Have you ever noticed how often your nice neat
plans get completely changed, usually at the last minute, and you wind up
making things up as you go? In large ways and in small way, my plans have
a way of never working out exactly how I intended. This is not always a
bad thing, but at times it can be frustrating.
Flexibility is an important skill in life.
People who try to live by a very narrow rigid path can wind up making
themselves crazy. I am not saying that all planning is bad or useless;
quite the contrary in fact. I think having a plan is essential, but you cannot
be so tied to your plans that you are unwilling or unable to make compromises
or change direction.
Life has a way of changing our plans. Just
when you think you had your credit card paid off, you wind up needing some car
repairs, or just when you are ready to celebrate your last child moving out of
the house, another child asks if they can move back in. Everyone has had
a similar experience. Planning for the future is important. It
helps give you direction, but you have to be flexible enough to deal with an
occasional detour.
Years
ago, in my first marriage, my life was always neat and orderly. The house was clean and well maintained. Trips were planned well in advance. There was little room in my busy, organized
life to be spontaneous. There were
benefits to all this organization. We
were incredibly productive. We had
little debt, a beautiful home, and we had accomplished a great deal. We did make some time to play, but our
schedule and our lives were very full and somewhat rigid.
Fast-forward
to today and I still have a beautiful home, although not quite as clean. I still have a very full life, but it
includes a lot more time for fun. My life
now also includes a great deal of spontaneity.
Much of that has to do with my incredible husband. He appreciates my ability to plan ahead, but
he also teaches me the skill of just being in the moment.
Its okay to be silly, its okay to have fun, sometimes a change in plans is wonderful!
