How to Take a Change of Plans in Stride

When I took my break from blogging this summer, my tentative plan was to return with details about the trip to Ireland for my grandma’s birthday. I was going to give you a trip breakdown. I had a list of books and articles that helped us narrow our trip wish list. I planned to share photos of this unforgettable trip to the Emerald Isle, which I have dreamt of experiencing with my grandma since high school. That’s not quite where this post is headed, though. We won’t be sharing our experiences across the pond because we ended up in South Dakota instead…

Why Our Trip Was Canceled: Learning to Pivot

Before I get to South Dakota, how about a bit of backstory? My grandma is 80 years old. She is the life of the party. If we are at a wedding and you can’t seem to find her, look no further than the dance floor. I love her spirit and hope that when I’m 80, I’ll be the same way! My cousin’s wedding this past June was no different. She was the first one out there, but it wasn’t her dance moves that popped this time; it was her knee. This was in June. And just like that, we went from daydreaming about the seaside view from our Airbnb to discussing options for fixing her torn meniscus.

To say it was a bummer is an understatement. I’ve waited years to have the ability to take my grandma to Ireland. Everything was booked, from flights and lodging to the rental car and childcare. The first thing you must do when you are disappointed is to understand your feelings are valid. The second thing is to realize that things not going to plan is a part of life. You can stay disappointed and let your negativity about the situation rule your thoughts or pivot. I thought this quote captured my feelings about the problem nicely:

“Grieve in whichever way you feel compelled to. There isn’t one right way to move through what saddens you. Give yourself the space to feel. Be sad. Be angry. Be heartbroken. Cry or don’t. But also take deep breaths and remember the love that brought you to your knees, the smiles that broke your heart wide open, and the moments of laughter and joy. Finding happiness in grief can make each difficult moment a bit easier to bear. Show yourself more love than you’ve ever needed to before, and feel what you feel.”

– A Year of Positive Thinking by Cyndie Spiegel

It is vital to permit yourself to feel what you need to feel and then move forward, regardless of whether you are dealing with canceled plans or loss.

Our Pivot Strategy:

We decided we couldn’t just sit at home during the nine days we were supposed to be abroad. My husband still had the vacation time. So, we booked a cabin in Custer, South Dakota, and set out for the 10+ hour road trip in the minivan to show the kids Mount Rushmore, a Jewel Cave, and a Mammoth Museum. I’ve linked the places we visited below. Is a hike in the Black Hills as exciting as staying close to a castle? It depends on your perspective. I’ll take some board games and extra quality time with my family any day, and I feel incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to make memories with them. As my grandma recovers from knee surgery and we try to find dates that might work to reschedule, I’m taking this pivot as a win.

Mount Rushmore

Mammoth Museum

Jewel Cave

Have you been to South Dakota before? How do you handle disappointing news or changed plans? Let me know in the comments.