Planning Fails

    When I opened this tab to start writing, it began to rain outside. It still is, right now, as I stare out the window, the sky is grey and water pours over the trees and roof. This is making me think about how, later this week, my family wants to go to the beach. I immediately hope our plans won't be ruined by the rain. And that leads us to today's post.

   I am most definitely a TYPE A person. I like things planned and under control, preferably under my control. I make lists and schedules and set reminders on my phone. (Don't let this make you think I'm organized, I'm really not.This actually tends to balance out with the fact that I'm also extremely forgetful, a bit chaotic and I tend to misplace things all the time). So when my plans get messed up, I get a little upset. Ok, a lot upset.

   There are so many examples I can give. When I finished seventh grade, and a week before eight grade started, my parents had to make the incredibly difficult decision to change my school. When I lost friendships I hadn't planned to. When my mom and dad couldn't make it to my band concert. When the novel I was working on had to be pushed to the back burner because of school assignments. When I didn't get the grade I wanted on my AP exam. Some of these I reacted to badly, some I took better than others. The school change was like an apocalypse in my household. The novel being put on hold was taken silently. The lost friendships devastated me for months. The unattended concert was braved with a smile.The underachieved grade led to a breakdown.

   I'd like to think I've gotten better? But I know that isn't always true. I know there are still days when my broken plans cause me far more pain than they should. Yet, there is something I have learned.

            There is something to love about messed up plans, and it                            comes in the surprises they can bring.
 
    Some of my best experiences have come from messed up plans. The school I cried so much over being forced to go to? It's become my second home, introduced me to my best friends and taught me so much more than I can say. The ruined friendships helped me grow and drew me closer to those who loved me, even introduced me to someone who has become one of the closest people in my life right now. The bad grade made me determined to pass my summer dual enrollment class with a great grade.

    Most people will tell you there's a lesson in every bad situation. And that's certainly true, but let me tell you something different. A lot of plans that go astray lead to something better than what you imagined. So, keep making your plans, and if there's a chance of those plans going wrong? Be excited to see what could be on the other side. Prepare for an adventure. Take it on with a smile, and look forward. This life you've been given isn't for you to plan. It's planned by the God above, and we're here to live it. Even if that means going on a detour you're terrified of, taking a back road you've never driven before. Odds are, the end of this road is something amazing.

    We are trained a lot of times, to endure life. To survive it. We are taught to brace ourselves for the worst, to live on edge of the horrors that we might endure. Very rarely are we told to actually live, to thrive. Life is a battle at times, yes. But there are also the moments when the sun is shining and you have stumbled across an ocean of bliss. Moments when you realize that tragedy had a happy ending.

            Don't just learn lessons in this life. Make some               beautiful memories too.