Most people who know me know I like having a plan and sticking to it. I like knowing exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, and how I'm going to handle it. In some ways I would describe myself as a control freak. But I am slowly starting to learn that life does not work that way.
One of the biggest triggers for my anxiety is not knowing. It sounds silly but when you have an overactive imagination unknowns can sometimes get the best of you. As time goes on I'm starting to realize that there needs to be some unknowns in life, and sometimes the unknowns can lead to the greatest journeys and introduce you to amazing people.
Lately I have been working on trying to be more spontaneous and trying to do things that push my comfort zones a bit. I'm trying to learn to roll with the punches instead of trying to block every one of them.
One of the more spontaneous things that I've done recently was a trip to Misquamicut, Rhode Island with my grandparents. Late one Monday afternoon when I got out of work we took the hour and a half drive down to the beach to have dinner to celebrate my grandma's birthday and take a walk on the beach. This trip was planned the day before and the time that we were going to leave was not determined until earlier that morning. For me it was a test in not having a set plan.
I think I did pretty well on this test. Even though this trip wasn't what most would describe as spontaneous and crazy it was something that did push my comfort zones a little bit. Not only did I push my comfort zones and work towards accomplishing goals I had set for myself but I also had a really great time with my grandparents. Trips like these are important to take. It could be with friends, family, or a significant other, but it is important to take time for ourselves.Too often we get caught up in the fast pace of society that we loose track of what is really important. We forget to take time to take care of ourselves which in the end could end up hurting us.
On the way down I had my phone on shuffle and it just so happened to play the Zac Brown Band song, "Let It Go". The chorus says "And know you're not the only ship out on the ocean/ Save your strength for things that you can change/ Forgive the ones you can't/ You gotta let 'em go". I've heard this song countless times but for some reason today it stuck with me. I learned that sometimes not having a detailed plan is okay because it will all work out in the end. I learned that it is okay to relax a little and have some fun. I learned that I can't take life so seriously, I just need to live in the moment and enjoy.
