It's not the end of the world

Well, look at that.  It's past 6:00 pm in New Zealand already, and they haven't been swallowed up by an earthquake or flood over there yet.  Although it's only early morning here, I'm optimistically thinking it's safe to make plans for tomorrow. 

That's the thing: optimistically making plans.  In the normal course of things (i.e., times when people aren't waiting to see if the world's going to end this weekend), there are a lot of clichés about people who live each day as if it were their last, never putting anything off for the future, and what a life-affirming attitude that is for them.  And that's great.  I'm a big fan of spontaneous, let's-see-what-happens kinds of fun.  But when I think of adopting that live-like-you're-dying philosophy into my own life, the feelings it conjures up aren't joy or excitement.  More like panic.  Desperation.  Sadness at the thought that no way will I ever do everything I want to do.

You what seems much more life-affirming to me?  Procrastination.  Daydreaming about the future. Taking my time.

I'm not saying that's actually how I live most of the time.  Far from it.  My point is that life has thrown us some major curveballs here at Stacyverb HQ in the past year or two, and in such times, when the panic and the desperation set in, it feels like the most devil-may-care, optimistic thing we can do is make plans for the future. 

These days, it takes a huge leap of faith for me to, say, RSVP to an event that's a month away.  It feels crazily optimistic to think that something won't happen to ruin those plans.  There have been times in the past couple of years that something as small as shopping has felt like a life-affirming act.  Buying a new outfit assumes I'll have somewhere to wear it.  Stocking up on cat food or buying the jumbo-size bottle of anything means, I believe I will need this.  It means, I believe I will be around to need this.

So today, as the world doesn't come to an end, I hope you'll all celebrate by spontaneously doing something you've been meaning to do for a long time, whatever that may be.  But I also hope you'll celebrate by buying mass quantities of your favorite shampoo, and reserving your seats for some fun thing that happens in, say, August.  And I sincerely hope you'll be around to enjoy all of it. ♥

Comments

[GRIT & GLAMOUR]

Aw, what a great post! And fun! Yes, I'm funny in some ways with planning ahead. I never fill out more than one month ahead in my planner, which is silly, really. But I totally get what you're saying. Sometimes even I, Ms. Planner, am too afraid I'll jinx myself if I think too far ahead. But that's not so mad. It also reminds you to be in the moment, in the present, which is challenging enough with all our devices and distractions.

Thanks for popping over to G&G and commenting so I could discover you too.

[AsianCajuns Lar]

Hi Stacy! I hope you are making wonderful future plans or procrastinating like crazy today. You've totally inspired me to do the same! Also, you've inspired me to stop thinking about future plans as just stressful (we have a lot of decisions to make in the near future). I need to stop grumbling about the stress and just be happy we can make those plans.