I had planned to title this post “A Change Is Gonna Come,” and invoke the lyrics of Sam Cooke’s song by that name. Just in case you don’t know them, I’ve copied the words below. You may find a performance by Cooke here. Released in 1964 the song became one of the anthems of the Civil Rights Movement in the USA. I reference the song now because it is an intensely personal vocal about the difficulties of change in one person’s life.
I had expected to share these thoughts with my followers and readers in anticipation of a change I am making in the branding of my street team. That change was inspired by my friendship with a lovely woman, Barbara Hightower. This past Saturday, I received news that Barbara had passed away unexpectedly. I was floored and grieve her loss.
I never met Barbara in person. She and I had an online professional relationship as Personal Assistant and client. She quickly became a friend and one I dearly hoped to meet when traveling in her home state. This unexpected and unwelcome change makes that meeting impossible.
With her loss, I was tempted to pitch the entire re-branding idea. Without her support. how would I get through the turmoil of losing long time team members, people I consider friends, and trying to gain new ones? Of one thing I am certain, Barbara would be disappointed if I gave up simply because I was afraid to move forward, afraid to change. She would be the first to tell me ‘a change is gonna come’ and the first to cheer me on as I work through the challenges of change.
Hence, the reason I re-titled this post to New Friends and Old Friends. Change brings new friends and those friends who have known you for a long time, will stick by you or move on. Change is the certainty, not the nature of the change. For those of you who are on my street team or plan to join, know that I appreciate you and regard you as my good friends. For me that is the best possible kind of change. Thank you Barbara. You are my friend forever.
If you knew Barbara, please leave a note in memory of her. Otherwise please share with us a comment about one of your forever friends.
Lyrics to A Change Is Gonna Come
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh, and just like the river I’ve been running ever since
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes it will
It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die
‘Cause I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go down town
Somebody keep telling me don’t hang around
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say, “Brother, help me please.”
But he winds up knockin’ me
Back down on my knees
There been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes it will
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