Shattered Plans Usher in Day One of 2019

When the phone rang at 6:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, I knew my plans were about to change. I’d made space for a peaceful, Zen day of meditation, hiking in the woods, and envisioning the coming year.

The nurse from Mom’s long-term care residence, two hours away, had called to tell us there was a noticeable change in her condition. Mom was limp and unresponsive. Things can deteriorate quickly in a frail ninety-two-year-old and I wanted to get there.

First I had to find transportation. I haven’t owned a car since I divested my Toyota Matrix before leaving on my ill-fated adventure in 2014. Instead I rent or ride, depending on the weather. It was too cold and icy to ride Trudy. The car rental agency was closed and rapid transit wasn’t running. Uber had just come to town, but no drivers were available. My options were almost exhausted. After more than an hour of trying to get a response, I reached a friend who offered me his car. I was on my way.

At the same time, other voices of worry crowded in. I was scheduled to fly to Calgary in two days to begin my book tour at the western motorcycle shows. I’d planned for months and would be gone for more than two weeks. What if Mom had a prolonged illness, or died? What should I do?

I’d invested a lot to attend. My displays and boxes of Crash Landing and Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment were already there. It reminded me of my quest described in Crash Landing when one uncontrollable event after another kept holding me back from going on a journey I was convinced I was meant to take. Why was this happening now?

By the time I arrived and joined siblings sitting around Mom’s bedside, she’d begun to come around. Most likely she had pneumonia. She continued to rally throughout the day and the next morning was up in her wheelchair, jovial, and having breakfast in the dining room.

I smiled to myself. I’d intended to spend New Year’s Day, planning, reflecting on the challenging lessons I’d learned through the last four years of my soul’s journey. I thought the best way to do that was through quiet and solitude. Spirit had other ideas.

The day reminded me I’m in control of very little. Trust divine guidance and my intuition. Know that what happens is for my greatest good. Surrender to what is. It’s how I got through torrential storms in Texas (10 Tips for Being in the Flow Through (Life’s) Storms and Finding Calm When Quitting is Not an Option). And it’s how I’ll navigate whatever the year brings.

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Photo credit: Stuck in Customs on Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA