The Best Laid Plans...

This weekend I hosted my sister’s baby shower. I had been planning for this event for about two months. I had the ideas in my head and made lists as to how everything would go. Living in Southern California, I planned to have the event outside. The shower was from 4-6 pm and I was expecting 25 guests. In the week ahead, there had been predictions for rain, but at only 20% chance I really thought I was in the clear. Before setting up at 3 pm, it was partly cloudy and there was no rain in sight. You know the song, “It Never Rains in Southern California”? Well, apparently it does. At 4 pm, as the guest were arriving, it started to rain!

I had very helpful and thoughtful guests as we went to “Plan B” and started to move everything inside. Luckily, I had thought about how I would set things up inside if it did rain. I directed traffic and we had the party moved inside in 10 minutes or less. Had I not had a back up plan, I would have been a wreck, which would have changed the tone of the party, leaving the guests uneasy. If Murphy’s Law had a picture in the dictionary, my shower would have been the chosen one.

This experience made me wonder about other times in life when things just don’t work out as we planned. You may have been set in thinking you are having a date night, and no doubt your child throws up on the way out the door (this happened to me!). Having a calm head, and an easy going attitude, will make your life and the lives of those around you better. We cannot have everything go perfectly in life. How boring would that be! You would have no stories to tell, no “oh my, you’ll never believe this” moments!

In order to have that relaxed attitude to let things “roll off your back”, I feel organization is key. I had planned the party with a back up plan in mind. I checked the weather up to the moment and knew I was rolling the dice by setting up outside. I have more room in my back yard than I do in my house for that many guests, so outside was the ideal choice. But knowing the risk, I made sure to know what else was needed just in case. Now this is the case for most throwing a party or hosting an event because planning is a necessity. But are you planned for your day? Do you have a back up plan? Organization allows you to think ahead and be prepared.

Typically your environment, both home and work, reflect your mind. If you are living amongst clutter and chaos, chances are your thought process and mind set are the same. This provides the panic and stress that seem to be taking over our lives. If you feel I am talking to you, start small and work your way out of the mess. Create new habits that will allow you to have more time to enjoy what it is you want to do!

If you would like more tips on organizing, visit my website at: www.afreshstartorganizing.net/tips. Also, you can subscribe to my newsletter “Fresh Ideas for A Fresh Start”.