Plans...

I bought a new planner yesterday and that got me thinking... what is the point of a planner? Well duh, to plan things. Plus, if we didn't have planners, Franklin Covey would be up a creek. However, in my 20 years of wisdom and experience, one of the few things I have learned is that no matter how much you plan out your future, things rarely, if ever, turn out as you expect. A few examples:

#1- Plan: swimming in the Olympics. Okay, I know, childish dream. But between the ages of 7 and whenever I got in check with the real world, after every journal entry I wrote "2008" to remind myself that the 2008 Olympics was my plan because I would be 20 (I thought 2008 would be more realistic than 2004 because going to the Olympics at 16 was just not going to happen. HA! So naive.)

Reality: I'll be watching the 2008 Olympics from the comfort of my couch.

#2- Plan: When I was 12, I made the decision I would never, EVER go to BYU. I was determined to get out of Utah and to go to Stanford or Georgetown.

Reality: 1 Stanford rejection letter (don't worry, still bitter), 1 Georgetown waiting list notification, and 3 years later, I'm starting my senior year at the one and only Brigham Young University.

#3- Plan: Since about 14, I vowed I would never become a teacher because I didn't have the patience for it. I was going to work for the UN or NGO in Africa or Europe.

Reality: I'm majoring in French Teaching (Secondary Ed) and Political Science (At least I got the political science part, right?)

#4- Plan: So after my other plans got completely scrapped, I decided that I would just finish school, get a masters, move out to the East and start teaching and coaching swimming.

Reality: I just took the position as Aquatics Director for the City of Orem, i.e. a real job. Benefits, retirement, the whole kit and kaboodle. I'm still going to school, but part time for awhile. Hopefully this job will help me save up for a study abroad and a mission, if I decide to go on one.

So there you have it. I'm convinced there is no benefit to planning past what I'm having for dinner tonight. But I'm torn! Last year Elder Uchtdorf came to our stake conference at BYU and said that you should plan 5 years in advance. How on earth am I supposed to plan things 5 years in advance if things I plan for next week don't happen?! Can't just one thing in life be predictable, please?! Sometimes I think having no plan is the best plan I can have. But yet... I continue plan. I still have plenty of plans and who knows (except for the man upstairs) if those plans will come to pass. Franklin Covey, I guess you're still in business.