Adventure awaits. Go find it.
Two weeks ago at 5am I met with two amazing friends– Justine and Laura, to carpool to the airport. We were heading to California for United. I had plans to stay longer in California for an additional two weeks and fly home from there.
I am not daring. I am not impulsive. I always have a schedule. I always have a plan… And a backup plan too.
Well, my plans changed.
On the last day of United (last Wednesday) I was overwhelmed. Just like BC had strange weather with a bunch of snow, Santa Barbara had a “winter storm” of intense winds and torrential downpour. Needless to say, the surfing, fun shoots, and just typical California activities (aka lots of runs on the beach and tanning) we had planned got cancelled.
I was bummed. I was overwhelmed. The lack of sleep over the past week probably didn’t help but I am an independent person, so to be in a different country with no car, no home, and terrible Internet connection to be able come up with a NEW plan… It was interesting. I hated that I didn’t have a plan, and no time to come up with a new one. I hated the fact that I had to be dependant.
Thursday Matt messaged me asking if I wanted to grab lunch. We went for lunch downtown on State Street with a super sweet couple, and then worked from The Fess Parker (the hotel United was held at) for a bit. That afternoon at some point, he said something along the following lines that clicked. “It might not be organized and there is not a plan, but you will be taken care of.”
I don’t know what clicked. I don’t know if I realized that it was OK to not have a plan. I am still shocked thinking that I went to Las Vegas for WPPI and didn’t book my flight until 8:30pm the night before I left. But I did. And it was amazing.
So, the next 7 days were just that. Seven days without a schedule. Seven days without a plan of what was going to happen two hours from now or where we were going to eat dinner. Seven days of being completely blessed by kindness, hospitality, chivalry, and being a part of a community I never knew I needed.
So as I am sitting here on the plane writing this, I am overwhelmed. But instead of being overwhelmed by fear. Instead of being overwhelmed by canceled plans or the unknown…
I am overwhelmed by encouragement.
I am overwhelmed by incredible friendships that have changed my life in a matter of weeks.
I am overwhelmed by a new standard I never knew I deserved.
I am overwhelmed by a community that pushes me to be better; to focus on serving.
I am overwhelmed with thankfulness that despite my detailed planning, He had a plan that would fill my heart and teach me things I never knew I needed.
The past seven days have been adventure. I am so glad I found it.
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WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY IN VANCOUVER, CABO SAN LUCAS AND WHEREVER YOUR LOVE STORY TAKES YOU
I’m so glad you got out of your comfort zone and had such a SWEET adventure! I wish I could have been there for it but it just wasn’t working out. Can’t wait to hear all about it in person!
[…] as you may know, two and a half weeks ago I headed off to California with full intentions (and detailed plans) to go to United 2014 and then hang out in California for an extra week+ spending time with friends […]