The Early Years: Following the Script

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 50+ years, it’s that life has a funny way of unraveling all those tightly made plans. I spent my 20s convinced I had it all figured out. The “model route,” as I like to call it: get the ideal job, meet the right guy, get married, buy the perfect house, and sail smoothly into happily ever after. Sounds familiar, right?

Well, what do you know, reality decided otherwise. By the time I hit my 30s, the dream I so carefully crafted started crumbling. My marriage, the one I had placed so much hope in, fell apart. It was a crushing blow, a complete unraveling of everything I’d envisioned. I was left with the pieces of a life I didn’t recognize, no clear path forward, and a heart full of questions.

Unexpected Detours

After the divorce, I was desperate to hit the reset button. So, when a job opportunity in Bangkok arose, I packed my bags and headed off, hoping that starting over in a new place would mean a simpler, more predictable life. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. Life in a foreign city was chaotic and unpredictable, and I was thrown into challenges I had never imagined, both personally and professionally. At one point, I was at a job interview and was asked the classic question, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?”

My answer? “Honestly, I’ve stopped planning, because life never seems to go as planned.” That response, which felt more like an admission of defeat at the time, actually landed me the job.

Learning to Go with the Flow

It’s funny how we’re taught to believe that life should follow a particular path. You check off the boxes and expect the rewards. But the truth is, control is an illusion. The more I clung to the idea of how life should be, the more disappointed I became. It wasn’t until I let go of that need for control, that obsessive desire to shape my life exactly how I envisioned, that I began to find peace.

Embracing the Unpredictable

Now, in my 50s, I no longer fight the current. I’ve learned to swim with it. Life has become about embracing the flow and accepting the unexpected detours. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been liberating. And the best part? I’ve discovered that the beauty of life often lies in the moments we never planned for.

So here I am, sharing this story with you, hoping that it resonates. If you’re still clutching those plans with white-knuckled intensity, maybe it’s time to let them go. Life might just surprise you in ways you never imagined.

Here are some ways to start:

• Focus on the present moment. What can you appreciate about your life right now?
• Be open to new experiences. Step outside your comfort zone and see what happens!
• Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. Life is too short to take things too seriously.

Remember, (as they say) not everything will go as planned, and that’s okay!

Let’s embrace the journey together!

P.S. Head over to the comments and share your experiences with letting go.