BEARS, CHAIRS AND CLOCKS

It's that time of year again: the few days when we all readjust to having lost the hour we've sacrificed to British Summer Time.

Yup. Late-night barbecues, going home in the bright afternoon, watching cricket until dusk, sitting in the park with a glorious sunset... all worthwhile now that we've given that hour up.

Except, every year I seem to forget how to do it.

I woke up late yesterday and had to race to church, feeling half-asleep until at least mid-way through the first service. Today, with my body still a bit confused, I've blustered my way through the same groggy disorientation.

Here's the bit that's difficult in all this: my attitude's terrible. I'm like a bear that's sleeping in the corner, easily prodded and surprisingly snappy and growly today - though I hope I can manage myself a bit better than that. I do know how to, after all.

I'm not alone either! I think I've detected what happens when bears have been in a place for a while, doing a thing the same way for a while. Eventually, we become protective of that thing, even if it's apparent that it's not (or no longer) the best way to do it.

Change becomes a thing to fear, a pointless problem solved years ago, a waste of time... instead of an exciting challenge or opportunity to grow and be better. Adventures look less-appealing than the comfortable armchair that's moulded itself to fit our pendulous bottoms.

Change-agents who come in with new brooms, instead look like pesky agitators, rather than the free-thinking breaths of fresh-air they're supposed to be. And worst of all, we can't see it because we're so very used to the frame of reference we've seen around us for so long. Their solutions won't make sense unless we listen carefully.

Well, fellow bears. Let's let it go. Sometimes it's okay to ask big questions about why we do something a certain way, and it's okay to start letting go of the armchair to go walking in the woods without getting in a huff about it.

That said - I think we do have experience - and that's why all the changers and sky-blue-thinkers out there need us, and need to listen to what we know. And we need them, tasting the porridge and breaking the chairs. Goldilocks might be irritating, but she's a fantastic QA product tester. If you're excited by change, you need to know that you can be as much of an irritant to the rest of us as you need to be. We're supposed to work together, I think.

Of course, all of that's tough when you're still living an hour in the past and you feel like you just woke up. I think today I might just stop talking, close my eyes, chill out, and start listening and observing a bit better.

Oh, and change is good, right? After all, however uncomfortable the clocks make me feel, it does mean that summer is well on its way. That's a thing to look forward to.