The Buddha said that anicca is one of the three characteristics of existence. Anicca, or “impermanence,” means that everything in life is always changing, that nothing lasts forever. This notion may at first sound to you like common sense. But how often do you actually acknowledge anicca in your own life? Recall the last three times when you experienced a lot of stress or anxiety. Think about the causes of those feelings. How much of your stress was due to changes in your life? To a breakup with a girlfriend or boyfriend, graduation, moving to college, switching roommates or living quarters? Consider whether consciously acknowledging change as an inevitable aspect of life would have helped you cope with each circumstance.