Rain, rain and more rain. Surprisingly for Colorado, this past week was filled with it. Now, don't get me wrong. I love the rain. Completely adore it. Just not "plan wrecking" rain. I had been planning weekend adventures to aid in numbing the unpleasant parts of a busy week. Rain, rain, rain. Climbing in the mountains, soaking in the hot springs, a possible hike? All crushed by rain.
Friday rolled around, and I checked the weather forecast for the hundredth time. Flash flood warnings. The little bit of hope I had in the weather clearing disappeared. Feeling disappointed, I began my Friday "adulting," if you will: work, interning and errands. Ten o'clock makes its way around with a phone call from Katie, my soulmate, best friend, a partner in crime, whatever you may have it. The conversation was something along the lines of asking what I was doing this weekend, as she was planning on passing through Montrose on the way to the desert and hoped to see me.
I responded saying I had plans, but "not really," and then it hit me. The desert, as in Moab, Utah desert? I backtracked and asked why she was going. She and a couple others were going to float the river and camp for a night. "I want to go!" it flew out of my mouth subconsciously. Of course, her response was "Yes!" She had wanted to ask me, but thought I would have previous engagements or was stuck "adulting," as we call it. She informed me that we were leaving Saturday.
As I continued the rest of my day, beyond excited for our little adventure, thoughts started to consume my excitement.
"Should I go? It wasn't really part of my plan."
"Do I really have time?"
"Is it logical?"
"Will it intrude on my 'adulting' obligations?"
"I'm pretty tired already."
My day finished late, and I didn't even have time to pack before I fell asleep. I awoke the next morning and began throwing bits and pieces of gear and clothes together while trying to juggle a few last obligations. Finally, the time came for our adventure crew to "take off," and we did.
It took all of two minutes of driving to already experience complete bliss. I was headed to the desert in a car, packed to the brim with gear, snacks, booze and fabulous company. I could spend hours writing about the shenanigans of this particular trip (it was full of them), but that's not what has been seeded in my mind from this experience. And quite frankly, it may make you question our crew's intelligence, sense of humor and overall cleanliness.
Instead, I want to share a few thoughts I haven't been able to shake. How often does planning cause us to decline an invitation to do something potentially magical? How often do we allow the "what if's" to sneak their way in and consume opportunity? I know I sure do it, and all too often. Growing up, I was never a planner. I was impulsive, a "go-with-the-flow" child. Now here I am, planning? Now I'm aware as we age, more responsibilities are taken on, presenting a need for planning to a certain degree. But do we use those as an excuse?
I easily could have this past weekend, all too conveniently. Instead, I summoned my inner "impulsive kid" and just went with the flow. I packed an outrageous amount of fun and memories into a very small amount of time, and I do not regret one bit of it.
I believe what I am trying to get across is this:
My friends, we must lay down our control at some point, our desire to always follow the path or logical route. We must begin to capitalize on opportunities so that they aren't lost. No more excuses.
As I sit back and reflect on my life thus far, I realize I have yet to live much of it. I have only visited Earth a mere 22 years, a blink in comparison to a lifetime. I'm starting to challenge myself. I choose to focus on "seizing the day," if you will, planning when needed, but "doing" so much more often.
Join me, or don't, but don't make a plan.
