The Path I Didn’t Plan on Taking

by Sandy Weiner on November 4, 2009

PB030003Here’s what I wrote late last night: Today’s post is a half hour late. Technically speaking, it’s tomorrow’s post, but I am counting it as today’s. I made a commitment to create every day. My intention was to make an intricate pencil drawing of a leaf, and as I looked out my window at the leaves blowing this morning, I was sure that I would have a detailed drawing by mid-morning.

Life got in the way. I added copy about my credentialing and certification to the “About Sandy” page on my website. I coached, attended two classes, answered phone calls and emails. My plans suddenly changed when my daughter needed a ride to school at one o’clock. The drive is 45 minutes each way, so the rest of my afternoon was altered. I ended up having a great day, and I did collect some beautiful leaves that I intend to draw for tomorrow’s blog post.

Today’s blog, however, is about the class I attended early this morning. The doodles I created in lieu of notes.

Here’s what I wrote this morning: I ran into computer glitches when I tried to download the photos I took of my notebook doodles, so the blog I wrote late last night is still a draft at 9:45 AM this morning. At 12:45 AM last night, after a frustrating forty-five minutes of hair-pulling and virtual screaming, I ditched the computer and went to sleep.

The big lesson of the day is that life is so not predictable. Glitches happen, the unpredictable gets in our way, but only if we let it. Part of being successful in life is having the flexibility to deal with the unknown. As an artist, I often take paths that I didn’t plan. If paint spills somewhere, I go with it. It’s a path I didn’t know I would take, and I am curious as to where it will take me. The same is true of life’s mishaps. They are just directions that we didn’t know we were going to take.

I just opened iphoto and my photos downloaded with ease. It was like yesterday’s frustrating incident never happened. Go figure! But if that hadn’t happened, I was prepared to go to plan B or C or D, and find a creative solution to the problem I was facing.

What do you do when life takes unexpected turns? Please share some of your success tips. Or how you fall apart and have a temper tantrum. I want to hear about that, too!

Tagged as: accountability, change, creativity, life message, positive thinking

  • Leah Virsik
    Sandy, Art and life, they are so interconnected. For me, your post brings up the intentions I have with my art and how they change either mid-way or at the end. They become something different that I intended. It's such an interesting process. Such is life. I'm learning to let go and see what life or my art wants to tell me. I know this will be a lifelong process.
    Leah
  • Ana
    Dear Sandy,
    Wonderful experiences there of self-discovery. I know plans never go the way they are meant to, as I never make any as if I do pre-condition my mind to something, I get frustrated and completetly forget the essence of the moment. I think life is about being in the flow of every experience no matter what it is. Even if that counts learning about yourself in a failed plan, even better, it is all art in the making of self healing.
  • Life is certainly unpredictable! I think the best thing to do when things aren't going your way, is to let go of your expectations and go with the flow. I also like Julie's tip on breathing! :-)

    Keep on keepin' on, Sandy. You're doing great!
  • Wow, Sharyn, sounds like you said a loud YES to Sharyn today and everyone will benefit. Good for you! Life threw a curve ball and you threw it right back. Keep on pitching, Sharyn. Your aim is right on target!
    Love
    Sandy
  • Sharyn Baer
    Sandy,
    Facing my very busy day, going from Greenwich to Norwalk, to Mamaroneck, back to Norwalk then to Greenwich. Having my Granddaughter asking me at the last minute to take her back to Mamaroneck at 6:00p.m. tonight and trying to figure out when I am going to have time for me. I have made a committment to myself to go to the gym 6 times a week. When will that happen today?
    Sitting in the car, before going home after my first trip to Greenwich, I decided I had to give up one thing (that I was doing for someone else) and think about how I could do for me. this is what I did.
    I cancelled my granddaughter's afternoon Norwalk trip, made her Greenwich trip later in the day, sent my daughter to pick my granddaughter up for my 1:00 mamaroneck trip and I am about to go to the gym. I got my father started on a project that will take him a few weeks to do and he is very excited about it. It will turn out to be a Chanukah present for all the Kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, using a talent he loves.
    So now I can do my thing and not stress out. I will tell my granddaughter she can not go back to Mamaroneck tonight period. I have been saying yes to many things lately, but this last minute request will just have to be a no and she will have to deal with it.
    I would say I made some positive decisions today! Thanks for your great column and inspiration.
    With love and appreciation,
    Sharyn
  • Jodi-
    I love your analogy of the Royal Flush. Guaranteed that life will not go as planned. Good idea to focus on the values that are most important, i.e., your beautiful twins. I am betting that your lunch visit will fuel the rest of your busy crazy day. Thanks for sharing from your heart.

