Hey friends—today, I want to talk about something we all face: change.
Plans are wonderful (I love a good plan!), but sometimes life laughs at our schedules and says, “Let’s try something different.” When that happens, flexibility becomes our best friend.
Life’s Little Detours
Rob and I had big travel dreams for summer and fall—RV trips, maybe even a faraway adventure. Then, during a pickleball game, Rob tore his Achilles. Just like that, everything shifted.
Our summer of exploring turned into a season of stillness.
Instead of trip planning, I became the designated driver while he healed. And honestly? It became a beautiful reminder that life’s detours can hold their own kind of joy and learning.
The Gift of Flexibility
Flexibility isn’t just about going with the flow—it’s about staying open when things don’t go as planned.
Sometimes a delay, an injury, or even a canceled flight is really an invitation to pause, reflect, or pivot toward something better.
My friend Angela recently had this happen. She ran into all kinds of tech problems trying to register for a college class. She was frustrated—but later realized she was meant to spend that time helping someone who really needed her. What felt like a setback actually created space for a blessing.
Simple Tools for Staying Flexible
Here are a few things that help me when plans change (and they always do):
- Shift your mindset. When something falls apart, try asking, “What might this make possible?” instead of “Why me?”
- Breathe and look for better. Even if it’s not “amazing,” how can you make it a little better?
- Choose consciously. When our flight home from Costa Rica was canceled and we were given a voucher for a hotel, we chose a quiet taxi ride instead of a crowded bus. That one decision shifted everything from stress to peace.
Staying Open
Being flexible doesn’t mean giving up—it means loosening your grip just enough to let life surprise you. When plans unravel, take a breath, stay curious, and trust that something good might be waiting in the new direction.
Because sometimes the detour is the destination.
