Change

Change happens.

This is a fact in the IT world and the world in general. We prepare ourselves as best we can and we go through our days dealing with the change that occurs.

In IT we use Agile to embrace change and make our designs and code flexible and adaptable to the change we will experience. We refactor, test first, test some more, and employ a host of other tools to help us deal with this inevitability.

In life, however, it is not that simple. How does one refactor our daily life? How do we test-first outside of our code? How can we plan for the unexpected? And how do we react when something unexpected happens?

On Friday January 29th, 2010 something unexpected happened.

Someone who is very dear to a close family member tragically died. Brain aneurism. She was in her mid thirties, good health, normal by most measures. That night she awoke with a splitting headache and in transit to the hospital she was overtaken by it.

She leaves behind a husband, two children and friends and family who must now adapt to the dramatic, unplanned change in their lives. She was a teacher and so her students must deal. She was a daughter and so her family must deal. She was a friend to many and they must deal.

How?

How do you adapt when you weren't expecting to? How do you change and refactor when you don't want to?

Life is not simple and bad things happen. We are not always ready for these things. Unlike software development, we can't go back and rewrite things we don't like. We must cope with tragedy and find a way to continue on.

Life sucks sometimes.

I mention all this as a reminder to all of us. Remember that your job isn't the most important thing in your life. Your life is the most important. We need to remember to enjoy the journey of our lives and not get bogged down in things that, ultimately, do not much matter. We need to spend quality time with our family, our friends. Say "I love you" often and let those people know that they matter to you. Let them know that they are the reason you do what you do.

You don't get chances to refactor and test first in real life. Software is more forgiving than life. But life is more important. Make sure your priorities are right and you enjoy your time here.

My thoughts are with the family and friends of this woman who meant so much to so many.