One of the biggest changes I’ve seen myself over the last year is my ability to let go a little – and go without a plan. Don’t get me wrong, I know that there are some facets of my life I cannot successfully handle without a well thought out and executed plan.
But. Sometimes, it’s a good thing to simply fly by the seat of your pants.
I will admit that I am sometimes anal to the “nth degree”. For example, a family vacation to Disney World six years ago had each day “scheduled” – with where we were going to eat, what parks we would visit, and what shows we would see. When we altered from the plan, I would feel panicky. But now, I’m letting go a little bit and finding out that the greatest moments in my life come when I don’t plan.
A week ago I took a road trip. It was suggested by a friend the previous week, but the day wasn’t set until less than 24-hours before. I got a babysitter / dog sitter handled. Got my oil changed. Got my nails done. And was soon on the road. The only plan I had was the directions on reaching my destination. I rolled with the flow – and had one of the best nights I’d had in months.
While I would never advocate throwing all plans aside, I can tell you that it is ok to be spontaneous. Because, sometimes the little moments in life – like time shared with a friend - are what make it worth living.