Remember the day Walmart locally introduced self-checkout registers? The world might not have been ending, but we were right there at the line of it. There were shouts of, “They don’t pay me to work here!” and “Where’s my discount card?” Honestly, I understood the frustration. It was a change we weren’t expecting — one that felt abrupt, impersonal and, for some, unnecessary.

But times change, and with that change comes the inevitable evolution of our everyday lives. It’s natural to be cautious of it — even fearful — but if we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, we’ll see how change has improved our world in countless ways.

Think back to the early 2000s. The thought of ordering groceries online and having them delivered straight to your door seemed like a fantasy. Walmart’s self-checkout was controversial enough — could we really imagine trusting someone else to select our produce, bag our milk and bring it to our front door? Yet here we are, with curbside pickup and grocery delivery services as part of our daily lives.

The early resistance to self-checkout is understandable. People worried about job loss, technical malfunctions and feeling pressured to take on the work that cashiers once handled. It felt impersonal, cold and frustrating. But what seemed like a step backward then is now a convenience we hardly think twice about. For a busy parent trying to wrangle kids while buying dinner ingredients, those self-checkout lines are a blessing. For someone who prefers to skip the small talk after a long day, the machines offer a swift, no-fuss option.

Change isn’t always comfortable. In fact, it rarely is. But more often than not, it’s for the better — and those early frustrations give way to something we eventually embrace as normal.

The speed of change has only accelerated with technology. In just two decades, our lives have been reshaped by smartphones, social media and the digital conveniences we now take for granted.

Remember when you had to print out MapQuest directions before leaving on a road trip? Now, GPS apps guide us with real-time updates, helping us avoid traffic and find faster routes. And those landline phones we once relied on? They’ve been replaced with powerful devices that not only make calls but connect us to the world at our fingertips.

It’s easy to forget how skeptical people once were about smartphones. Many feared we’d become too dependent on them — and in some ways, we have. But these tools have also kept us safer, more informed and more connected. In emergency situations, they provide immediate access to help. For families separated by distance, video calls offer a way to stay close despite the miles.

Even in small-town Arkansas, change has reshaped our communities. Main Street businesses now rely on social media to connect with customers, promote sales and build stronger relationships. Farmers use GPS-guided equipment to plant and harvest crops more efficiently. Schools embrace technology in the classroom, allowing students to engage in lessons in ways we never could have imagined 20 years ago.

Of course, some changes feel more difficult to accept. Automation in industries like manufacturing has replaced some traditional jobs, but it’s also created new roles in tech support, logistics and customer service. Where one door closes, another opens — but it takes time to see the benefits.

The key to steering through change is perspective. When self-checkout registers appeared, they felt like a threat to tradition. But today, they’re an everyday convenience. The same pattern plays out time and again — what’s unfamiliar today will become second nature tomorrow.

Consider how telemedicine has transformed healthcare. Not long ago, the idea of seeing your doctor through a video call seemed unthinkable. Now, it’s a lifeline for rural families who once had to drive hours to see a specialist. It’s not just convenient — it’s life-changing.

The same goes for electric vehicles, smart home technology and even how we consume entertainment. While streaming services were once seen as a niche option, they’ve become our primary way of watching TV and movies. The convenience and affordability far outweigh the initial skepticism many of us felt when video stores started to disappear.

It’s human nature to resist change. After all, comfort comes from familiarity, and the unknown can be intimidating. But growth — whether personal, social or technological — requires us to step outside that comfort zone.

When we view change not as a threat but as an opportunity, we open ourselves to progress. Embracing new ideas doesn’t mean abandoning tradition; it means building on the past to create a better future.

So, the next time you’re faced with something unfamiliar — whether it’s a new phone app, a redesigned city street or even a fresh way to pay for groceries — remember that you’ve been here before. Walmart’s self-checkout once felt like a hassle, but now it’s a convenience we’d struggle to live without.

Change is rarely easy, but history shows it’s usually for the better. The world doesn’t stand still, and neither should we.

Change on.