Of Plans & Plushies

Copyright @EastPerry

I used to think that living with intention meant I had to know the plan. Like, if I focused on getting specific with my abilities and desires, I’d be able to efficiently manifest outcomes that would make me feel fulfilled, “successful.” I’d feel “on purpose;” and, I wouldn’t feel a deep undercurrent of disappointment in myself.

Throughout my life, I’ve kept setting up plans: researching them, meditating on them, acting on them. Plus, there have been other people in my life that have also wanted me to have plans. Plans that would lead to Predictable Monthly Income.

I am organized. I do have the “vision” thing. I have Executive Function in spades. But, my plans have never panned out per my goals for them.

And, I think I’m finally okay with that.

Maybe the choice is better described as, ‘Be okay with this.’ or, ‘Continue beating your head against the wall and complaining about constant headaches.’

I’ve come to see myself on a path of having life experiences and doing my best to process them with Loving Kindness for myself and others.

Which doesn’t mean I like it as my plans keep running aground. Argh! I feel the disappointment, the frustration, the panic, the despair. And, then… I glimpse a pattern that’s not working: I don’t like its outcomes. What are my choices? What is a choice I haven’t tried, yet? I’m gonna try that one. Even though I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m going to stumble around the unfamiliar and trust that if I fall down, I’m gonna get back up okay(ish).

Today, I felt like I got a “thumbs up” from the Universe.

Out of the blue, a longtime friend/collaborator of mine, Janine, has a project in the works. Janine founded an import/export company just over 10 years ago called East Perry. I love Janine, and I’ve bought sheepskin and organic wool items from her company and rooted for her growth.

A million years ago, I worked with Janine while she was at her first company, Connected Sparks. We were all engaged in storytelling in service to childhood education and media literacy. I had hopes and sketchy plans of setting the world on fire via multi-platform IP, stuffed plushies, an app, a website, and more. Long story short, that plan didn’t materialize. We all moved on to the next things in our lives.

But, here I am, more than a decade later, still in touch with Janine, still rooting for her creativity, her entrepreneurialism, her marvelous soul. She’s just opened a WeFunder campaign, and I’m delighted that I’m able to invest/loan her company money to grow on via my IRA. Not only do I know from experience that her products have integrity, I’m tickled that she has introduced wool plushies, Marlow and Clover, and will be releasing books about them! It happily reminds me of our days working on Lyka’s Adventure at Connected Sparks.

So, over a decade ago, my plans failed to take off the way I hoped. But, today, I’m having a full-circle moment, in a completely unintended, un-forecasted, unplanned way.

Isn’t that fabulous?

Now, if only I could plan for more unplanned delights like this… Ha ha. Just kidding.