What Happens When Things Don't Go As Planned?

If you don’t know anything about me, there’s just one thing you SHOULD know: I am a chronic worrier and a planner, so if things aren’t planned or if things don’t go as planned, it scares me. While most people are easy going and go-with-the-flow, I’m more uptight and nervous. Luckily, over the years, I’ve gotten better at loosening up. Over the last few weeks, I’ve had a lot of plans change and a lot of unpredictable things happen. So what happened when things didn’t go according to plan? 

Well, I had to accept the situation at hand and understand why certain circumstances threw a wrench in my plans.

For spring break, I had planned out a week-long road trip with my dad. We would be leaving the day after Father’s and Friends morning. About a month before we left, I got a call that a friend of mine had prom and wanted me to be his plus one, but there was a problem: his dance was on the same day that I was supposed to be leaving for my trip. Fortunately, I wasn’t very hung up on going with him and was sort of happy that I had a way out of going to someone else’s dance. But after talking with my parents, they told me that we could easily push my trip by a day and so I could go to my friend’s dance since it would be rude for me not to go. I was NOT happy about having to go to this dance, so I panicked and worried for weeks and weeks leading up. I felt like every time I fixed one problem, a new one arose. The night of the dance finally came and I was so ready to be over and done with everything. I ended up having a really good time, so I’m glad I went. 

When people keep changing plans and things don't go your way, just remind yourself of the circumstances and why it’s important to put things in perspective. Worrying and panicking is a completely justified response, but eventually accepting the situation at hand is also justified. But what happens when the situation is completely out of our control and there’s not much we can do?

Unless someone is bleeding, dying, vomiting, and/or there’s a hurricane, a tornado, a fire, or some other natural disaster, then the situation isn’t a complete crisis. Like I said, it’s okay to worry and panic, but also accepting the situation plays a big part in just being able to go with the flow. It’s hard to accept situations that are out of our control— even when they’re not the end of the world. 

If you didn’t know, prom was April 6 and it’s a big tradition that the Thursday before prom, juniors get their class rings and the prom theme is revealed to them. Yes, the beautiful, coveted, black onyx ring with the crest stamped on it that every Ashley Hall girl is excited to get. For years and years, I have been looking forward to receiving my class ring, like most girls. Unfortunately, two days before the prom reveal and ring day, the juniors and seniors were told that the class rings would not be making it on time because they were backordered and we would be getting temporary rings instead. EVERYONE was in disbelief. We were all so confused and had so many questions— Why were the rings backordered? When were we going to finally get them? What kind of “temporary ring” would we get instead? Did we even order the rings on time?

As upset as everyone was, we all had to see the light in a negative situation. At least everyone was in the same boat and everyone was missing their class ring, not just a few people. That would’ve created exclusion. That’s one positive from the situation. We were able to make a joke out of the silly, rubber, light up rings we got instead, and now we just have even more time to feel excited over getting our rings. That’s another positive. 

The ring situation was completely out of everyone’s control, and no one was happy about it. But we were all able to make light in an unfortunate situation.  Even though it may be hard, you have to understand why some circumstances are the way they are. But again, it’s okay to feel disappointed, worried, or panicked. Those are completely normal responses to a change in plans. When things don’t go as planned, there’s only so much we can do. 

If there’s anything you take away from this article, it’s that if things don’t go as planned, just remind yourself that it’s okay to feel disappointed but accept the situation for what it is. Even though things might not go as planned and it may be hard to accept things as they are, find the good and go with the flow!