    Julie-
    Having a child on the autistic spectrum certainly leads to a lack of predictability in life. Thanks for the reminders to breathe and to express gratitude. Both invaluable life skills. My firstborn son was afflicted with a severe genetic disease that led to his ultimate untimely death at age five, and I learned to be in the moment and to breath and express gratitude as well. My heart is with you, as a fellow mom of a child who experienced life's great challenges, and as a fellow artist and participant in AEDM. Thanks for taking the time to share on my blog.

    Kathy-
    Love the alliteration about feelings. So important to remember to feel fully! And thanks for the important reminders to experience nature's beauty, so healing, as is journaling (and blogging!). Chanting works, which reminds me of prayer that works for so many. Surrender is so crucial. You are a wise woman and I appreciate your inspiring comments!

    Love,
    Sandy
  • When life takes unexpected turns I usually feel my feelings first and fully. (ooh lots of alliteration there); whether it's anger, sadness, whatever. If it's something that requires immediate action, I wait and feel the feelings later, usually that night.
    I rebalance my energies by taking a walk in the woods and/or journaling. Both bring me back center. Sometimes I chant.
    Surrender comes to mind. Like when I sprained my ankle. Just surrender to what I can't control and feel the feelings, find my center and move (or stay still) from there.
  • Our themes for Day 4 are similar.

    I have had several YEARS where life took a different turn and I have learned the best thing to do is just go-with-the-flow. My son is on the autistic spectrum and the best life skill I have taught him is the only thing you can really ever expect is the unexpected. It's like the John Lennon quote, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."

    Specific tips?

    Breathe, deeply, when you feel yourself getting upset by factors you can't control, anyway. If you feel breathing isn't doing the trick, add gratitude. Open your eyes and look around for gratitude. Simple gratitude. If that doesn't do it, think about who and what you love. List them in your mind and breathe them into your heart.

    By now, suddenly the life happening unexpectedly should begin to feel better.

    :-)

    Thanks for the inspiration.
  • Jodi Hadge
    Sancy, thank you so much for this post!! This couldn't have come on a more ironic/unpredictable day. So life threw me a bunch of curve balls this morning, then, I had my little temper tantrum...AND then took a step back and said to myself - Get over it! Things could have definitely been worse! Yes, I realize that life is not predictable and you have to take a step back and really look at the grand sceme of things. I believe that every event leads you to the next one you were meant to experience in your life.

    So, with that in mind, look at all the cards you have been delt for the moment and ask yourself can you work with this hand? Do you need a few new cards to make a great hand or do you fold and just wait for the next deal or shuffle? Within one of the hands I was delt today — is that I need to serve lunch at my children's school today. This will be a tremendous challenge to complete on my lunch hour, along with all the work I have, and 2 meetings at the office today. But, I will have a Royal Flush when I see those beautiful faces at school come running with excitement to me saying, "Mommy, I am so happy to see you in the middle of the day!" Then I will know I've won this hand! So, Life - bring on the next challenge and g-d give me the strength to see the next great hand in my unpredictable deck of cards.

    Thanks Sandy for all your words of inspiration and for allowing me to share my thoughts this morning :)

    Have a great day!!
    Jodi
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