Recalculations often required on the journey that is life
We’ve all been there, sailing happily on a car trip, trusting in the everfaithful GPS for the best directions. We rely on that disembodied voice, trusting fully in its calming and all-knowing guidance. With that voice to guide us on the best and most efficient route, we know how much longer our trip will be, where the traffic jams are and even our estimated time of arrival, down to the minute. It is indeed a comfort to have that copilot riding along, ready to jump in at any moment.
But what happens when the unknown occurs? A tree fallen across the road, a flooded stream causing road closures, an unexpected accident blocking the road or any of a plethora of possibilities. What happens then?
We’ve all heard the dreaded word, “Recalculating.” The electronic guide has to rethink the route quickly and determine what the next best step will be. And chances are, with some minor adjustments, we will still arrive safe and sound at our destination, albeit slightly delayed.
This is a lot like life. On our journeys, we can be sailing along, happy and content with the status quo. Then all of a sudden, things change, and you must recalculate. I also like to call this a plot twist. When things don’t go as planned, new paths must be forged.
There are many reasons for this, some difficult, some wonderful and others simply a logical progression. I came up against one of those recalculating moments just the other.
A good friend and faithful coworker is retiring. Of course, I am deliriously happy for her. It is a welldeserved and, quite honestly, overdue reward for 32 years of service. She not only served her coworkers but the residents at our workplace as well and treated each person as family. My journey, as well as those of literally hundreds of people, must adjust to the gaping hole that will be left. A huge recalculation will be in order.
Adjustments — they are never easy, but sometimes they bring out the best in us. For years we get used to a steady path, but once that path is obstructed, we have to think outside the box to circumvent the obstacle. We must change our habitual ways to find a different path, and we must face the challenges. Adjustments can be as tiny as a tweak or as huge as a complete makeover to our way of doing things.
A tiny tweak can have a large impact and may be just what is needed. Consider the controls on the dashboard of your car. One small turn and you completely change the song on the radio. One small twist and your car’s temperature is adjusted accordingly. A tiny turn of the wheel and your path diverges immediately. Small adjustments can make big changes.
With every challenge you face, you learn to adjust. It is not unlike the human body’s ability to thrive. It seeks something called homeostasis, which is basically your body’s normal settings. Temperature is around 98.6 degrees F, blood pressure is within normal range, etc. With each prescription you take or the diet you maintain, you are attempting to reach your personal homeostasis.
Our adjustments in life are just like that. With each challenge, we adjust. We recalculate. We can only hope that the new paths created by these recalculations of life not only help us to continue our journeys but also assist us in thriving along the way.
With each tweak, we learn many new things, and hopefully the knowledge gained is worth the adjustments. Through it all, we have to smile and push forward to the new adventures that await.