By Radley West
Hello. It’s Tipsy. I’ve been observing the humans again.
And I have a question.
Why do humans make plans if they are just going to change them?
I have watched this happen repeatedly.
A human will say, “Tomorrow we’re going to do this.”
Then tomorrow comes, and suddenly we are doing something completely different.
I find this very concerning.
I, on the other hand, have a much more sensible approach to life.
I have a plan.
Wake up.
Eat.
Check the yard.
Investigate suspicious noises.
Nap.
Eat again.
Walk.
Look for squirrels.
Nap.
Monitor the neighborhood.
Dinner.
Perhaps another walk.
Sleep.
There may be some minor adjustments depending on squirrel activity, but overall, it’s a very solid system.
Humans complicate everything. They make five-year plans. They make business plans. They make vacation plans. They make fitness plans. They make dinner plans.
Then something happens and suddenly everyone is “pivoting.”
I hear that word a lot.
Pivot.
Apparently it means, “Well, that didn’t go the way we thought it would, so now we’re going to pretend this was the plan all along.”
I’m not convinced.
I have also noticed that humans get very attached to their plans. If something changes, they sometimes think they have failed. This seems silly to me.
If I am planning to bark at a squirrel and the squirrel runs the other direction, I don’t sit in the yard questioning my life choices.
I adjust.
Squirrel moved.
New plan.
Bark at something else.
Problem solved.
Humans could learn from me.
Sometimes the thing they planned doesn’t work.
Sometimes they discover something better.
Sometimes they get tired.
Sometimes they change their minds.
Sometimes life changes the plan for them.
Sometimes they spend so much time worrying about the fact that the plan changed that they completely miss what is happening right in front of them.
I think humans forget that changing direction doesn’t mean they are lost. Sometimes it just means they are paying attention.
On the other hand, I am very good at figuring out what to do next.
Food bowl empty?
Find human.
Human sitting down?
Sit beside human.
Human eating?
Observe closely.
Doorbell rings?
Security protocol activated.
Squirrel appears?
THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
See?
No five-year plan required.
So here is my advice to humans:
Make your plans.
Have your goals.
Work hard.
But when life changes the plan, don’t immediately assume you did something wrong.
Take a breath.
Look around.
Figure out what changed.
Then make a new plan.
And if the new plan involves sitting on the couch with a dog, I highly recommend it.
I’ve been doing it for years.
Apparently, I’m very good at adapting.
Anyway, I need to go check on the squirrels.
—Tipsy
Radley West is married to Dr. Andrew West, and together they own 33/18 Chiropractic & Wellness in Irmo. As a former gym owner for more than 18 years, West enjoys helping people achieve non-traditional health goals. She and Andrew teach clients that while a gym is not necessary, fitness and chiropractic care are part of a healthy lifestyle. Though she’s a competitive athlete, she’s the first to say that fitness should be fun, and she never takes herself too seriously. Her and Andrew’s passion lies in empowering clients to lead healthier, more active lives, whether that means easily climbing stairs or improving posture. You can also check out West’s front door wreath and decor company, Worth the Knock. She can be found on all social platforms and Etsy @worththeknock.
