Spontaneity – The Spice of Life
I planned a trip to Wyoming on a whim, and scheduled only one tour. The rest of the four days would be entirely open. Having to plan the trip at all is a bit annoying to me, but for work, plane schedules, and booking a cabin, that much had to be done. And that is where the planning ended.
My cabin in Wyoming
Shortly after I arrived, I got a call asking if we could move the wildlife tour to Sunday. No problem. I had nothing planned that day anyway. This morning when I awoke, I decided I’d go into town, but after a few hours decided I’d stay inside and enjoy a fire and a day of reading, or whatever.
I often get asked where my happiness comes from and how I manage to get so much done while being so laid back. I believe it’s because of spontaneity. For me, plans and schedules cause undo stress. Of course, there are, as I said above, some things that must be planned or scheduled, but by and large most events can arise spontaneously.
Deer behind my cabin
If you watch animals, they are spontaneous. When the desire to run in a circle arises, they run. When they are sleepy, they sleep. Wild animals eat when they’re hungry, and play when they’re feeling playful.
Our intellects have gotten in the way of natural spontaneity. Some of my dear, intelligent friends, keep themselves in stress continuously through rigid schedules and ungainly To-Do lists. The main problem with those lists is they can overwhelm you with what needs to be done, rather than spontaneously taking care of only what needs to be done right now!
I took a business course that came recommended by many. The four days focused on keeping a calendar, keeping a running to To-Do list, organizing your life so that you have more time to organize more parts of your life. The goal was to get more done and to be more successful. I could well envision more up tightness as well. I decided to use only the useful tips on organizing email.
People are curious about a woman traveling alone, and on the plane, I was asked if this trip was business. Don’t people travel for fun anymore? “No,” I explained. “This is for fun and relaxation.” The gal on the plane looked so surprised, “Oh, how wonderful of you to take care of yourself like that. I wish I could do that.” When I asked her why she couldn’t, it was because of all this crap she had planned, none of which sounded like it couldn’t be moved or canceled in favor of some fun. I suggested just that, and she looked at me like a deer staring into headlights. Then she said, “Oh, maybe I’ll plan a trip for next year.” Good grief.
If you’re in need of some R&R take it! Who knows, in a year you may be dead.
The one thing we should demand in our daily lives is room to allow spontaneity to arise. Work on the project that begs for your attention internally. Take a break when you need it. And work hard when inspiration strikes.
Sit back, torch up the fireplace, and throw your To-Do lists and calendars in the flames. You’ll be better off, believe me!
Tags: relaxation, Spontanity, stress
