Challenge #127
Anything Goes POSITIVE with the Opt. Twist of
Embracing the Unexpected:
Be Inspired by an UNEXPECTED Event in Your Past
It is a new year and it is time to delve into a new theme for the next 12 months.
In
the voyage of our lives we are constantly having to learn to deal with
the unexpected. No matter how much of a planner we are, throughout our
years on this earth, we are going to come across circumstances that we
can't plan for. On the milder side of things, it might be as simple as
planning our entire day to get lots of things marked off our to-do list
only to have an unexpected guest shows up on our doorstop to throw a
monkey wrench into our plans; or, for the car not to start so we can't
go to any of the places we need to get to to complete our tasks. Things
that are more difficult to deal with would be situations like natural
disasters, accidents and unexpected illnesses--things that have more
lasting ramifications. Small or big, encountering unplanned for events
is a part of life.
As
difficult as it may be, dealing with the unexpected is a skill that we
need to learn. We grow up in a world where there are supposed to be
rules and
consequences. A world where it is anticipated that 'the good' are
rewarded and 'the bad' are punished. We crave predictability and control
in our lives. Sometimes, things do work the way we expect. When they
don't and it feels like our world is falling apart, we have a very
difficult time giving up that perceived control. For many, we can easily
become overwhelmed and anxious when we are pushed out of our comfort
zones. In certain circumstances we may feel completely out of our depth
having to deal with situations where we have no experience. Our
reactions to these types of events, say a lot about us and about our
resilience. Novelist, Christina Baker Kline has said, "The twists and
turns of your life can be so unexpected, and that's a good thing to
learn".
Let's
face it. Whether we want them or not, we are going to be bombarded with
challenges throughout our life. While we can plan for the expected
ones, it is how we react to the unexpected ones, that say a lot about
our character. Do you let these unexpected happenings roll off your
shoulders and go with
the flow; are you more prone to having a stressful reaction; or, are you
somewhere in the middle? The thing is, you just never know when one of
these unexpected events could change your life completely--and it some
cases, it might even be for the better. Whether you love them or you
hate them, it is not going to change the fact that you have to face
these challenges when they arise. Like many situations that we have to
deal with, the only thing we have control over is our personal attitude
towards the event and the steps we take to deal with it.
Now
I'm not going to sit here and tell you to 'keep your chin up' or 'grin
and bear it' or that 'everything will be just fine'. Platitudes are not
helpful when it comes to dealing with something we never thought we
would ever come up against. How we react emotionally and how we resolve
our challenges is unique to each of us. I myself have a difficult time
dealing with change. I think at some point we all become comfortable
with the ebb and flow of life and that makes it difficult to adjust to
change--whether it is for the good or for the worse. When confronted
with new challenges (or even old ones), I am easily overwhelmed and
become stressed. It often takes me some time to figure out how to
navigate through the challenges life throws my way. I often feel out of
my depth and unsure how to proceed. I simply have to keep reminding
myself that nothing stays the same in this life of ours. Nothing is
certain. Life is constantly changing whether we wish it to or not. What
we can control is how we react to the situation, how we deal with the
event and how we move forward. We all need a little time to adjust when
the unexpected comes our way. Some, like myself, may need more time than
others but the key is that once we've sat in it for the time we need,
we need to take that step and move forward.
Keep in mind, it is
during unexpected and challenging times that we need to remember that
just as the bad can happen, so can the good. In some circumstances, it
is very possible that we might find that the unexpected can impart gifts
or possibly even blessings; finding the 'silver lining' so to speak.
Poet, Carl Sandburg, has said, "Nearly all the best things that came to
me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me." Now of course, these
'silver linings' in no way negate the bad. If you encounter an
unexpected event that you consider negative, you still have to deal with
that aspect of the situation. Any good you may experience in no way
cancels out the bad. Any 'silver lining' that comes up will not suddenly
turn the situation into a good one. However, these little blessings may
make the make good and bad less absolute, less stark. When good
intertwines with bad, some of the shadows surrounding the darkness may
lessen or even disappear. Just like most things in life, it isn't simply
black and white--good and bad can coexist at the same time. Happiness
& sadness; joy & pain; hope & fear; light & dark; good
& bad. Each of these can exist simultaneously alongside the other.
Sadness, fear and pain may be experienced when something unexpected
comes our way. Those feelings are real. Bad things do happen. However,
it is also possible to catch glimpses of happiness, joy and hope during
these difficult times as well.
