Now that I realize Plan B is the new Plan A , I’m more flexible and open. I’m getting better at recognizing and embracing the shape of the emerging Plan B. I see that it contains hidden treasures I’d never thought of. As I Loosen my grip, it’s so much easier to maintain inner peace, curiosity and enjoy life – no matter what’s going on (and a lot’s been going on!).
Our Plan A had been to sail the yacht Bel Ami to Grenada for the rest of hurricane season. When my sweetie had surprise open heart surgery, that plan ended up on the rocks. I’ve been sitting on the boat, watching the inscrutable sea as is it were one of those black kid’s toy eight balls where you ask a question, shake the ball and wait for the answer to float to the surface from the depths. Yes, No, Perhaps.
As the shape of plan B begins to emerge, I notice that when things are easy it feels like a green light giving me the go ahead, so I’ve started playing the Red Light Green Light game. I’m taking my cues from the ease at which my efforts are met by the world. When I’m on the right track things go well – I’m driving on a wide avenue where the green lights are staggered and I can just keep on going if I pace it right. If I’m not on the right track, things are difficult or downright impossible, it’s Red Light time – Stop.
I Wanted to head out west to help my guy heal so I started looking at travel sites. I quickly found a stunningly inexpensive round trip ticket to Chicago. Green Light. The only problem was that the flight landed at midnight. I wrote to my only friend in Chicago to see if she could pick me up – a long shot I thought, so when she called me right back to say she gets off work at 11 so yes to the pick up and place to stay and, on top of that, she can drive me to Madison the next day. Green light, Green light, jump up and down green light. As if that weren’t enough encouragement, I heard from a college friend that she’s now living in Madison and is excited that we might get to hang out. Bonus Green Light. Keep on going, pass go, collect $200 – I’m starting to have way too much fun.
The same staggered green light scenario continued as I made plans for securing the boat, Bel Ami. I found people to help me now and while we’re away. Things just felt easy each step of the way. Even as I’ve caught myself imagining red lights and obstacles, the truth is that I’ve been bowled over by the ease of the journey and very curious about how you know you’re on the right path: doors open, people call you back, tickets are cheap and its as though the red carpet is being rolled out in front of you.
I’ve now changed direction and am riding the waves, free of the undertow of negative (red light) thinking and much to my delight, green lights are illuminating the way.
When a problem arises we’re prone to reason and weigh and measure as we try to figure it out and make things happen the way we want. We run Red Lights. get frustrated and get ourselves into all kinds of trouble. We do it all the time – in situations that are small potatoes and in big stake issues. We don’t pay attention to the lights – first of all our inner lights (our most amazing inner guidance system which is constantly offering up gut feelings, hunches and intuitions), and the outer lights – the feed-back we get from the world.
I’m playing the Red Light, Green Light Game in all my affairs, big and small and I’m suggesting that you try it out too. When you aren’t sure what to do Stop, Breathe and Check the Lights – both inner and outer. See if they are green or red and proceed accordingly. When we quiet our inner chatter, quiet the outer voices telling what we should and shouldn’t be doing – the lights are clear signposts.
Growing up in Manhattan I often walked for miles. When I’d come to a corner and find a red light, I’d either stop and take a break or cross where the light was green. I wove my way, catty corner through the city to my destination, creating my own avenue of staggered green lights – which is what I am doing now every day in my life here and where ever I find myself. I’m calling it Green Living.
Wishing you a green light kind of life. May you head in directions where doors open, red carpets are rolled out and the world is your oyster. See you at the corner.
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