Moving Forward by Looking Back

One thing I really like to do is think back to what was I doing one week/month/year/etc. ago. It helps me get a sense of how my thoughts have changed, how I've grown, what things I was looking forward and what obstacles I successfully navigated. So today I find myself thinking about last week at this time.

I remember eagerly waiting to get through the work day as the minutes, slowly, ticked away. I went from checking the daily weather forecast to being excited about pulling up the hourly one. I kept thinking I needed to put together a better plan for the weekend than just "winging it". Knowing Libby's tendency of waiting to the last minute on things, (i.e. flipping a coin in the back seat of a van after a golf tournament on which college to go to the night before the decision had to be made) I chuckled wondering if she had even started packing yet. I was filled with elation knowing I was going to be able to show an old friend all the great new things life has treated me to.

What makes me truly happy, reflecting on where I was a week ago, is that I had no idea what was in store for me. Without any planning (at least from me) my life changed for the better and looking back I realize how often this has been the case. Some of my best memories come from times when there wasn't an itinerary to map out each second of the day or when the original plan fell through and instead I stumbled into something even better. I think this is how life should be lived: plan for what you can but be willing to fully embrace what you never expected.

So even though I physically find myself in the same spot as a week ago, and I am once again waiting for the clock to reach 5:00, eager for the weekend to come (I officially move tomorrow!), I am enjoying an entirely refreshed mental outlook. I find a tremendous amount of hope knowing that tomorrow, or any moment for that matter, can bring infinite joy, fun and adventure. And while I know any moment can also result in hurt and pain I am comforted by the thought that I am surrounded by loved ones or in another sense that "the world is looking out for me" and I know those times shall soon pass. Regardless, I know I am ready for tomorrow, no matter what happens, and it is up to me to make the most of it.