I worked for three summers at a little ol’ place called Med Camps of Louisiana. Med Camps of Louisiana’s mission is as follows:
“We believe that all people, regardless of medical or special needs, deserve to experience life to the fullest and that camping is an American tradition which epitomizes normalcy and provides participants with a sense of well-being, belonging, accomplishment and self-worth. In light of these beliefs our mission is to provide at no charge a medically supervised residential camping experience that supports growth in the physical, social and emotional aspects of the life of a young person with special needs by developing normalcy, confidence and independence within each participant.”
In other words, the mission is to provide a fun and safe camping experience to children with physical and mental disabilities. While working here, I learned many life lessons, but I credit this place with teaching me one very important lesson early on: Things don’t always go according to plan. Be ready.
I don’t remember how many times our plans were derailed by the weather. The whole day would be mapped out, only to have plans changed due to a massive storm sweeping through. Maybe you’d have to stay inside for most of the day and have to find some way to entertain a cabin full of kids. And if anything interfered with swim-time, you could have a mutiny on your hands!
It was at Med Camps of Louisiana that I first realized that although plans and goals are very important, you have to know when to be flexible. And this lesson continues to be enforced on a daily basis.
When I went to college, I planned on earning a journalism degree and writing for a newspaper. I changed that plan. 3 or 4 times, before majoring in marketing.
I don’t know what my plans for relocation were after college, but I know my plan was not to move to Texas. Yet here I am in Dallas-Fort Worth and loving it.
My senior year of college, my plan was to look to the future: graduate, find a job, get the hell out of town, and start over somewhere else. I got a little sidetracked that year and met my future wife.
When I was in the natural gas biz, my plan was to try it for a couple of years and see if I should stick with it or pursue something else. I got laid off just after a year and had to start looking for a new job sooner than I had wanted to.
My advice to you is this: if you’re one of those people who has to have everything planned to the finest detail, stop. Let go. Don’t obsess over how to make everything go your way. Obsess over how to make it work regardless of what may happen. Everything will not go your way. You have to get over it and make the best of it.
Also, if you’re in the north Louisiana region, please check out Med Camps of Louisiana. It’s a great organization with a great focus and a great leader in Mr. Caleb Seney. If you can afford it, donate to their cause. If you can’t afford it financially, donate your time. Maybe you’ll learn some life lessons out there just as I did.