game plan. Dr. Michael Osit is a Licensed Psycholo- gist practicing in Warren, and author of The Train Keeps Leaving Without Me: A Guide to Happiness, Freedom, and Self Ful llment (2016), and Generation Text: Raising Well Adjusted Kids In An Age Of Instant Every- thing (2008). M T M For those who successfully and emotionally surrendered to the Covid World mandates, life was compromised but tolerable. If you did not accept the changes in lifestyle, routines, and cultural norms, most likely you have been angry, bored, or even depressed. When change occurs, you must adjust, shift, or make sweeping modi cations. This applies not only to major life implications and decisions, but to speci c situations, problems, and decision-making. Dr. Michael Osit AS LIFE CHANGES-SO MUST YOU