Pride and Prejudice, whether in movie or book form, epitomizes my definition of absolute boredom. To much surprise, I spent the past week watching more hours of Downton Abbey than I care to admit. The show is typically English, described by Netflix as “cerebral” and “understated.” It follows a not-so-merry band of royals, the Crawleys, and their sometimes mocking staff during the 1910′s. The program cunningly shows the many cultural changes that occurred during this point in history.
Disruptive change is probably more of a constant when not viewed in the narrow scope of today, this year or the last. Take the early 1900′s as an example. The Wright brothers had their first flight in 1903. The lucky few started to have their homes equipped with indoor plumbing and electricity. Even the phone was a new-fangled breakthrough for communication. In one episode the butler, Carson, struggles to figure out which end to speak into. In addition to the start of World War I, women’s rights were gaining traction.
Today, just as then, the pace of change is head spinning. Just as one has mastered the latest bright, shiny object or cultural change another comes along. Perhaps the only truism is that change is constant and change will happen with or without you. The only choice is in how you react. The only solace is that you are not the first nor the last to see it.
photo: TimothyJ
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