Plans are an invitation to disappointment. ~ Derek Landy
If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans. ~ Woody Allen
Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans. ~ John Lennon
I must admit, the last few days I have been feeling pretty sorry for myself. I am very thankful that I am finally feeling better as the virus I had really wreaked havoc with my system and I was down for almost two weeks. However, when I finally started to feel better I realized that, indeed, the virus HAD taken me down for almost two weeks – my summer vacation, the vacation I desperately needed, is half gone. This realization was a bit much for me and was enough to send me into a minor (albeit, temporary) depression.
There were so many things I wanted to do this summer (I even wrote about many of my plans in a prior blog). There is NO way I will accomplish in two weeks what I had hoped to accomplish in four. My plans, Derek Landy, were indeed an invitation to disappointment and I am very disappointed. My plans were good ones too – it would have felt wonderful to implement all or most of them.
I have had to step back, re-evaluate and prioritize. I will not be doing everything I had hoped to do over the summer, so I hope to be able to make progress in meaningful areas (and also in areas that just give me enjoyment). I realize I will have to cut my list in half and that is what I will work on in the next few days.
I will also be working on an attitude adjustment. Who am I to complain that I will only complete half the projects I originally set out to complete when just four days ago I was so ill I needed two bags of IV fluids? Perhaps I need a bit of perspective. At least I am healthy enough that I will be able to get back on track and complete some of the projects I hoped to complete!
Today I started to work on a quilt for my oldest daughter’s bed (she outgrew the last one I made for her, about five years ago, and her feet stick out the bottom). I am making a simple rag quilt that should be completed in the next few days….. she is thrilled to see me working on it and I am happy to do something for her, she was such a great helper when I was ill.
Today, 220 days ’til 40, I am re-evaluating my summer plans. I am reminded that our plans are just that – plans, and reality does not always choose to cooperate. I am also reminded that when reality does not cooperate, my reaction and attitude can make the best or worst of a situation. I am thankful for my restored health and thankful for the time I do have left – may I use it wisely!
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
buckwheatsrisk
July 16, 2012 at 00:41
i’m so glad you’re on the mend and what a wonderful gift to give to your daughter. 🙂
400daystil40
July 16, 2012 at 20:42
Thanks so much!
changeforbetterme
July 16, 2012 at 00:53
good attitude to have! And thank goodness you feel better! I have never been one to really make plans….I used to when I was young and naive…..now that I’m older…I just go with the flow…..and am not too down on myself because some things were not done when I would have liked….I’m just glad if I have a second chance at doing them….. 🙂
400daystil40
July 16, 2012 at 20:42
Great attitude! Sometimes I think plans just disappoint, but I do like getting things done! 🙂
thelastsongiheard
July 16, 2012 at 09:42
I’m glad you’re feeling better… but it’s frustrating when you can’t achieve your goals, especially due to something like illness. I try to be philosophical about it… it just wasn’t meant to happen right now and there’ll be a better time in the near future 🙂
400daystil40
July 16, 2012 at 20:41
Yes, definitely! I have to work on my good philosophical attitude! 🙂
Shoreditch Bakes
July 16, 2012 at 11:28
Because I really like your blog, I nominated you for the ‘One Lovely Blog Award’. You can see it here: http://shoreditchbakes.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/rain-stops-play-but-not-the-awards-2/
Carolx
400daystil40
July 16, 2012 at 20:40
Wow, thank you so much! This is really kind of you! 🙂 🙂 🙂
The Quiet Borderline (back in hospital)
July 16, 2012 at 11:42
Glad you are feeling better. I was physically sick a couple of days ago and it’s amazing how much we take our health for granted.
Feel good and I hope you manage to prioritise your plans and get things done.
Take care x
400daystil40
July 16, 2012 at 20:40
Yes, so very true!
A Table in the Sun
July 16, 2012 at 18:04
Yes, it can be disappointing when health issues stop our plans. I have had to readjust many times. I now give myself credit by reciting, “My body knows I need some down time….” which helps me understand that even illness can be part of a good life plan. Perhaps this sudden virus will help avoid something more chronic or invasive at a later time!
400daystil40
July 16, 2012 at 20:40
Great mantra!
silverbells2012
July 17, 2012 at 00:25
Glad you are feeling better. I am sure that the quilt will be enough for one summer’s work! I like the shot of the bridges – where are they?
400daystil40
July 17, 2012 at 20:50
I hope so! The bridges were near Albany, NY. 🙂
walkwiththerabbi
July 17, 2012 at 00:29
Great insight sister. It’s about progress – not perfection. Shalom to you and your family!
400daystil40
July 17, 2012 at 20:50
Thanks so much!!! 🙂
Spider42
July 17, 2012 at 12:15
It sounds like you have really great kids, good for you for raising them well. And glad you’re feeling better.
As regards your vacation – I’m going to sound a bit like an arse but can’t be helped. Get over it. The world over there are people who couldn’t even dream of some of the simplest holiday pleasures people who are in a better-off situation like you and me can pull off. I’m not trying to lay guilt, but just an aspect of that perspective you refer to in your post.
See, I feel your disappointment and know how frustrating such things can be when plans go awry. Especially when it’s a thing that you’ve been working on/planning for a time. But the important thing to remember here is not cliche “at least I have my health” and such which are true. I say, what happened happened, avoidable or not, and now it’s done. What is past is unalterably so (unless you have a Delorian in the garage? :D) and all you need to concern yourself with is what you have now and what lies ahead.
Don’t lament what could have been, it’s a waste of brain-space. Enjoy and look forward to what lies ahead instead.
Cheers.
400daystil40
July 17, 2012 at 20:47
Yes, you can sound a bit like an arse, but I LOVE your comments!!! And I know I am lucky to have a vacation….. I just want more time because I am spoiled and because I want my whole vacation to do what I want!!!!! ( I want, I want, I want!!!!! ) 🙂 🙂 🙂
Spider42
July 18, 2012 at 09:49
On that, you have my sympathies as I want a vacation today more than I could describe! 😀 But I’ll get a break sooner or later and when it comes, I’ll make the best of it because as a wise someone once said, “C’est la vie!”
antarabesque
July 17, 2012 at 17:43
I hope you share pictures of the rag quilt when completed. Glad to read you are feeling better.
400daystil40
July 17, 2012 at 20:45
Good idea! 🙂
narf77
July 18, 2012 at 23:59
Good to hear that you are feeling better and maybe your illness was natures way to tell you to take a break? Sometimes we don’t realise that we need to slow down and shelve some of the things that we are planning for ourselves. There is bad stress AND good stress and our bodies can’t really tell the difference. The worst thing about summer is getting a summer cold. It totally throws you mentally and physically because W.T.F!!! you should be frolicking about in summer clothes swimming, fishing, flying kites and you are laying on your back totally denuded of anything vaguely resembling a holiday attitude and you can only think about how much of your holiday you have lost. Sometimes life throws spanners in our works for a reason and for whatever reason you just got a monkey wrench. You will appreciate the rest of your holidays so much more now that you have lost half of them to illness and perhaps the lesson lies there? Anyway…welcome back to the real world! 😉
400daystil40
July 19, 2012 at 14:21
Thank you! Very true, my body was probably coming down from a very stressful school year and just could not transition well into the holiday time (so many of us educators spend half of our summer vacation sick, sadly). I am slowly getting back into the fold – going to try to get a little work done this weekend so that next week, my last week off, can really be spent focusing on my remaining days of break!
Marie-Adeline
July 19, 2012 at 12:35
happy to read you’re feeling better, definitively would like to see the final peice
400daystil40
July 19, 2012 at 14:09
🙂 Thanks!