When change accelerates

The other day, I was talking to another French expat and we were lamenting the fact that it becomes increasingly difficult to relate to our former buddies in the old country. 

Too much change over four to five decades is taking its toll, even though Covid-19 might be acting as a reunifying element as we now all share this condition all over the world, and have to live with it.

Yet, in our lives, change is the only constant, according to Heraclitus, and there’s nothing like being an expat to be impacted by it and appreciate how it’s creeping fast upon us. 

In the 44 years since I’ve live out of France, I’ve seen my former home country, its language, its culture gradually change while the United States and Park City have changed as well and I keep on changing everyday. 

So, it’s no wonder that in that flood of change surrounding us, many lose their bearings and long for a return to the “good old days” when things appeared certain, familiar and comfortable, but in fact were not really so. Sure, with 7.8 millions humans, there are more daily new ideas, inventions and achievements than ever before. 

Research is also better organized and accumulates knowledge and performance at an unprecedented pace, and all these factors place change on an exponential path headed up and we better fasten our seat belts in an attempt to keep up with the whirlwind of changes scheduled for tomorrow!