“People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.” I don’t know the author of that statement, but it has been repeated often in training seminars.

I have yet to make a plan that was completed as planned, and yet planning is important. It defines a starting point with an objective - a goal. How to reach that goal begins with a plan.

Unfortunately there is seldom ever a straight line to reach the goal. An analogy might be in driving across country with a road map. There are detours along the way that interrupt the trip. A pilot makes adjustments to his flight plan caused by wind currents and/or diversions dictated by air traffic control. Having no plan could be compared to taking a trip in a rudderless boat.

I cannot imagine writing a book without some destination in mind nor can I imagine sticking to a pre-planned format. Non-fiction requires some organization that follows sequence of historical events; however with fiction the characters often dictate the direction the book will take. The ending may even surprise the writer.

In general, I think planning is important, but to stick to a plan without deviation or flexibility in my view is foolhardy.

Sailing is my best planning example: the necessity of a plan that is actually filed; the necessity to incorporate navigation anomolies in compass headings; and the absolute necessity of altering the plan as circumstances change. Yet, the destination may remain the same - or a new and exciting destination may be required.

Many times we set sail for one island and ended up in an entirely different harbor for every imaginable and unimaginable reason.

DK.
Your sailing example makes the point. Your book, "Arirang: The Bamboo Connection" is full of unexpected problems that had to be dealt with.

You do have ambitions, don’t you?”

“Ambitions,” Emmelisa repeated the word, “ambitions. Yes…I suppose so.”

“You do not sound very sure. Do you have anything planned for the future?”

“No,” Emmelisa replied.

“You thought this computer might help you?”

“Yes. I thought maybe I could find something that would make me feel better.”

“Like a bottle of medicine?” Mr. Spaceman suggested. “There are no magic potions for feeling happy or knowing what you want out of life. You have to work at being happy.”

“It’s too hard,” Emmelisa said despondently.

“Now, Emmelisa,” Mr. Spaceman said sternly, “you are giving up before you have even tried.”

“No. It’s just that you asked me if I had planned anything. I don’t know how to plan things.”

“Well, perhaps that is the question you should ask.”

“What?” Emmelisa thought aloud before the question came rushing into her mind. “I know the question. The question is—how do I plan my future?”

“Well done!” Mr. Spaceman beamed with a smile wide enough to fill the screen.

“Well,” Emmelisa said with slight irritation at this smug response, “what’s the answer?”

Very good Shelagh. There's a lot of Esmmelisa's out there.

Then there is one of my favorite expressions:

"If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans."

My doctor says I need plans, like walking into my anniversary party, or sleeping all night in my bed rather than retreating to the couch.

I'm working on the second. I can make it half the night and then the mattress gets too soft and my leg hurts and I retreat to the couch. But half the night is good.

Sometimes the best things in my life have happened on detours.

Love, Carol

When my friends all had school age children, we were a diverse group and used to talk about the value of giving children religious education. The big question was always, "which religion - why indoctrinate a child in something that may be just wishful thinking?" My answer was always, "if you give children nothing, then the plethora of choices is overwhelming. I recommend providing a framework, a plan for living, that gives them at least something to embrace or reject in later years."

I still hold to planning and then enjoying the twists and turns on the way there, patting ourselves on the back for overcoming the troubles and trials, and just putting one foot in front of the other when we can.

I just received an email, however, that is also a good reminder - that each day is a "present" and it's called, "the present," appreciating each breath of life for the gift it is.