Sometimes – and, often – things don’t go as planned.
Best laid plans. Sincere intentions. A schedule that somehow falls apart.
Leave early to arrive late. Pack efficiently only to forget something. Clean your house then lose an item that may never be found again.
Yet when we take a moment to think about our reaction, or overreaction, to these changes in circumstances, it’s really not so earth shattering after all.
We grow frustrated, our heart rate and pulse quickening. We may feel as if it’s the end of the world, when that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Recently my scheduled post never posted. It was evening before I discovered it and I hated the fact that 8AM had come and gone, my consistent daily post, consistent no more.
But what was the big deal? I posted it manually when I realized the mishap – then, life went on. It was a commercial break in the day to day.
No lives were lost. No one was hurt. Everything was in tact with the exception of my overactive mind.
My mother recently told me that I worry about things that don’t matter. She is the queen of, so what? Who cares? What’s the big deal?
I disagreed. I’m not a worrier. I don’t get anxious. I don’t fret about things out of my control.
Yet as the days passed, I realized that she was right.
If I’m not on Facebook and miss a birthday, does it rally matter? The person most likely won’t even realize it and probably wouldn’t be thinking about me until I posted my note – for a second. And they probably hadn’t even thought of me until they saw my name on the screen.
If I cancel plans because I’m not up to going out, with good reason, why do I feel guilty? Would it really be a big deal to the others? The night would go on. They would talk, laugh and have fun. A good time would be had but all.
The Christmas decorations haven’t come down yet. The toilet needs scrubbing. A good dust is beckoning to me.
I’m grateful my mother called me out. Because she was right. And in being cognizant of this over the past few weeks, I have been able to talk myself down from many self-imposed ledges then carry on.
In learning to let go, there comes a liberation of sorts.
Less stress, less fatigue and less distraction. Mental space to focus on more productive activities. And more energy to devote to our day to day.
There is truth in the saying: Don’t sweat the small stuff.
