Sure, physically, the changes are obvious. Although the myth that your cells die and are replaced is not literally true, we absolutely do experience this, just at different durations within sections of the body, and apparently far quicker than 7 years. So ‘have I changed’ physically, sure?
Do you know the only cells that last your lifetime are your brain cells. Your entire lifetime. And apparently when neurons in the cerebral cortex die they are not replace. This seems to make sense when I think about the vast memories I possess, the loss of others, and how the memories are “cumulative”.
I’ve seen documentaries about the Brain and how highly subjective memories are. I have definitely experienced that many times, and it’s a factor in my own tendency to assume that somebody who’s vehemently protesting the accuracy of my recollection of an event as being completely off base is doing so with absolute conviction and not as an attempt to consciously misrepresent something they know to be true, as false.
The past 8 years alone have been substantial ones. Where I was then and where I am now, are substantially different. My home life, family dynamic, work situation and residence, car, clothing, friendships, it’s all changed. Some for the worse, some for the better. Only the blame has changed.
I’m in a bit of a transitional period this year. I’m 1/2 way in and 1/4 as successful as I’d hope to be, yet 1/4 more successful than had I not tried to effect some positive change after all. So i’m pleased with that and will continue to focus on it. I’m anticipation more substantial changes in the next 6-12 months, both in my own sense of identify and my world views, as well as in things like clothing, residence, work situation, relationships, etc.
I guess it’s always a work in progress, always creating new memories and misplacing others, and always, hopefully, focused on being conscious of how lucky I feel to still be actively engaged in the daily experiences that come with still being alive.