Time, Change and Memory.

After reviewing SUBURBANtermini's recent brand refresh, I've been thinking a lot about change, the feeling of time, and memories.

It seems these days that things don't remain constant for too long. Taking SUBURBANtermini as an example, after only being on the internet for less than 12 months, the branding, layout and colour schemes of the site looked rather tired and dated. I sometimes wonder whether constant change is a good thing, usually siding with the idea that change is occurring much too rapidly and is having a negative affect.

I don't know if other people have noticed this either, but it seems that the year has absolutely flown by. It seems only yesterday that I was sitting my final examinations for Year 12.

It sort of came to a head a fortnight ago when I dropped in at my old high school after picking up package. One of my former teachers wished me luck for the VCE English exam taking place the following morning. I was quick to point out that I was no longer an attending student and it quickly became a conversation about my last twelve months since leaving the school.

And that's what's made the feeling of time passing quickly seems so much more real. In the last twelve months, I've left high school and begun University; started driving; gone and come back from overseas; seen colours change on the trams and trains (yes, I have to mention it); countless assessments and deadlines; joined the team at SUBURBANtermini; and most importantly, started working. And that's only some of the stuff I've seen or experienced within this last year.

It just seems that time have accelerated so quickly, it's hard to keep track of everything that's occurred, let alone when it happened. I'm often left when particular events actually happened. The other week, I was looking over some old newspapers articles and remembering the events behind the article as if it took place the day before. Only after I finished reading I noticed that the article was from February 2002.

Since leaving secondary school, I'm only just beginning to recount the amount of memories I've accumulated, with particular emphasis on the last three years.

Countless trips on the train with those whom I hold dear, the times we skipped school, going out during days off. There's just so much that's been crammed into those three years. And I wonder sometimes, has it really been three years?

Memory is a funny thing. It can be your best friend one day, and be a bitter reminder of darker days. The last three years have been somewhat the best of my relatively short life. The memories of the darker years still linger in the background, and every so often  I'm haunted by those memories.

Yet, a single memory is enough to wipe your mind clear of any sadness, anger or other negative emotion and replace it with those of mental images happier times and positive feelings.

A single memory is enough for you to make a change in direction - start anew. Something which I have picked up on and put into action.

I'm no longer the same person I was several years ago. And as time flies by, and the memories accumulate, maybe change isn't that bad.

- Max Power.