It’s the season for making plans, having high expectations and hoping that everything will be wonderful. It’s also the season for high-stress levels when no one will play ball with your amazing plan and for setting yourself up for disappointment.
I’ve been told by a number of people recently that the best stories come from when things go wrong. The best weddings are the ones where things don’t go as intended. But everyone has a blast anyway. The best holidays are the ones where the hotel is full of quirks and you get lost every time you go out.
When things go according to plan you do make memories but they aren’t as fun. The only time you’ll happily recall how everything went to plan is to juxtapose against how everything usually doesn’t.
But I can’t help but think that planning is half the pleasure. Thinking about how you would like things to be. Imagine how wonderful the future will be.
So this festive season, and in fact anytime you make plans in the future, make them with the best intentions. And make them big and exciting. Make them as perfect as you can.
Then comes the more challenging part. You need to be ready to roll with the punches. To be as flexible as a yoga devotee. Treat your plans as a vague framework and just go with what’s going to meet your intended outcome. Presumably happiness for everyone involved. Remind yourself as your Christmas dinner fails to be the most sophisticated thing ever that you’ll laugh about every Christmas to come. Think about how you’ll remember the Christmas tree collapsing as a time when you were so happy.
Be happy in the now. Make happy chaotic memories for the future. And, right now, get planning.