As
always, it comes down to perspective. If we are not challenged, we will
not grow. It is very possible that dealing with the unexpected may help
us to grow and change in ways we may never have thought conceivable
before. What if it is possible that you find your life's purpose through
an unexpected event? What if it helps you to find your way to important
relationships that could never have existed without dealing with the
unforeseen? In learning to deal with the unexpected we can develop
bravery, flexibility and adaptability. In essence, we grow as we become
more resilient. What if grabbing on to the unpredictable sends our life
in a direction we may never have found otherwise? As much as we may
crave normality, stability and routine, we should allow ourselves to be
open to the positive outcomes that may come up when we embrace the
unexpected.
I will close out with a poem from William Blake which sums things nicely:
Joy and woe are woven fine,
Clothing for the soul divine:
Under every grief and pine
Runs a joy with silken twine.
It is right it should be so:
We were made for joy and woe;
And when this we rightly know,
Safely through the world we go.
Bibliography
Author Unknown. (Unknown). Embracing the Unexpected: How to Unlock Your Creative Mind.
[Online].
https://www.authorceramics.com/blogs/creativity/unleashing-creativity-4-unexpected-ways-to-spark-new-ideas-thinking-outs.
Last Updated: Unknown. Available at:
https://www.authorceramics.com/blogs/creativity/unleashing-creativity-4-unexpected-ways-to-spark-new
[Accessed 28 December 2024].
Blakemore,
Adam. (2023). Embracing the Unexpected: How to Harness the Power of
Serendipity to make your Best Work Yet. [Online]. Raindance. Last
Updated: 18 August 2023. Available at:
https://raindance.org/embracing-the-unexpected-how-to-harness-the-power-of-serendipity-to-make-your-
[Accessed 28 December 2024].
Erick. (2023). “277 – Embracing the
Unexpected: How to Handle Life’s Plot Twists Like a Stoic”. Stoic
Coffee Break. 27 October 2023. [Podcast]. Available at
https://stoic.coffee/blog/277-embracing-the-unexpected/. [Accessed 10
December 2024].
Hardman, Josephine. (Unknown.). Bracing Yourself
Against Life the Fear of Loss & Vulnerability. [Online]. Josephine
Hardman, PHD. Available at:
https://josephinehardman.com/bracing-yourself-against-life-the-fear-of-loss-vulnerability/
[Accessed 28 December 2024].
Magidson, Sue, Rev. (2019).
Expecting the Unexpected. [Online]. Quest for Meaning. Last Updated:
December, 2019. Available at:
https://www.questformeaning.org/quest-article/expecting-the-unexpected/
[Accessed 12 December 2024].
Following are the specific thoughts for January's twist:
It
is the start of a new year. Often that means reflecting back on the
year or years previous before embarking on new pathways. For your
optional project this month, go through an old photo album, memory box or simply down memory lane and be inspired from an unexpected event in your past.
Here are some examples to get you thinking:
- Did
missing a bus/train/plane, lead you to an unexpected but pleasant
encounter with a person you otherwise would never have met? Are they
still in your life as a result? Based on this type of event, you could
create a card to give to that person expressing what a gift it was to
meet them or how much you enjoy them being in your life after all this
time.
- Were you upset that special or
important plans you had were cancelled, only to be surprised by an even
better event instead? You could create a collage with items from that
day.
- Did you ever end up with an animal in your
life that was completely unexpected? Create a card for someone that
showcases an image that looks similar to your pet or you could create a
scrapbooking or journal page that honours that special fur baby!
- Did
you think you were moving to one location only to end up somewhere
completely different? You could create a journal reflecting back on the
joys you've experienced and the people you've met that you never would
have, had your original move happened.
Remember,
the twist is completely optional and you don't need to follow it in
order to win. However, in order to be considered eligible for this
month's goodies, remember that general types of projects/posts will not
qualify for the honours and prize UNLESS they are also positive, inspirational,
motivational or encouraging in some nature. Additionally, even if a project may qualify as positive, if your post
promotes negativity, hatred or anything of an abhorrent nature, your
project will be disqualified. Honours and Prize include:
- $6 worth of images from Scribbles Designs, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants.
- A badge for the following honours: Top Pick, Voter's Choice, Most Inspirational, Random Winner, DT Delight.
