Beyond the Now

How many times have our Plan A’s turned into Plan B’s—or even Plan C’s?

It’s human nature to feel disappointed, frustrated, and sometimes even angry when things don’t go as planned. You look forward to an event and it’s suddenly canceled. The gift you were certain you’d receive never arrives. Your team is expected to win—but loses. A promising blind date stands you up. The job you felt confident about after a great interview doesn’t come through.

We could fill pages with these moments.

Life has a way of happening while we’re busy planning it. Circumstances intervene. The unexpected appears. And despite our best efforts, things don’t always unfold the way we imagined.

So how do we prepare for disappointment?

First, expect it. Not in a pessimistic way, but in a realistic one. Plans don’t always work out—no matter how carefully we make them. As the saying goes, “Trust in God, but tie up your horse.”

Second, consider why something didn’t work out. More often than not, it has little to do with you and everything to do with circumstances beyond your control.

Third, ask yourself: What can I learn from this?

Fourth, look for an alternative instead of dwelling on the disappointment.

Have you ever noticed that sometimes, when things don’t go as planned, something even better comes along?

One New Year’s Eve stands out for me. At the last minute, I was told I was no longer invited to a black-tie event I had been eagerly anticipating. I had the dress. I had the excitement. And suddenly, I had neither a place to go nor a plan.

At first, I felt hurt—then angry. How could a “friend” tell me there wasn’t enough room for me? For a while, I indulged in a small pity party.

But once the emotions settled, I asked myself, What else could I do to celebrate the evening?

I made a few calls and discovered that a friend had an extra ticket to a New Year’s Eve symphony concert. I accepted—and that evening turned out to be one of the most memorable New Year’s celebrations I’ve ever had. I was surrounded by people who truly wanted me there, and I even made new friends along the way.

The lesson?
When plans fall apart, complaining gets you nowhere. But creativity, openness, and a willingness to pivot can lead you somewhere even better.

Plan B—and even Plan C—might just surprise you.

— A quiet reminder from Beyond the Now

(Margo Ewing Woodacre, MSW, is a writer and former caregiver exploring life transitions, identity, and resilience. She is currently writing Crossroads: Reclaiming Identity When Live Changes Everything)