The Surprises of a Lifetime

Photo credit: The Fitz’s Photog

You know the saying, “Never say never…”?

Well, it was always one of my least favorite sayings…

After all, it pretty much only comes up in conversations where you passionately say you will never do something… and then someone (who clearly doesn’t know you as well as you know yourself) chimes in with, “Never say never…,” followed by you rolling your eyes and giving a halfhearted chuckle because what they’re implying is, well, ridiculous.

I never thought I’d say this, but – I get it now.

This morning I was thinking back on all the things I said I’d never do (okay, not all the things, just some little things and also some not-so-little things), and I realized I’ve surprised myself a lot – and that’s not a bad thing.

In fact, looking back now I can’t imagine not doing those things.

“I would never become a doctor – I wouldn’t want to go to school for that long,”

… but – ta da! – here I am years later, diploma in hand, with a few more letters behind my name.

“I would never move across the country on my own,”

… but then I did just that.

“After grad school is over, I can’t wait to never write an essay again,”

… but now I’m literally writing as a hobby (gasp!).

“We will get a dog someday, but we’d definitely never get a puppy during residency, and definitely never when living on the 5th floor of an uptown apartment with no yard and literally no grass to be seen,”

… but then we saw The Fitz and there was no question. Of course we would get a puppy, during residency, in a city apartment. I mean, how could we NOT get that crazy, energetic, enthusiastic fluffball? Yes, we lived in a tiny apartment and, yes, potty training would involve waiting for an elevator and then walking at least 2 city blocks past hair salons, coffee shops, gyms, bars, and restaurants, but for The Fitz it was worth it.

It was so worth it – it all was.

I did those things I said I’d never do – and thank goodness I did.

Would me of yesteryear – the one who eagerly waited for school to be over, who was scared to move on her own to a big new city, who strongly disliked writing, and who clearly overestimated her ability to resist being won over in a heartbeat by a certain sweet fluffy puppy’s big brown eyes – be surprised to see a glimpse of my life right now?

… I’m sure she would. But, let’s be honest, she would still probably roll her eyes, chuckle, and – not having learned the lesson to “never say never” – she would probably say she never saw those curveballs coming.

Would she be surprised that the puppy she said we would wait to get (the one she swore she wouldn’t spoil rotten) enthusiastically bounced into her life, and has indeed been spoiled beyond belief?

… Probably not.

But would she be surprised that puppy (sweet, loveable, fluffy Fitz) has been spoiled to the extent that she literally returned a brand new sofa because he was afraid of the reclining feature?

… Yes. Yes, she would be. Honestly, me of 2 months ago would be surprised, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Does our furniture store account literally list our reason for the return as that the “sofa did not meet dog’s expectations?” - Yes.

Are we banned from future purchases? - Possibly.

Did the customer service representative laugh so hard she was crying and immediately tell her coworkers about our dog’s highly specific taste? - Yes, she did, but she also smiled and, once again, Fitz made someone’s day a little brighter.

I mean, you just can’t make this stuff up…

So, knowing what I know now, what would me of today tell me of the past?

I would tell her to keep her eyes and mind open,

… to enjoy the crazy ride that is life,

… to embrace the twists and the turns,

… and to go with the flow even when it takes you to unexpected places,

… because that’s how you find your life.

That’s how you find the people (and fluffballs who think they’re people) who become your family and your closest treasures.

That’s how you find the paths you are meant to cross.

That’s how you find the blessings that life has in store.

And, when you look back, you’ll find those unexpected places that life has taken you are some of the greatest gifts of all.

They are the surprises of a lifetime.