How many of us have that one recurring thought every time our mind wanders? How many of us have that: "Some day", or "Eventually", or "Before I die", "I'll do ____."? There is a quote I often come across that lays all these phrases to rest:
We all have plans. Even those of us who don't think we make plans; we do. We all plan to get through a work week and eventually get a paycheck. Most of us make plans for a fun weekend activity. Many of us plan to go to college and eventually make a job into a career. Some of us make plans to marry and have a family. We don't all have the same life plans, but they are all plans: actions carried out consecutively over a long period of time towards one particular goal.
Life is fashioned by making plans; by looking ahead. But does anybody ever plan on being surprised? Do any of us make a plan to defer from the norm and do something we may wish to do, but never actually thought we would? If the answer is no, my question then is, "why not?"
I finally asked myself that question just a couple years ago: "Why not?" Up until that point, I thought I had plans. For years I worked to set up my life exactly the way I thought I wanted it to play out. I had personally taken part in every decision that had made up my life, and then suddenly, I didn't see myself in any of it. I realized all too soon that my plans were not the plans intended for me. To my confusion and anguish, I saw so many things that I had planned for slip from my hands, and I didn't understand why. Hadn't I done everything right? What purpose was there in feeling so lost and alone?
By the end, there was little to nothing left of that life. The only choice I had was to rethink everything entirely, and start over. I had nothing to lose and absolutely no other way of thinking, so I simply let go. And when I did, the most incredible thing happened. Life started to become the exact opposite of what it was before; filled with thoughts and experiences I didn't believe myself capable of. This new idea of "why not?" began to trump any previous thoughts inadequacy or incapability. I started taking chances, making decisions with confidence, and finally coming out of the woodwork. It wasn't too long before I realized just how much I had been missing while I was too tentative to step outside of the norm; to be surprised.
Life started happening. With every decision I made, I was reassured that I was on the right track; that I was finally making the plans that were right for me. I dared to imagine that I could do more than I ever thought I could; that I could have a different life than I originally intended. And I am forever changed and all the better for it.
So, conclusion: it's possible; all of it. So don't just wish, do. Those little recurring thoughts you have when your mind wanders; that bucket list you have hanging on your wall or tucked away in your journal: don't ignore them. Trust your thoughts and intuitions; they stay with you for a reason. Take action and make plans. But above all, plan to be surprised.
