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With so many things changing these days and seemingly at an accelerating rate — new technology, new leaders pending the upcoming elections, etc. — I thought I'd find some solace in re-reading one of my favorite books on the subject of change, namely, "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson.

As you might recall, the story features four characters; two mice, "Sniff" and "Scurry", and two humans "Hem" and "Haw", who live in a maze (which metaphorically represents one's environment) and they look for cheese (or happiness and success).

One day they find that the cheese has been moved. For instructive purposes, both groups react differently to this dire situation. The mice adjust to the new situation and quickly head out to hunt for new cheese.

Having established routines around their daily intake of cheese, the humans assume the cheese supply is late and rant at the unfairness of the situation. Beginning to realize the true situation, that no new cheese is coming, Haw proposes a search for new cheese. Hem, dead set in his victimized mindset and afraid of the unknown, nixes the proposal.

After many days in denial, the humans slowly move into the maze and through some missteps and experimental treks, they eventually find new cheese and arrive at the following truths about life and changing circumstances.

Change happens — They keep moving the cheese.

Anticipate change — Get ready for the cheese to move.

Monitor change — Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old.

Adapt to change quickly — The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy new cheese.

Change — Move with the cheese.

Enjoy change — Savor the adventure and enjoy the taste of new cheese!

Be ready to change quickly and enjoy it again and again — They keep moving the cheese.

These are great ideas to keep in mind as Albuquerque grows and surpasses 1 million in population. Approximately 45 people, or a bus-load of new people arrive in the Albuquerque area every day — net of births and deaths, and people migrating in vs. out. There will be many new companies relocating here with new jobs and higher incomes and more security for us all, but also with challenges including the need for additional water and energy resources, more roads and more schools, and so on. Are we ready for these pending changes? Are we planning ahead?

One thing that struck me as funny about the book was that the author never really answered the question in the title.

So who did move the cheese? Was it Hem, Haw, Sniff or Scurry? Was there a cheese-moving conspiracy afoot? Were the mice's friends hoarding the cheese for a black market trade? Was the cheese really ever there in the first place, or only a figment of their imaginations? Could it have been an alien intervention? The answers are seemingly endless.

To find the answer, I sent Johnson an e-mail with my question. The answer I received was that in reality, the point of the book was that it's not important who moved the cheese, but how we respond to the change. And even more important was that "we should each move our own cheese."

Maybe that is the real lesson to the story: to take responsibility for ourselves and proactively work toward improving our circumstances — and maximizing our cheese.