Change

After hearing the title of the story, I thought it is just the same old boring novel. But as soon as I read the story, I must say I came to like it. The story is very simple and short. You do not have to overanalyze the story to understand its significance— lessons. The book has three parts— the gathering, story and discussion. It started as if it is real. Someone is telling a story to his friends and after they discuss about it. Basically, the story is about the two mice, two little people and the cheese. These four living being, namely Hem, Haw, Sniff and Scurry, were in a maze and looking for their cheese. The little people and mice differ because of their characteristics. Little people have their human skills and wisdom, while mice have their speed and sharp smelling capabilities. So all day long, they tried to go around and hunt for their cheese. They go over the maze not knowing what awaits there just to find that cheese. They pass through trials and thought of giving up because of hardships, but because they persevere they found that cheese they are looking for. They were so happy and so everyday they went there to eat. Later on, they build a house near the cheese. Because the little people were overwhelmed, they never thought that one day that cheese will soon disappear. After what happened, the two mice hurriedly find a new cheese because they have foreseen what is going to happen, while the little people cannot accept the change tend to wait, if there is still a possibility that their cheese will come back. The two little, who were in denial, were stucked in the same place for more days. But one of them, Haw, tried to try again the maze and bet to find a new cheese. Along his journey, he realizes different things and with every insight he decided to put in a wall to serve as a mark and to be a cue to Hem, if ever he would follow. Luckily, Haw made it and found his new cheese. The story might be very simple but I think there so much in it. I think most of our experiences could be related to the story but one thing I want to focus on— change. We, people, are so afraid of change. It is because we are not so used to the new things that may come our way. In the story, change was depicted, and you can see there the different approach of different people to change, as the characters have shown. One could be like Hem who is to afraid and cannot get over the change, Haw who tried to risk, adapt to change and learn along his journey and the two mice (Sniff and Scurry) who were so easy to adapt the change without understanding the situation. For so many reasons, I have been all of them. I just realize that earlier as I recall things in the past. I became the mouse who neglect the situation and just try to move on. Particularly, when I was transferred to a new section where I do not I have my folks with me. I thought moving on was the best thing to do (and that is what I did), but now I realize it is better because I am out of my safe zone and try to act new and excel for myself. Also, I was a Hem who really into things and overthink it. I recognized it because I came to that point where I always blame someone and hope that everything would get back, but it did not turned out that way. At that time, I thought going back to the usual would be the best because my life would not be so hard anymore. And of course, Haw who tried to embrace the change. I was like him in an instance where I went to my high school, I do not want that school and it is a lot harder there compared to a regular high school. At first I resist to change, but as soon as I reach my junior year I came to adapt and realize things such, if I were in other school, I would not learn to persevere with my studies because it is lenient. I think most of us could site ourselves to anyone of the characters in so many situations, but the good thing here is that we should know “who we wanted to be in the story'” Ultimately, Change is not what we should be afraid of. Change is constant. There are so many more changes that will come along our way. Thus, we should not be stucked to that ‘change’ in our life. I know it is hard, but that is life things have to better that is why changes occur. As what the book says, “If you do not change, you can become extinct.” Everything changes and so are we. If we never learn to adapt to it, we will never grow. We would not be able to improve ourselves and correct our mistakes. Sometimes change is the second chance for us to remake or if not, rebuild ourselves. As a person, I know it is so hurtful to lose that ‘cheese’ in your life that is why people are so focus on it. Like what Haw had realized, “The more important your cheese is to you, the more you want to hold onto it.” It is fact. No one wants to lose their special one because it is their life, joy or safe zone. But did anyone think, if that one thing was removed or changed, do you think your life would be easier, happier or better' Maybe, some because we, people, stick to what we are used to and never think of looking our life outside of that cheese. It is like answering, “What would you do if you weren't afraid'” For me, learning to answer that question is also learning to be the best in the time the change happens in our life. Going over the story, I think, is a good start for this subject because as a person and soon in a corporate world we would experience a lot of changes (slash heartbreak). It is good that we are now educated on how we should see it and deal with it. It may concern our work in the future because most changes occur there. Especially, the business policy and people we are going to work with. And now having read the book, we can now, at least, understand things and try to solve it in a positive manner. Also, it can help us not fear changes to come our way because as what I have said it can lead us to a better idea or situation. And that will surely happen in a management when we plan for its betterment. Moreover, this book can even help us now, as a student, with our research study for we should have the courage to innovate things. Though, it is new might as well take the risk to see if could be a good one. Everything starts from new things and so we student should not be hesitant to that. We should learn to accept the fact that if there would come a time that study of ours is not feasible, we must change, redo or improve it. Obviously, other than those this book helps us improve our attitude. Everything what I have said are the things came to my mind, while I was reading the story. Maybe it is for the reason that most of them are what I failed to do and realized in the past. And I was so happy that I was able to have the chance of reading this. For me, this is not an instant personality changer but more of an eye-opener to us. It serves as a symbolism of what we will face in our life. The cheese as our dreams, friends, or even the situation, the maze which serves as trials that we will soon face and lastly, the four beings that once we become. At the end, I appreciated that I experienced to be all of them in different situations, but now I understand that it is better to be Haw than anyone else in the story. It might be a little bit late for me now but as the saying goes, "It is better late than never."