rather be ruined

This hit me right between the eyes. W. H. Auden writes: “We would rather be ruined than changed.” How many of us keep doing the same thing again and again even though it doesn’t bring us happiness. Even though it separates us from God. Even though it alienates us from our deepest selves. In our ever changing world, our choosing not to change is choosing to become stagnant. Even more, since all that is truly alive grows and changes, our choosing not to change is choosing to shrink and die. And still, we do it over and over again.