An Invitation To Step Back
Sometimes life upends our best laid plans, but provides us with an unexpected opportunity to slow down...
“Problems are not stop signs,
they are guidelines”
Robert H. Schuller
Sometimes we make plans, to which the universe dispatches a glaring reminder that we’re not actually the ones in control here!
One particular day recently, I had a full day planned (just the way I like it)…
Take A to school…
Go to the doctors for my monthly puncturing (aka Zoladex injection)…
Then race across five towns and villages to the nearest chemist that stocks one of my medicines…
Back home to walk the dog…
Go to the gym for a lunchtime workout session…
Back home for a Teams meeting…
Welcome the boys home from school at 3.30 pm and serve up the obligatory snack buffet…
Make tea…
Then off for an early evening family swim…
Or maybe not…
Well, I managed the first two of those things on my list and then my day was rudely upended!
Driving down the dual carriageway from the doctors to the distant chemist, I got a puncture (my second of the morning, but this time in my car tyre, not my stomach).
And I mean it was a proper slit, not just a pin prick, my tyre was as flat as a pancake (Darn you pot holes)!
Thankfully, I was approaching the junction for the next village along, so I was able to swiftly pull off the A52, investigate the damage, chunter a few profanities, call Steve (ever the knight in shining armour to my damsel in distress) who reassured me we could go and rescue the car when he gets back from work, and then walk home a (little) bit grumpy!
Feeling sorry for myself as I stepped through the door, I made a latte (aka milky coffee – there are no fancy coffee machines here) and demolished a biscuit (aka ate my emotions), not ‘healthy’ and definitely not advised!
So, after my chocolate chip cookie had been washed down with a boost of caffeine, I regained reasoning and was able to reflect… I had given frustration its minute in the limelight, it was time to head backstage and plan the next act…
Let’s think this through
So, my day was not going to plan.
I cannot drive the car, which means I cannot go and get my meds right now, but the chemist is open til 9 pm, thankfully, so I can go and get them later…
I cannot do my intended walk with Luna as it requires driving to the destination, but that’s OK, a walk from the house is fine…
I cannot get to the gym… shame!?
And I cannot take the boys swimming, which really is a shame as we all enjoy it, but to be honest, the boys are just getting over colds, so maybe a dip in a freezing cold pool is not the best idea, and we can always go another evening instead.
This is life
And it got me thinking… do these things happen in life, perhaps at a time when we ‘need’ them?
Are they an invitation or an opportunity to step back for a minute and reassess?
See that the world doesn’t fall off its axis if we don’t squeeze activity into every minute of our day?
And, that actually, we do have a choice of when we do things, and not everything needs doing right now!
For me, it gave me a welcome nudge (AGAIN) to loosen my grip on control!
I cannot control everything. I could not control this. My well-intentioned plans had gone up in smoke, my day ahead had been abruptly diverted, BUT I can choose how I react…
Do I spend the whole day being annoyed and eating biscuits, or see it as a necessary moment to slow my pace…
My stuck lyric is that I’m continually trying to let go of control, really, I am! At least just a little bit, because it’s futile and do you know what, in all honesty, I would LOVE to live more carefree, more unsuspecting and more go-with-the-flow, and so I continue to try…
So, in the words of Olivia Dean:
“I’m taking ba-ba-ba-baby steps…
…learning how to balance…
…I won’t fall back…
…If I fall forwards…
…Least I have that”
So, the next time your day gets upended, see if you can flip the script – allow the inevitable emotions (and necessary swear words), give them their light, but then let that go and see what alternative view you can bring into focus…
Take care and much love,
Julie x
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I love this piece, and you, so much Julie. Yes! 🙏
How true and wise Julie. I have got much better are reevaluating rather than blowing a gasket and getting myself more wound arm. Good things will often come out of it all the boys won’t get worse colds. Ok the ban balance maybe a bit lighter but …… 😘😘