poorly planned

I was driving home from the store in Ossippee, NH this morning. I had run out to pick up syrup for our waffles. That's when I saw him. I was immediately reminded me of my morning's frustrations.

All morning I had been frustrated with myself for my poor planning. I knew I should have packed my stuff. I always pack my stuff. I can't remember the last time I didn't pack it. What made it worse was the fact that I didn't simply forget to pack it. I intentionally left it all behind. I told myself I wouldn't have time to use it.

The thought occurred to me as I drove past him: "There was a time when I would have looked at him and would have been happy I wasn't him; now, I'm jealous of him." I was now even more frustrated with myself.

Not long before, I was still on my way to the store and was deep in thought. The thought occurred to me that many times when people are frustrated or disappointed, they brought it upon themselves much in the same way I had this morning. So many times we mess ourselves up by failing ourselves by failing to plan.

He looked tired. In fact, he looked kind of miserable. He looked...like he was enjoying himself way more than I was. After all, he was running and I was driving. I should have been him. I should have been running too!

I still don't know why I convinced myself that I shouldn't take my running stuff with me to New Hampshire. I told myself that I wouldn't have time. That may have been true. But wouldn't I have been better off to pack my stuff just in case? Yes. I mean, think logically here. If I had my stuff and didn't use it, no big deal. If I had my stuff and wanted to run, I could have. But I didn't think through it logically. Instead, I set myself up for failure.

I was reminded of a valuable lesson this morning though...success (in anything) begins with successful planning. If you fail to plan well, you are setting yourself up for failure. And you will succeed at failing every time.

The other truth is that you can't beat yourself up over past mistakes. This morning is in the past. I have learned from my mistake, so now I'll pick myself back up and do better tomorrow.