this is the rhythm of living.
Out of our over-confidence, fear;
out of our fear, clearer vision,
fresh hope. And out of hope, progress.”
Bruce Barton
On Monday I posted about upcoming changes here. The first — this week’s blog renovation — may be the most visible. It’s less flowery, not so frivolous or cluttered as it was before. Hopefully you’ll still find it a friendly place to hang out.
I’m all for change when it comes to rearranging furniture and redecorating. But when Facebook unilaterally alters how my posts are treated, or Flickr decides my photos will be viewed differently, I find it frustrating. They believe the new features will be an improvement. They may be, but I see them as contributing to my stress level because I have to take time to learn new ways to do what had become conveniently automatic. One Flickr user complained the features had been working well, so why change them. “A rose by any other name is still a rose, but now we have to figure out new ways to enjoy the fragrance.”
Recently Google announced they will be discontinuing their Google Reader application on July 1st. Since I’ve relied on it for years as an RSS service, hosting links to all the places online that I like to follow, the announcement caused a stab of concern. The change won’t affect those who subscribed to receive new blog post alerts via e-mail, but if, like mine, the blogs number well in excess of a hundred, a reader is invaluable. I had a moment of panic, fearing that with Google Reader’s demise I’d lose my connection to the blogs of all my favourite cyber friends.
Backup is the answer, of course. I should have realized other software developers would be jumping into the void. There are already several alternatives to Google Reader. Google has provided a data takeaway option. I’ve downloaded mine and will move to Feedly.
Change on its own isn’t a problem, but how we react to it might be. We like the familiar — it’s comfortable. When a trusted agent or editor announces a move to a different agency, a hoped-for contract slips away, or when life clouds over with some other surprise, we perch at the edge of the unknown, frantically trying to retain our balance. That’s when it’s a relief to remember we have a backup. There’s a steadying hand to grasp if we’ll reach for it.
Do you like changes or dread them? Have you had to deal with anything requiring change lately, good or bad?
~
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 [ESV]
MUSINGS 
I like the new look with one exception.
Light text presented on a dark background makes reading very difficult for these old eyes. So your headline and navigation column seem to drop off the page for me.
Change of color would be nice, but I don’t know if you have the option of other colors in those areas.
Judith, thanks for pointing that out. The blue and the white text in the sidebar are preset features. The only thing I can change is the blog’s background and title colour, and I may do that from time to time. I guess the bright side is that the posts are the main focus and at least that area has black text on a white background which should be easier for you.
Hi Carol – Will the demise of Google Reader affect the blog reader feature in Blogger? I’m a little confused. Thanks, Susan
Susan, the only people it will affect are those using Google Reader to host and view their own list of subscriptions. It’s not specifically linked with WordPress or Blogger but is one of Google’s applications. In your case, any people affected would be those who subscribe to your blog and happen to use GR to be notified of and read your new posts.
I like the new look! And it loaded more quickly than the previous version.
The new look is very nice. Clean and easy to read. Still welcoming though.
I really like this new look, Carol, and love the rose picture. Now I’ve caught the itch to do some “re-decorating”. I do not like changes! And that’s probably why the Lord is bringing me thru so many the last couple years. Learning to adapt 🙂
Thanks Jenn, Darlene and Brooke. I’m glad to get your feedback and am especially pleased to hear the home page loads more quickly. I tend to use large resolution photos and wondered if that might be a problem for people with slower internet service, so any improvement is a good thing.
I like the new look. The header is simple and elegant, and the colour is quite serene. Lovely! 🙂
I like some kinds of change, and I like some things about change. But I do love my traditions, rituals, and routines, too!
Love the new look, Carol. The print is nice and big! I can actually read it without my glasses. As for change… I’m not so good. I adapt eventually, but not without fighting it along the way. Haha. It probably takes a week, yet it feels longer. I remember when I thought I’d never figure out my Mac computer, Blogger, or my new phone. Yet, lo and behold…!