TToT – The Unexpected
I am not a fan of surprises.
Surprise parties, unannounced visitors, restaurant servers gathered around my table singing an unenthusiastic birthday song while I sit in my seat wearing a sombrero and smiling awkwardly at a cupcake holding a flaming sparkler? Not my thing.
But as I get older – and I hope wiser – I’m trying to embrace the beauty of unexpected things. You just never know when you might find a moment of fascinating and beautiful in the midst of the ordinary – like the sea turtle Zilla found living on the wood boards of the restroom at our hiking spot. Sometimes the unplanned and unexpected in life are the very things we never knew we wanted.
For example, I can start here with my daughter, our Kidzilla. Before she was born, we were certain she would be a boy. We wanted to have a boy and we hoped for a boy, so we convinced ourselves that she was, indeed, a boy. As it turns, out she is a girl. A very pink, very sparkly girl. And we can’t imagine ever having wanted anything different.
In a million years, I never would have expected to decide that I wanted to work for myself, work from home, and want to make things like chaperoning field trips and volunteering in the school library the first items that go on my calendar. And yet, after Zilla was born, I found myself wanting that more and more.
I never would have expected to choose to leave the “security” of a full-time benefits-included job and strike out on my own. Terrifying. And yet unexpectedly rewarding. I certainly did not expect to start taking sub-teacher days – and I definitely didn’t think I’d enjoy it. But I’ve been subbing a couple of days each week for the last couple of weeks and enjoying it quite a bit.
I did not expect the plans I had for my self-employed ventures to fall through. Nearly everything I expected and planned and attempted for the last year has somehow not gone as planned. But as it turns out, in retrospect, it’s very likely been for good reason and it seems has led to better opportunities.
For example, I most definitely did not expect to land three freelance contract in three days – but that’s exactly what happened this week. I’m still in a bit of shock. Of course I’ll continue to search and add more – such is the life of the freelance writer – but these are a very positive and encouraging start. And I expected my first few jobs to be, well, hateful. But these three are actually quite interesting and I’m excited about doing them.
I’m sure I missed a memo or a posting or an invite somewhere this week because I most definitely did not expect my phone to ring with a video chat call on Friday evening. The next thing I knew, I was talking face-to-virtual-face with Clark and Lizzi and Kristi! That was an absolutely delightful surprise!
I never expected to find so many dear friends out there in so many places as a result of starting this blog. Nor did I expect the outpouring of good wishes, support, and encouragement that they provide in so many ways. I hope you all know who you are…I love you guys.
I didn’t expect my blood work to look all that great this week, but it’s quite good. Nor did I expect to buy jeans several sizes smaller than I thought I needed, or that I would drop (and keep off) ten pounds over the last couple of weeks, or that anyone would notice – ten pounds on a fat girl isn’t always that noticeable, you know? And yet all of those things have happened.
When asked what I do for a living, I never expected “I am a writer” to come out of my mouth. But it did. And oddly enough, mere hours after that utterance, I accepted my first contract. Coincidence? Who’s to say…?
I did not plant to have an impromptu girls slumber party last night with Kidzilla or expect that my Fab Hub would grab me in the garage for a good solid kiss this morning. Those happy surprises happened, too.
I didn’t expect to like the soup I’m eating right now, but it might be one of my new favorites.
And I certainly didn’t expect to go several days without Cat One making a fecal deposit somewhere unacceptable in the house, but it seems that even unexpected miracles do sometimes happen!
It’s a good day.
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Your turn: What unexpected things have made you happy and thankful lately? Do you like surprises or dread them? What is the greatest surprise you’ve had in life?
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Frist?
Frist!
It certainly seems that there are many silver linings in your week – in the evolution of your current situation. Yay, you. And those jeans, nothing else feels that good!
All true, Val. All true. And the jeans? SO comfortable.
You are SUCH a writer!!!!!! Congratulations!!!
Aww. Thanks. XO
It’s nice sometimes for unexpected things to come. Whether it’s for the best or worse, it’s something you’ll remember far down the road and usually the best stories come from the unexpected. Better to embrace it than avoid it. 🙂
For me, I’m really happy when someone does something nice for me (when I least expect it) – taking me out to my favorite ice cream place when I’m feeling down, making a handcrafted friendship bracelet for me, things like that.
Hi, Tiffany. Now those surprises are the kind I enjoy!
Right? 🙂 If only there were more people on this world who would go out of their way to do something (unexpectedly) nice for somebody.
A lot of times, people say they’d do something for you but that just spoils the surprise.
Definitely! Well, I’ll promise to do something this week that will be unexpectedly nice for at least one person. 🙂
Haha, it you do, make sure it’s someone you care about or who you think needs it most. :]
Will do.
excellent ….stuff!! (yeah, I have ambitions on the writing thing, someday!) lol
I enjoy TToT lists like this because, not only does it offers us Readers a tale of good things happening to good people, but it demonstrates that if we work hard and focus and do things the way we know we must… the rewards are there!
Well your serial is pretty cool, Clark, so keep at it!
