Planning for Success, Pausing for Joy

Have you ever been so focused on sticking to a plan that you almost missed out on a moment of joy?

Planning is a powerful tool, and I’m a big proponent of it. Whether it’s meal planning and grocery shopping, creating a weekly calendar, or setting long-term goals for a business, planning gives us direction and helps us stay on track. Implemented effectively, planning can even reduce stress.

But sometimes, does planning get in the way of joy?

Over the Christmas holiday, my husband and I spent a week on Hilton Head Island. We love escaping to this destination during Christmas for its temperate weather and the chance to relax, reset, and close one year while looking forward to the next.

This year, however, the journey to get there was anything but relaxing. Snow in the mountains of West Virginia and traffic on I-77 slowed us down on the first day. Thankfully, we ended the day with a wonderful visit with my cousin and her husband, whose warm hospitality provided a much-needed pause in the journey. Their genuine kindness and time of nurturing connection made the late afternoon and evening feel like a bright spot amidst the challenges of travel. The next day, we faced bumper-to-bumper congestion on I-95, stretching our total travel time into six extra hours on the road. By the time we arrived, we were definitely ready to breathe in the ocean air and let the stress melt away.

After unloading our suitcases at the condo, we found a new place to eat and headed to Kroger for groceries. We timed it perfectly to catch the sunset behind the plaza. As we turned back toward the car, the sun had slipped below the horizon, replaced by the glow of Christmas lights twinkling in the evening sky. Shops and restaurants sparkled in festive holiday beauty, their lights becoming even more vibrant as dusk set in.

As we admired the scene, Rick asked, “Do you want to explore it now or come back another time?”

My first instinct was practical: “Oh, let’s go back and get our clothes and groceries put away and our place organized for the week.” But then I paused, asking myself, Why not savor this unexpected moment of beauty?

With this shift in thought, I joyfully replied, “Let’s go explore now. There’s plenty of time to organize back at the condo.” He agreed.  And the next hour became one of our favorite memories of the week.

Walking through the glow of lights, chatting about the season, our vacation, and the beauty before us, felt like a gift. Had I stuck to my plan, we would have missed these magical moments.

There are times when planning is absolutely the best course of action. It helps you stick to your goals, accomplish more in less time, and experience the freedom that comes from being prepared.

But there are also times when the most relaxing and joy-filled thing you can do is put your plans away and embrace the spontaneity of the moment. Let the work wait. Let go of the checklist.

And enjoy the lights.