Roadtrip from H*LL

I spent this past weekend up at the lake. Getting ready for our trip, we packed the day before (no small feat with all of the infant gear), and decided it would be fun to pick our son up from school early and hit the open road.

In my head, I fantasized about the moment we were all in the car together officially on our way, and how fun and exciting it would feel. I imagined our anticipation, how we'd listen to fun road trip songs, how my whole family would eat and appreciate the healthy snacks I packed. Reality ended up being much different.

My husband was hangry and wanting fast food before we even got out of the city. My son wanted to watch the GPS and confirm aloud how many minutes we had left, every other minute. Los Angeles traffic was suddenly back in full force, doubling our travel time. Our pit stop for a diaper change took us on a detour through the San Gabriel National Forest—a beautiful drive with more hairpin turns than I can count, leaving everyone (except the baby—thank goodness) car sick and complaining. Our car warned us it was about to overheat at any moment because somehow we were out of coolant, which meant we had to drive around looking for an Autozone in the desert (yes, you go through city, mountains and desert just to get to the lake here).

It got me thinking about what it's like when reality doesn't quite match up with the image I have in my head. It becomes clear that no amount of prep work or planning guarantees things will go the way I want them to. In these moments I have a choice— to resist what is actually happening or let go and be along for the ride. The more I go with it, the less seriously I take the situation, (and myself), and the lighter and easier it feels. Sometimes, I can even find it amusing.

I'll be honest, I have an easier time doing this in my personal life than I do in my business. But that's why it's so important for me to pay attention, so that I can take these reminders into my business and stop taking things so damn seriously.

What about you? What happens when things don't go as you want them to? Do you find it easier to let go in certain areas of your life, but not others?