I’m glad this list offers something beyond simply a list of good moments. Reward does come from effort and focus…maybe not always as quickly as we’d like, but it does!
What a delightful post, Lisa! I felt so good not only for you, but about life, when I finished reading it! Sometimes we get so caught up in all the things that aren’t so good or are downright bad, and here you’ve written a wonderful testament to how the Universe looks out for us. It is well said that “Life is what happens while we are busy making other plans.”. I’ve never put too much stock in plans, because they’ve rarely worked out as I expected, but oh what wonderful things come our way when least expected, not the least of which in your world is an amazing little girl named Zilla! :-). Continuing to send my prayers and gratitude that the future will bring more writing assignments your way, and that you will find the perfect spot in life that you were hoping for, even if in unexpected ways!
Josie, I love that this made you feel happy about life! That makes ME feel happy and makes me want to keep on writing. I’ve had a very long dry period – not for lack of ideas, just for lack of actually doing it. I’m promising myself to do more and using NaNo to help.
It’s true that Life does indeed happen while we’re making our own agenda. I do believe that we are guided in very unexpected ways, which usually turn out to be all for the best, even if we would never have guessed that.
Your vacation pics were beautiful – did you have a wonderful time??
Oh, yippee! All sounds so great. Can’t even remember the last time I had that 10 pound experience. Work….well, just congratulations to the hilt!
Love the sea turtle. Sometime I will have to share the dinosaur….brachiosaurus if I remember correctly…that lives in the wood grain of the landing on our staircase!
OH, Zilla would love the dinosaur in your stair landing! Definitely share that!
I’m so very happy about a lot of things right now – well, maybe except my cold… 😀
I’m so glad things are looking up for you! You certainly have had your share of struggles they past year and your hard work is finally paying off. I’m looking forward to hearing more about the work you’re doing now, you writer you. I would love to get in on one of those infamous vid chats one of these days. That would be a welcome surprise for me!
Me, too, Jen – thank you. And I do hope it continues. It is a small start, but I definitely feel that it IS a start. I will certainly tell you about it soon.
The vid chart is cool – I think I’ve only been part of two or maybe three. But it was truly cool. I know there was talk of one for this week…
What wonderful surprises! I think it is interesting the twists and turns life takes, and how a person develops unexpected talents and interests. Congrats on your writing ventures!
Proof that there is much more in store for us than we might ever imagine, Kristi.
What beautiful unexpected events! Things are good for you right now, and it makes me happy.
Me, too. May it continue…
That’s the kind of non-deposit we should be thankful for. 🙂
My short-attention span self read your post from beginning to end. You are a great writer. You kept my attention all the way through.
Oh yay! Glad to hear it held your attention, Carin!
What beautiful surprises! I am so happy for you and your three new contracts! So exciting!
It is a rare day indeed that jeans shopping is anything but miserable. Celebrate!
And wow, that really does look like a sea turtle.
It has been a very exciting week or so, Christine.
And the turtle – Zilla spotted it. I don’t know that I would ever have seen it!
Hurray for the unexpected – when it brings us blessings and joy for which we could never plan.
I think sometimes the unexpected is even better than what we might hope or plan for ourselves. Agree?
Hi. I really need to stop here more often. Goodness. That is a good day. A pink, sparkly girl, a cat who knows where to do his business, and three writing jobs in one day! Wow! You inspire me. I’m really trying to get a copywriting career off the ground after being out of the workforce for so long (I used to work as an in-house copywriter), but I’m having a hard time making up for the gap and all the professional connections I’ve let go over the years. I love hearing that you are having success with it!
Hi, Julie! Well, not ALL in one day…this is a bit of a collection. But it sure adds up to a great week, doesn’t it?
I am working very slowly on this at-home-writer-career thing. Maybe we can chat and swap notes sometime? Let me know!
You wrote such a wonderfully descriptive TTOT having to do with the unexpected things in life that turn out to be the best! I loved reading this. Congratulations on the great things that are coming into your life, even if they weren’t expected.
Thank you, Pat!
Last?
BEAUTIFUL post, and I’m so, so glad for all of it. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen something so unabashedly joyful in your world, and I’m SO glad 🙂
Last, perhaps, but certainly not least. 😉
Thank you, Lizzi dear. I love love love your comment. <3
Your reply made me grin HUGE. Also, also, also, HOW COOL WAS VIDCHAT! I want that every week 🙂
It was very awesome! And yes every week! *she says and then immediately follows with: but I probably can’t do it this Friday…*
Wow. I love all these surprises.
🙂
Looove sea tutrles.
I was just curious on your thoughts of having an only child? If my nephew ends up being one, how do you think it has turned out for your family, if you don’t mind me asking?
And congrats on all the freelance work coming your way lately. How exciting. I would love to get there one of these days.
Hi, Kerry.
Well, I don’t know if we can say I’ve quite arrived anywhere just yet – but a few contracts right off the bat is definitely encouraging.
The only child thing…well that’s quite a conversation. I don’t mind at all, but we can talk elsewhere than here in comments. And I may just do a blog post – thanks for the idea!