PPPPPP
Proper planning prevents piss-poor performance. As a Type-A personality, those are words very near and dear to my heart. I spent most of my formative adult years in a world where fifteen minutes early was on time and on time was late. If I didn’t plan appropriately, the helicopter would leave without me, the tank would drive off majestically into the sunset, and I was going to be in a whole lot of trouble. That habit has stuck with me long after leaving the military life and I’m quite proud of my time management skills.
But plans never survive contact with the enemy. And last week I faced my greatest foe: my in-laws. My husband and his family are the exact opposite of me. Their family motto is, “Don’t ask, just do.” My constant requests for information on where we were staying, what we were doing, and where we were going were met with indifferent shrugs and a cheery “We’ll figure it out!” In the meantime, I was in the corner having a vacation aneurysm.
And here’s the thing: I WAS RIGHT! I was so right! This laissez-faire attitude resulted in missing pool passes, last-minute stops for sunscreen, and a breakfast mishap where each half of the family was at totally different restaurants. (Why, in a town of only 60,000 people, are there TWO Country Kitchens?!)
But mid trip, my brother-in-law humbled me. We had stopped for Sonic (my favorite fast-food place, ONLY for the slushies) and they were having a bad day. Their speakers were down, their slushie machine was broken, and their power went out just as I was about to pay. Thankfully, a lovely stranger offered to pay for our food when their system came back up since she wasn’t pressed for time. I grumped my way back to the car where I complained that I didn’t get the ONLY thing I really wanted: a slushie. But he saw it a different way. How was this trip a total failure when I ended up with a free lunch?
It was his turn to be right. I was being a certified Grumpy Gus and only focusing on my slushie plans being foiled. So, I decided to let go a little and embrace the family attitude. And you know what? Everything was fine. They didn’t even check our pool passes, I didn’t get a single sunburn, and eventually we all ended up at the right Country Kitchen for an excellent family breakfast. In my need for information and a consistent schedule, I was missing appreciating what WAS happening.
So, this summer, while you’re planning your Fourth of July BBQs and family vacations, always remember that PPPPP. But here’s another acronym for you: PISBDFTETLST. Planning Is Nice, But Don’t Forget To Enjoy The Little Surprises Too.