Pre-pandemic, I would have already received about three to five yearly organizers/planners by the time the holidays are over.
This year though, not even the banks gave out their usual logo-embossed organizers and very few establishments rolled out their yearly calendar give-away.
Really, who can blame them? Why should they spend so much on these items when they know that these days, masks, face shields, sanitizers, and grocery packs would be better appreciated?
We used to be so excited upon seeing the schedule for the incoming year’s no-work holidays, immediately checking out flight promos and travel destinations. Now our inbox is flooded with piso-fares and other attractive deals, but no one’s biting the bait. We used to get hyped by the start of the year crossing out dates for big events, now we don’t even know what will happen in the next couple of months.
We have been living in global uncertainty for more than a year now and for most of us, planning for anything beyond the day to day seems like a futile effort.
But… we find ourselves planning nonetheless.
Admittedly, we still get the thrill of sitting down and brainstorming what wonderful possibilities there may be in mountains of obstacles. The start of the year gives us renewed energy to fight for the people and issues we find worthy waking up for. We keep it secret but we still fervently wish for our new year’s resolutions to come true – maybe more hits than misses this time.
Although our plans this year may be simpler, shorter, and less elaborate, the sheer will of making them can be an exciting rebellion against the tyranny of fears and anxieties. Our free spirits still long to fulfill a mission, to reach a goal no matter how small, not just to survive but thrive and level up.
We put our heads together, strategize, and plan because this is one of the ways we can regain a semblance of control over our fate no matter what life throws at us. We try, not to defy the odds, but maybe just joyfully circumnavigate them until things become better.
We make plans while:
- Invoking the Serenity Prayer – “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
- Focusing only on the things we can control for now like our perceptions and actions – what thoughts, feelings, and actions are most aligned with our values.
- Always prepared to assess, adjust, or adapt as circumstances change without sacrificing our basic humanity and chosen principles.
And maybe this year our strategies would be better because they’re more pragmatic. Our rose-colored lenses have been broken, our cloaks of invincibility ripped from our backs, and we’re humbled in our vulnerability.
As we plan our days, we take this intense awareness that honestly, all we can do is try our best and weather whatever challenges is still ahead of us. For now, that is enough.*
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