Greetings, Everyone — and Happy Friday!

Seven years ago today my brother Rob (to whom this blog is dedicated) received what no one wants to hear: a prognosis.

Someone, based on years of training and expertise no doubt, rendered their best guess as to how long he might be able to survive what was happening to him.

They were wrong. Way wrong. And not in the right direction.

I keep this date on my calendar as a reminder that, indeed, our days are numbered.

MY days are numbered.

In my 20’s, I used to think in terms of ten year and five year goals. I used to make lists about what my 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s might look like.

And then I hit my 30’s, and I just started thinking about that next decade.

Today…I still dream. I still make plans. And I still have lots of lists…things to do, places to go, people to see, stuff to accomplish.

But one big thing has changed: I don’t count on it.

This may seem fatalistic but hear me out.

Life has thrown many of us for a loop this past year. And I don’t mean that in a general global pandemic way (although that’s very true). I mean it in a specific, hits-close-to-home, what my friend/mentor Kathi Lipp calls “The Pandemic-AND” kinda way:

The Pandemic-AND:

• job loss
• sudden move/change in housing
• loss of a friend/family/coworker (not necessary due to Covid)
• change in life goals/plans
• disruption of once-in-a-lifetime celebrations (proms, graduations, weddings, births)
• financial setbacks
• career setbacks
• health setbacks
• relationship setbacks

This past year has taught us not only how fragile we are as humans — but how futile our very best laid plans CAN be. (CAN be…not necessary WILL be.)

Does that mean we don’t plan? No.

Because there is significant research that supports the relationship between happiness and planning ahead.

I think what it means is that we plan anyway. Maybe we plan more carefully. We plan more wisely. We may even plan for contingencies.

But we plan anyway. Because planning gives us hope. And hope give us life!

So make your plans! Enjoy them! And if — alright, when — life throws you another curveball, you take your best shot.

Because planning to hit a curveball, is still a plan! 😉

Your Happyness Challenge for the Week Ahead is once again this quote from JoCheryl Holcombe: “So, when you think of those you love and it feels like you have forever, just remember you don’t, but then again, YOU DO! Make this life matter, our soul is the only thing we take with us when we are done…it’s worth tending, it’s worth making meaningful deep connections and living each moment in the fullest most meaningful way. BECAUSE everything can change in a holy instant “ (JoCheryl Holcombe via Facebook on 11/15/17 after losing several family members in a mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, TX)

You can still see JoCheryl’s public message on FB here.

Spread Happyness — “Make voyages. Attempt them. There is nothing else!” (Tennessee Williams)

5/21/21 by Grace Church
© Grace Church
grace@spreadhappyness.com