Let’s play hockey

Posted on 08. Apr, 2010 by in Life Coaching

So I’m about to write this piece and my son asks, “Mom, can you play hockey with me?” Do I start writing despite his request or do I go play? I’ll be back…It’s been 10 minutes, I’m back on the page and ready to go. I made a choice to be distracted, to indulge in my son’s world of play and yes, I now have less time to write but ultimately I don’t think it matters. I can land here at any point and simply write what comes to mind or plan for it extensively. Well what I’ve learned and still learning is that plans don’t always work, nor do they play out the way we anticipate.

Okay so that’s huge coming from someone who often speaks to the value of goals and plans. The issue is not the goals or plans themselves but rather the expectation or anticipation that come with those things.  Just recently my husband suggested I try a week of not planning dinner (I’m not terribly good at it anyway) so I said, why not, as when I do, dinner doesn’t turn out anyway!  I can look back on several experiences in life when I planned things out and low and behold, things didn’t turn out as expected.  Life just happens and our minds (well, at least mine) try to create what we think is best, only to discover life has it’s own plan.

These aren’t easy lessons, but if you think about it for a moment, when did things really work out magically? Did people, places, and things just line up when you stopped following some decided script and just got on with living?  More often than not, people have described to me their happiness or satisfaction when they have made a decision based on what was right at the time, put feelers out, and patiently got on with life as it were. I also believe those who listen to their hearts and intuition have access to something that transcends all logic and reason, and yet, infinitely works. Hey, I’m still working on that one…

So for now, I’m not planning dinner, I’m playing hockey, and writing when I can, and not trying too hard.

What will your experience be when you stop anticipating, expecting, or creating a plan?

Just be, even for a moment.

Susan

Tags: , , ,

2 Responses to “Let’s play hockey”

  1. Darleen

    08. Apr, 2010

    WOW!! I love this post!
    So well written, and it is difficult for those of us that like to plan, and believe that planning will allow things to be ‘perfect’.

    I have found as you stated, that when we have to deviate from ‘the plan’, for whatever reason – either hockey or playing Barbie’s or some cuddles with big or small loved one – life somehow still works out. And, I am starting to see that sometimes it is better.

    I do not like to be rushed when making weekend dinners, so have learned that if I don’t get the 5 course meal done, because more important ‘life’ stuff intervened – so be it.
    Flexibility is the word I think for 2010.

    It is very similar to Project Management 101 – plan for the unexpected.

    And – who won?

    …darleen

  2. Susan Wright

    08. Apr, 2010

    Thanks Darleen…I’m smiling about “who won?” Let’s just say his plan was to get five goals and the way in which that happened was quite flexible!

Leave a Reply