Pasadena is one of those places that is a large, small town. Live here long enough, and you run into people you know at the post office, grocery store, and the like. A few days ago, I ran into a woman at Trader Joe’s. We met when we were both in high school, though at different schools. We don’t know each other very well, and I am always so happy to see her because she is a creative, interesting person.

It had been awhile since our last chance meeting. We talked over our shopping carts, catching up on the various twists life had provided in the passing years. One of her twists was the end of a relationship which along with her children getting older and more independent was inspiring her to contemplate change. She made the comment about ‘reinventing herself’. Before we parted ways, I suggested to her that reinvention was not necessary, rearranging and reimagining at most, maybe.

I know that I have used the term ‘reinvent’ about myself and for some reason, in this moment, I realized how incorrect this word is and by extension the whole concept of needing to become something new. The belief that the former version of ourselves needs to be discarded for the new and improved selves doesn’t sit well with me now. Why when we find ourselves at these moments of reflection, turning points in our lives do we tell ourselves that we need to reinvent ourselves? 

A quick internet search defines reinvent as to change something so much as it appears to be entirely new, to redo. 

A similarly superficial search defines reimagine as to reinterpret, to rethink, and to bring forth new ideas or conceptions.

It is entirely possible that I am in the weeds here and for no good reason. 

And what would it feel like to reimagine rather than reinvent yourself or aspects of your life? I am going with reimagining; it sounds so much more fun.