Throughout our lives, when the drumbeat changes, we dancers have to adapt.

Some folks have major adapting to deal with, such as friends who are fighting cancer and suffering miserable side effects from their treatments, yet not one has given up or given in to self-pity.

A friend in his 60s lost his job about six months ago when his company was acquired. Despite an arduous search for new employment, fruitless thus far, he remains optimistic he’ll receive a great offer, despite his age. With that positive attitude, he most likely will.

These individuals, although older, are not set in their ways as stereotypes often portray. They have been able to adapt to the new drumbeat in their lives. We have to be willing to change as our circumstances change.

Perhaps seniors are able to adapt more easily than younger people because we have lived longer and are used to experiencing changes in our lives.

I am a vegetarian, so when entertaining friends, of course, I serve vegetarian meals. Most of my friends eat meat or fish, yet all of them have been curious and eager to try something unfamiliar. These folks have kept open minds and have been surprised at how much they enjoy the food I present.

A new friend, who had never tasted tofu and was dubious about it, was delighted to learn he liked the crispy marinated slices I had baked in the oven. Instead of clinging stubbornly to false or unrealistic ideas about vegetarian cooking, he was open and eager to try something new.

I remember one friend admitting, “I thought your whole diet would be nothing but salads and vegetables.”

Another said she was expecting “bland and boring” vegetarian meals.

These friends were open about their lack of knowledge and misconceptions and were happy I had changed their thinking.

I enjoy shattering people’s views about living in Allentown, too.

One man I know, upon hearing the Da Vinci Science Center was moving to downtown Allentown, commented no one will come. His fearful perception of the city was not only false, it was silly.

Visitors flock to the downtown for its concerts, hockey games, museums and great restaurants. I know the city is far from perfect, but it is not a war zone or a landfill, as he seems to think.

If he were exposed to a different way of viewing his surroundings, he would change his mind, but he seems determined to remain locked into a narrow mindset.

I try hard to keep an open mind when I am with friends who hold radically different political or spiritual views from mine. I may not agree with their thinking, but I am interested in hearing their beliefs and the reasons for them.

How we see the world depends on whatever influences our way of seeing. Not much is strictly black or white. Most of our lives are spent in the in-between muddy gray area, which is fluid.

We fare best when we approach the changing drumbeat with new rhythm in our step. We will learn more if our minds are open and our mouths are shut. Our views are not set in concrete. At every age, we can remove the blinders and see anew.

Even the largest, most sturdy tree can be swayed by the breeze.