One of the realities of conducting business and raising children in 2018 is that—thanks to smartphones, tablets, and computers, people have the ability to change the schedule at a moment’s notice. As a result, I’ve shown up too late, too early, I’ve gone to the wrong field, traveled miles and miles to events that had been canceled, I’ve even missed events entirely. You name it, I’ve dropped the ball in every way. All because I trusted the initial agreement.

I’m of the mindset that I stick to the original plan because that’s the right thing to do. Cell phone in my pocket or not, I’m going to schedule my day, my week, and my month in an effort to show up when I say I’m going to show up. And because that’s how my mind works, so often it just simply doesn’t even occur to me to double-check the schedule.

However, the time has come to, as I’ve heard it said, “adjust myself to what is….and fit myself to it.” And I can adjust in a bunch of ways. 

I can…

1. Stop whining about it, first of all.
2. Wait to plan until closer to the event (in case it changes again).
3. Set aside time to double-check the schedule.
4. Decide if my schedule allows for the change rather than acting like a victim.
5. View the change as an offer rather than a command.

It’s either these options or start a coalition to bring back the beloved “forfeit” of my youth. You cancel a game? You forfeit, we win—Who’s with me?