Life Happens When Making Plans

It is Friday afternoon and random thoughts engulf my brain. I tend to think a lot about my life circumstance and where I am heading. I have always been a planner. I like to know where I am going and what I am doing next. It keeps me grounded to have a plan.

Where does this need to have a plan come from? Is it part of my human nature? Was I born this way or is it a learned behavior? I grew up in a house where plans were made and schedules only changed with the season. Tuesday nights were girls scouts, Friday nights we went to visit my Gram, winter weekends were for ice skating, summer weekends were spent on our boat. My Mom had a schedule for her daily chores as well as for her children. This doesn't mean we were overscheduled like kids are today. I remember days when I complained, "I'm bored." My Mom would respond, "Enjoy being bored, relax, go read, or get "UN-Bored!"

As an adult, I have a schedule. I do not like it when I have to miss my Tuesday/Thursday spinning class. I do laundry on Sundays while I watch football. I like to know what is going on in advance. I plan for the future, for events coming up, and I often feel frustrated and stressed when plans change at the last minute.

There are always unpredictable events that cause chaos. People get sick, cars won't start, traffic is too slow, that 5 minute phone call turns into 30 minutes. Life happens while we are making plans. A few months ago my older brother was diagnosed with Stage 2 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. It was shocking to all of us. My brother is the total opposite of me - carefree, reckless, daring, a true risk-taker. He had to make plans, change his habits, follow a treatment schedule. I watched as he faced his illness head-on. He is a fighter and has been taking things in stride. Treatments are going well, his health and body are improving.

Here is my.... "If I Knew........... I'd Know' question of the day! Was this life experience, part of the plan? Has his life been leading up to this moment and if so, was this moment a lesson for all of us plan makers out there to stop, look around, and say " The Hell with My Plans!" ? If I knew that this one life plan was heading my way.... would I have known to stop worrying about my schedule and enjoy the daily beauty that surrounds my life?

I am not saying I have changed my routines and my need to plan out my weeks. I am a typical Type A Gal!! After all, I still went to my spinning classes on Tues/Thurs, but I also added some more gym and pool time this summer. I wanted to enjoy feeling good about myself. I still did my laundry on Sundays, but I also let some loads sit until Monday. However, this summer the grass looks greener, my flowers smell sweeter, I look at my family with a little more love. I realize the time I am with them is all the more precious. I am listening more, watching more, praying more.

So, here is to random thoughts, making plans, and taking risks! A little bit of all three makes for a beautiful life!