Have you ever had one of those days when nothing seemed to go right? Sure you have. Everyone has. You miss that all-important first stoplight on your way to work. This of course, makes you uptight and tense. You blame the car in front of you. They were reading their phone and the electronic sensor moved from green to yellow, stranding you behind them. When you get to the parking lot all the good spots are taken and you recall that first stoplight once again. The day proceeds in a negative way and you know why. Or at least you think you do.
Did you stop to think all the negative things you think are happening specifically to you are actually your fault? Or more likely, a figment of your imagination.
A few weeks ago I wrote how I felt like I was riding a rollercoaster. If you’ll recall the point of the blog was once you know you’re not in control things get a great deal easier.
That point has been driven home several time for me recently. I often lay in bed thinking of the things I want to do the next day. Not in anguish, but in anticipation. Regularly those plans are derailed by 9 a.m.
I don’t know if you’ve ever hit a curveball. Many major league players have had their careers abruptly halted because they couldn’t master the art of hitting the curve. It takes patience, understanding your opponent, and faith in your conviction. You must hang in the batter’s box knowing the ball is going to break across the plate at the last second.
Not approaching the curveball in the right way can make the batter look pretty silly. And so it is when things don’t go the way you planned.
I agree with W. Mitchell, “It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it.” It may be cliché, but it’s also true. You make your own future.
I reconnected with a wonderful person recently. It was good to hear how they were surviving the pandemic. We touched upon a variety of topics, including the future state of things. One of the pearls of the conversation was this quote. “Nothing is ever exactly as we imagine it will be.”
That quote is SO true and has stuck with me.
Whether it’s the car you just bought, the career you chose, the person you married or the day you planned for yourself; when events or situations don’t meet our own expectations we need to do a few things.
- Step back and display patience
- Have faith in our convictions
- Understand what changed and why
- Accept it
- Do something positive about it
Reconnecting with my quotable friend was a joy. It was also serendipity. Just like today, with the knock on the front door. It was the landscaper who had promised to level my driveway rock a year ago. Today was the day.
With patience, faith, and a positive outlook, serendipity can be a regular part of your life.
Until next time…