Looking Back #16: All Schedules are Rough Drafts - Learning to Roll With the Punches
What I was writing then: May 4, 2023
May 6, 2024: Last week, someone on Notes mentioned how much they enjoyed going back through archives of writers they follow.
With that thought in mind, since the beginning of 2024, I have begun publishing one Archived post from the same week in 2023 for a couple of reasons.
First of all, I have wanted to encourage the many new subscribers/followers since I first started my Substack journey to read some of the earliest posts both for continuity’s sake and to hopefully see the progression of posts since that time.
Secondly, it does new writers good to compare where they are today with the previous year.
Also, I received some feedback from a reader about the way I was posting these Look-Back articles from last year. I had been provideing a link to the archived posts in this Look Back series not thinking that some, by choice, do not access the internet, so they couldn’t read the linked articles because they only read Substack posts in their email.
So, beginning with today’s post, I will copy the entire archived article in the body of each week’s Look-Back.
With that said, here is the original article from May 4, 2023:
Rolling With the Punches -This Has Been One of Those Weeks
"I'm So Busy Now, I Don't Know When I Found the Time To Work" - Said every Retiree ever
So far, each time I wanted to sit down to write, more pressing things have surfaced -
Medical Appointments (they seem to increase in number as my years multiply).
Contractor appointments for quotes on various projects.
Mowing 2.5 acres before it rains again.
College Graduation Ceremony (the last one - Yes!).
And then, I was recruited to help rebuild a deck this week.
So far, I have ripped 2x4s into 2x2s for railing spindles, removed old decking, and helped put up new joists - all new things for me (the writer, not the builder) Later today, we will begin laying down the new TREX decking.
This morning I was at the building supply store at 7 a.m. and loaded 3 2x10x14s on the roof rack of my wife’s van (somewhat disconcerting while driving through morning rush traffic) and took those over to the job site. And then rushed back over to my house to meet a mobile smart key guy to get a new car key programmed.
Truly it has been an interesting week.
So, generally speaking, what can you and I learn from all this?
As good as our intentions and plans may be, nothing is written in stone while we breathe earth’s air.
For me at least, being retired does not mitigate schedule interruptions.
All schedules are rough drafts, subject to change and refinement as we move through the week.
Rolling with the punches lowers frustration levels (and probably blood pressure).
We can turn unexpected schedule twists into learning opportunities.
We get to meet new and interesting people. Today, I met Dylan, a mobile smart key technician who used to be a teacher and H.S. coach. He loves what he does and the freedom to travel around the countryside.
We learn that indeed, all things work together for our benefit if we allow it. (ref. Romans 8:28)
Granted, I don’t know what your circumstances are.
These are meant to be general observations. You may have gone through things or faced heartache that I cannot even fathom, so I don’t mean to be trite.
How has your week been so far?
As always, thanks for your support. Share UnCorked with a friend.
Until next time, friends …
