When the New Becomes Old

Starting something new is exhilarating, isn’t it? Beginnings are exciting. At the beginning of something, you are full of energy. You put your best foot forward. You’re determined to give your all. You have high hopes and big dreams. This new something is just what you need in your life, because many of the old things in your life are stale and boring.

Think of the first day of school... and all of the time you put into that first-day outfit (I still remember the plaid skort, black collared top and mary jane shoes I wore on the first day of 5th grade).  Think of your new year’s resolution to exercise… you bought new workout clothes and hit the treadmill running (literally, of course). Think of a first date… you curled your hair, put on heels and even wore a little perfume.

 

Beginnings are exciting! But after a while, that excitement fades. The shine wears off. School becomes overwhelming and you can’t wait for summer break. Exercising becomes mundane and going home sounds more appealing than going to the gym. And after a few dates, you’re likely to be in your sweats with your hair in a ponytail when the guy comes over.

 

You’re over it. The new is now old.

 

A friend of mine told me this week that she is thinking of leaving her church, which surprised me because she seems to really love her church. When I asked her why, she said that she’s been at that church for four years now and she’s ready for something new. There’s nothing wrong with the church, she just wants a change.

 

Did you know that the average worker today stays at their job for 4.4 years? And the expected tenure of the workforce’s youngest employees is about half that. My generation tends to stay at one job for about two years before they get tired of it and want to move onto something new.

 

It’s a vicious cycle: try something new, get tired of it, move onto something else.

 

So what do you do when the excitement fades? My hope: Push through. Keep going. I know, that sounds like work.  It isn’t always easy; it’s oftentimes hard. The adrenaline rush is gone, and now you have to find a new source of energy to continue moving forward. It is work, but it’s worth it!

 

Greener Grass

We tend to think that the grass is always greener on the other side. But you can’t just hop over the fence and enjoy your neighbor’s luscious grass. You have to put some time and effort into growing and maintaining your own green grass. I bet your neighbor didn’t get such beautiful green grass by being lazy. They probably took time to water, cut, fertilize and tend to their yard. That’s why their grass is greener.  You have the ability to make the grass on your side just as green!