As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that change seems to impact people in different ways, especially as they age. There’s a certain comfort in the familiar—those routines we’ve spent years, even decades, developing. They become part of who we are, a testament to what works. Yet, there’s also a subtle risk: the risk of losing touch with new and exciting things because we’ve grown too attached to what’s comfortable.

I try to remind myself of the importance of accepting change, of trying a little harder to embrace the new, even when it feels unnecessary. As we age, there’s less urgency to do this because, quite frankly, the past has proven what works. But then again, that same comfort can be limiting. So where do we draw the line? When do we push ourselves to try something new, and when do we let ourselves fall back on what’s always worked?

A recent experience in my exercise class comes to mind. For over a year, I had the same instructor, someone whose routine I knew and whose style I was comfortable with. But when she left for maternity leave, a new instructor took over. Suddenly, I found myself wishing for the old routine, feeling a sense of discomfort with the change. The new routines weren’t necessarily harder, and the instructor was perfectly competent, but it was different. And different can feel wrong, even when it’s not.

But the truth is, how often can we really go back to the way things were? Over time, even the new becomes familiar, and what once felt uncomfortable turns into just another part of life. Change may be inevitable, but how we deal with it shapes our experience. For me, the answer is to try a little harder to embrace the new, while still holding on to the integrity of what’s worked in the past.

It’s about finding the right balance—knowing when to hold on to the old and when to embrace the new. That’s a practice I’m starting to cultivate, and I’m hopeful it will open up new possibilities along the way.