If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we are not really living.

American author and journalist Gail Sheehy made a career of charting change, from working as a female journalist in the male-dominated media world of the 1960s and ’70s to becoming a prominent proponent of the more subjective New Journalism style. Her 1976 book “Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life,” excerpted here, is a testament to the transitions we undergo throughout our lives, from our first steps into adulthood through the metamorphosis of our golden years. Sheehy was an advocate for diving into change headfirst. As her quote suggests, change is a sign of growth — and of life itself. Sheehy’s affirmation of the importance of change serves as an encouraging push toward the unknown, reminding us that new experiences aren’t hurdles to overcome but opportunities to savor.