“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry,” wrote Scottish poet Robert Burns. We commonly abbreviate this to “best laid plans!” when sighing over canceled or changed plans, despite our best efforts.
Indeed, as many PLAN families know, plans can frequently go awry. Yet, even a plan that is made and canceled still represents a seed—a concept we are adept at nurturing in our planning garden bed.
This winter has been a time of planting seeds for many families. Some seeds are sprouting, some have just been sown, while others remain dormant. Remember, these are still seeds poised to sprout, grow, and blossom into the vital connections we all need. It’s all about how we tend to them.
Our role is to find, hold, and nurture these seeds alongside the people we work with and their families. This winter, mentors, connectors, families, and networks have diligently supported each other in these efforts. It can be easy to feel discouraged by plans that shift, but by listening closely to the reasons why, we find glimmers of how to move forward.
Here are some ways that PLAN networks have been nurturing potential despite the darkness of winter:
- Maintaining regular Zoom meetings, even with low attendance, to keep the connection alive.
- Attending new events with mentors or connectors to bolster confidence.
- Sharing new ideas over cups of tea at kitchen tables, city drives, or walks in snowy forests.
- Exercising patience when plans need to change.
- Listening and accommodating a slower pace during the cold season.
- Reflecting on and reviewing past plans, network contact lists, representation agreements, wills, and trusts.
- Addressing difficult interactions with neighbors together.
- Finding new friends in familiar places and being open to unexpected connections.
By allowing these seeds the time they need to germinate during these darker months, our patience and creativity will bear fruit as networks flourish with the return of light. Sometimes the gifts we receive are quiet and require stillness to be fully appreciated.
Listen closely, do not rush, and keep the seeds close—growth will follow.