Plans

Yesterday evening I saw the movie Dan in Real Life. I enjoyed it. I will refrain from analyzing the film here to avoid ruining the show for those who have not seen it yet. Not that there is any big twist to be expected - it is just more enjoyable to see a show for the first time without preconceived notions.

There is one aspect I do want to share. The movie's final scene includes a voice-over of the main character Dan Burns (played by Steve Carrell). He reads from a column he writes for a local newspaper. I wish I could quote verbatim what he says. He addresses the notion of having a life plan. We all have a plan in one form or another. We have hopes and dreams. We look forward to certain events and experiences. Children and teenagers are especially encouraged to have a plan, with regard to a career, etc. However, as the saying goes, 'things don't always work out according to plan.' Instead of fretting about creating and fulfilling our individual plans, the final line of the movie suggests that maybe we should all just "plan to be surprised."

How many people truly live their life plan? How many 3rd graders have you known who said they wanted to be an astronaut, and when they grew up, they actually orbited the earth? Or those who said they wanted to be a professional baseball player later donned the cap and stirrups for their favorite ball club? On the flip side, how many terminally ill cancer patients planned and prepared for such a disease to rob them of years of healthy living. Or what individual who suddenly looses a loved one in a tragic accident knowingly said their final goodbye before the tragedy?

I certainly do not imply that we should not have hopes and dreams, nor should we plan for inevitable sickness and misfortune. Contrarily, we should dream big. We should set big goals. We should work and fight to achieve what we desire. But despite our best efforts, despite the strength of our will to follow the plan we have charted for ourselves - sometimes, in fact oftentimes, we end up somewhere entirely different than where we originally intended to go. We enjoy or endure experiences which we never anticipated. Such is life. And that is a good life.

Have you ever watched a movie when half way through the show you figured out how it was going to end? Have you ever guessed who the 'bad guy' was early in the show, then to your disappointment learned at the end of the movie that you were right? Such a movie is unexciting, mundane, and boring. There is no thrill. There is no surprise, no spontaneity, no captivation. Is that what we want in our life? What adjectives would you rather choose to describe your life: unexciting, mundane, and boring, or thrilling, surprising, spontaneous, and captivating? I choose the latter.

"Plan for surprises." When we consider where we want life to take us, we should plan for the best, hope for the best, look forward to the best. But we cannot be too shocked when the best does not always come our way. And when we are down, when we feel the weight of disappointment, sorrow, failure, mistake - in those moments when nothings seems to be going right and there is no indication of change anytime soon... remember, "plan to be surprised."