So, What's the Plan?

A free-write that appeared one day after hearing this question one too many times.

             It’s a question I’ve heard all too many times, “What’s the plan?” Well, what is it? Is it to get to the next day; maybe the next week, payday, or year? Is that the plan, or the goal? One or the other, or maybe, can it be both? In my experience running plans by other people first, it seems that something so simple can never be the plan. You have to account for as many variables as you can. Life is unpredictable, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try, right? Or maybe that is just seeking control where you know you may not necessarily have it. Like I said, life in unpredictable, and likewise it’s not always fair. Things will happen whether you want them to or not. You may be prepared or you may not, but ultimately you’ll see that question. So, what’s your plan?

 

 My plan? My plan is to do my best and take it all in stride, because I know that life can be one non-stop barrage of one lead-weighted problem after the next just jumping in line to land on your shoulders. So, when that happens, will you still try to keep swimming or just let your head sink below the water? Will you do everything in your power to keep your strength and move with those weighing burdens until you finally see the day that you can simply drop them to the ground? How will you fight to see the day when you finally drop those weights and fly? Well? What’s your plan?

 

The words you have to build up your plan all seem right. Your logic and optimism for the coming time is lifting you up as you look forward.

“Here is my plan! I’ve covered all of my bases”

 You present every point you can until you’re blue in the face, and you stop waiting for the reaction of approval that you are seeking so heavily.

“Well, what if…?”

Oh the dreaded what-ifs, the bullet that shoots down any working plan you may have. Accompanied by his brother, “what about….,” the duo that brings down all of your optimism and slaps you in the face with a harsh slice of some potential but currently fictitious reality, rear their ugly heads. Their very presence can seem like a flurry of audible knives digging into your confidence in your own abilities to move into the future. And after they have finished their onslaught on anything that you may have planned, you return to face the looming, monolithic question, “What’s your plan?”

 

Can such fictitious presumptions from the devil’s advocate really be enough to bring down your path to the future? Perhaps not, but the despicable duo has already sewn their seeds of doubt into your mind to infest your very faith that the world is more than some vicious monster waiting to run you down and devour you when you are at your lowest.

 “What if they are right?”

“Is the world ever on my side?”

You begin to withdraw as the shadows of that doubt slowly creep in to entangle you in a web of self-deprecating cynicism and uneasiness. You question if your plans are ever enough; if you can even stop the world’s assault on your golden goal. Unfortunately you can’t. The world will turn in the brightest days and the darkest nights, and no matter what that means for you, tomorrow will indeed come. So, when it comes, “What’s the plan?”

 

            In my humble opinion, the plan is whatever guidelines you have to reach your goal, but don’t necessarily see it in stone. Life will change your plan almost every day, but if there is one thing to always keep constant, it is your goal. You may set rather fluid way-points to get to the end, but ultimately you strive for your personal light at the end of the tunnel. Life can sometimes be a war. You just have to push, and push, and do your best to avoid the landmines. If you do, I praise your luck and say congratulations. However, should a landmine go off, be sure to take cover, deal with the aftermath and keep pushing. The landscape may change, but you should still see that light that drives you. Take it all in stride and avoid the dangers that you can, but always -- Just keep pushing.

 

            That’s my plan, what’s yours?

Author's Note

A bit of a ramble so I apologize.