One of my personal downfalls is that I have never been a fan of planning. I internally cringe when I'm asked at an interview "where I want to be in five years." I don't know, and I don't especially want to know. I have learned what you think you want and what will actually happen are often two very different things. And that's not bad, just different. It's part of what keeps life interesting. Life that is always according to plan is a little too much like autopilot. I worry that it will become too gray and I like a little splash of color every now and then to mix things up. But even I recognize that a little planning can sometimes get you through the "splashes" in life that can feel a little more like tidal waves.
One area where I've made a bit of personal progress is in meal planning for myself and two teens. I while back I bought refrigerator magnets that are really a set of small dry erase boards. Too often I would go to the store and buy food, some of it was based on what we liked, some based on what we "should eat." Too often, what we "should eat" would spoil and go to waste while we went out or ordered something else. Food prices are way too high to do this. So now we are utilizing the magnets more.
Lately we have started to plan five days at a time, balancing "cheap meals' with more expensive ones, trying to keep costs down as much as possible. If we find we start to crave something else we put it on the possibility list for the next five days. Everyone gets a say, everyone makes a contribution.
Big things are happening right now. We are preparing to choose a new president. We are at war. We are facing possibly the worst financial crisis since The Great Depression. Gas prices and bus fares are rising.Unemployment is rising. Food costs are rising. Health care costs are rising, a not many are getting enough raises in their jobs. Looking at the big picture it can all look pretty overwhelming. But that is why the little things mean so much, especially now.
Gretchen Lee Bourquin is the author of the novel No Sensible People and the poetry collection The Long and Short of It.
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Comments: 20
(It was at a time in my life when I was sure God had to be female:)
There are some scary times ahead for most of us.
What does everyone think?
"The world is filled with plans
to justify the plans
of people who are planning for a living.
Gather Broadcasting: Have it your way
I wouldn't cringe. I'd draw a complete blank and stutter.
This country lived through the Depression and went on to thrive. Perhaps the Depression even contributed to our growth and success afterwards. The strength you gain from a harrowing time is not to be forgotten or downplayed.
I have always been the planner, the one to make the plans, carry them out and see them through. The men in my past couldn't handle the idea of planning anything. So I can do it, although I don't do it anymore. If there are plans to be made Bill makes them. He enjoys it, he's great at it and I celebrate every day that I don't have to plan.
Retirement has brought me a lot of freedom. I only consult the calendar to send greeting cards.