Why choosing not to plan can be more fun

“In the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip!” -- Daniel L. Reardon

I love that quote! It sums up your choice about how you look at things. People will say things to me like, "That's reality" or "That's the way things really are". Are they? How do you know? That's your perception of how things are, and even if they are that way I'd rather be an optimist and enjoy my days.

If you spend all of your time making contingency plans and making sure you are prepared for the worst then you never get to enjoy the best. Trust me, I know. I lived the first 35 years of my life as the consumate planner. I never went anywhere without an aresenal of back-up items. What I've discovered is that I have a lot more fun when I don't spend most of my waking hours thinking about all of the things I might need, or all of the possible ways things can play out then preparing for all of them. Now I choose to enjoy the moment I'm in and trust that I'm smart enough to improvise and make do with whatever I have at the moment. Of course I do still have extra tissues and a couple safety pins in my purse, but hey, a girl's got to be a little bit prepared and knowing there is a first aid kit in the car lets me enjoy our family hikes in the woods even more.