“Life is a long preparation for something that never happens.”

William Butler Yeats

Can this be true?

It sounds cynical.

Personally, I like the feeling of comfort of having a “Plan B” just in case something doesn’t quite work out. Contingency planning was a big part of my upbringing and it has served me pretty well.

Or has it?

I’ve started to notice that some of the best things that have happened in my life were completely outside of all of my plans.

Hmm… so maybe just don’t make plans?

That doesn’t seem to make sense either, because just floating along letting things happen without any choice, awareness, preference, or intention seems to be giving up on using the brains we have and the experience we’ve gained.

Maybe the balance comes from staying open to things as they happen, and not spending more time planning than living.

What has been best for you – those things you’ve planned, or the other things?

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