“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.” ― Allen Saunders

If you're anything like me, you make plans. I have countless notebooks full of to do lists, a jam packed diary, and constant thoughts circulating my mind.

For as long as I can remember, I've been a 'planner', not one to take risks or be spontaneous, (I mean I couldn't possibly do something if it wasn't a part of my schedule haha), and this has always worked for me. I've often been told by friends, to 'just go with the flow', but this has never been quite my style.

From plans to achieve certain grades, to plans about having done certain things by the time I reach a certain age, I've planned it all! But what happens when things don't go to plan? In fact, what happens, when what actually occurs, is the complete opposite of what you'd planned for? Sometimes this can leave us feeling crushed, disappointed and lost. 

But more often than not, whatever it is that hasn't gone to plan or turned out in your favour, whether it's missing your flight or as big as breaking off your engagement, it is in fact, exactly what you needed.

I'm a firm believer in the idea that everything happens for a reason, and sometimes your plans 'failing', can actually open your eyes to other opportunities that you hadn't even acknowledged.

Say for example, you've wanted a certain job for as long as you can remember, and this is what you've prepared for your whole life. Now for some reason or other, let's imagine you don't get this job, and that career path is no longer an option for you. Instead of having a breakdown and feeling like it's the end of the world, sometimes you just need to step back, analyse the situation, and open your eyes to the countless alternative paths available to you. The ones you hadn't planned for, but that's okay.

I've definitely come to learn that you don't need to have every minute detail of your life planned out, and that it's okay when things go wrong. Whether you believe in God, fate, science, or even nothing, know that whatever is meant to be will be. Of course you should go out there and chase your dreams, but when you stumble along the way, remember that maybe, just maybe, that fall was actually the best thing that could've happened to you (and prepare yourself for bigger and better things to come!)

There's nothing wrong with planning, and I for one won't be stopping any time soon! But it's important to remember a few key things:

- Don't lose sight of what's important.
- Don't take the present for granted while you're planning for the future.
& Finally,
- Have realistic and achievable goals & expectations, but nevertheless, dream big!

:-) x