When Life Happens by Debra H. Goldstein

When Life Happens by Debra H. Goldstein

Did you ever notice how much your day varies from your to-do
list? That, as John Lennon said, “Life is what happens while you are busy
making other plans.”

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately especially when I
look at the stacks on my desk, credenza, and the floors of my office and
bedroom. They annoy me, but at the same time, I don’t care. I’m sure there will
come a point when I have to stop and clean things up, but what I realize
looking at my clutter is that it represents flexibility and being alive.

The pile to the right of my chair represents materials from
board meetings attended last week that I haven’t filed away yet. That’s okay,
it was more important that I showed up at the meetings, contributed, and then
came home to work on responses for blog interviews scheduled for next month’s
release of Should Have Played Poker: a
Carrie Martin and the Mah Jongg Players Mystery.

The stack right of my desk are bills I paid, notated with check
numbers or online confirmations, but haven’t thrown in the keep these bills
envelope. That’s okay, it was important that I wrote checks for the mortgage,
utilities, internet, and the plane tickets for the family wedding that’s coming
up in a few months.

The cards and invitations centered at the top of my desk are
for gifts I need to buy for upcoming showers and weddings or birthday cards
from those who kindly took me to different birthday dinners and lunches this
month. That’s okay, I wish we can’t accept every invitation, I want to
acknowledge these lift cycle events. I am happy to report that the thank you notes
were written for the birthday festivities as they occurred but some of the
cards are so hilarious that I want to read them again. It wasn’t a special
birthday, but celebrating for an entire month has been fun.

In the near center of my desk are printed copies of two
stories I submitted this month. Submission guidelines for other calls I’d like
to address are near some pads on the left. That’s okay, I didn’t think I could
come up with an idea for the stories, but things worked out before the
deadlines passed and the others still have promise so long as I keep them in my
sight lines.

I was supposed to have this blog ready and scheduled before
I went to California last weekend, but getting the two stories, PR, and
spending time with family and friends took precedent. That’s okay, it’s written.
It’s going to be set up a day early. And best of all, it reflects the most
important thing any of us can embrace: Life is what happens when we go with it
rather than trying to force square pegs into round holes.

Hopefully, all of your distractions have been good; but if
not, here’s hoping you’ve been able to let go of enough to survive and come out
on the other end.