You have to expect the unexpected but love it just as much | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Learn To fall in love with The Unexpected

You don't paddle against the current, you paddle with it. And if you get good at it, you throw away the oars. - Kris Kristofferson

285
Learn To fall in love with The Unexpected
Indy Blue

I recently finished reading the book You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living An Awesome Life by Jen Sincero. I saw this book all over the internet before I purchased it and thought there might be a reason for the hype. There definitely was. This book taught me so many worthwhile lessons that I never want to forget. Eventually, I will write an article summarizing the entire book and the most important lessons I learned from it. However, right now I want to focus on one of my favorite (and shortest) chapters of the book.

In this chapter, titled "Loosen Your Bone Wilma," Sincero described a day when she was living in India. On this day, she decided to take a bus from Agra to Delhi. When she purchased the bus ticket, she was told that the trip would last five hours. The bus not only ended up leaving an hour late but ended up taking over double the amount of time she was originally told. Sincero described the people on the bus to shockingly not be bothered by the lengthened trip at all. Since this particular bus trip occurred during the peak of wedding season, the bus ran into many wedding parades. Instead of staying on the bus during the traffic, the travelers would get off the bus and join each wedding parade they encountered. Everyone on the bus was strangers, yet they all acted like family. Everyone talked to one another, sang together, rejoiced together; it was unlike anything Sincero had ever seen. She described that even when the bus finally drove out of Agra, the bus driver kept pulling over to let people on and off, have tea, chat, and even light a fire. When she thought her bus was almost to Delhi, a holy man stepped on the bus and invited everyone to go on a tour of many temples. This lasted for hours. Sincero ended up arriving at her destination at 3 a.m.

The author ends this powerful chapter by giving her readers eight tips she learned while living in India.

  1. Talk to strangers, we're all family on this planet
  2. Expect, and enjoy, the unexpected
  3. Find the humor
  4. Join the party
  5. Live in the moment
  6. Time spent enjoying yourself is never time wasted
  7. Share your space
  8. Loosen your bone

"Loosen Your Bone Wilma" really resonated with me. As I was reading this chapter, I was traveling on a bus from Boston to New York City. Ironically, after I finished reading this chapter, the tire to my bus popped. A trip to New York that was supposed to last four hours ended up lasting seven. If I had not read this chapter prior to this incident, I would have reacted to the circumstances much differently than I did. Normally I would have been angry, annoyed, and looking to blame someone for the popped tire. Instead, I continued to read my book, talked to my neighbors, and tried to make the best out of the situation.

Most people go through their days with a set list of things to do. They feel if they do not accomplish their goals for the day or if unplanned things arise, their day is a failure. Many people feel they always need to be doing something "productive" to feel as though their day was a success. For example, they can believe spending time with their family and friends is not productive, so they do not do it as much as they should. However, by hanging out with their loved ones they are improving their relationships, and therefore are being extremely productive. We all need to learn to go with the flow more, to love more, to appreciate more, to put happiness as our number one priority, and to appreciate every moment we have on this planet. It is nice to have a plan, but it is also important to not let structure dictate what we do with our lives. The best moments of our lives will be those that are unexpected. We should not shy away from them but enjoy them.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

126214
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

28204
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

26263
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments