August 21, 2026
Hi Reader
When Things Don't Go as Planned
Today I had my usual to-do list. It's Thursday, and my week had already been jam-packed — always ten pounds of sugar in a five-pound bag. It just seems so natural to me.
My plan: morning routine, straighten the house for the cleaning ladies, check blog analytics and emails, then head out for my walk, where I'd pick up my bike from the repair shop. Get home, finish my blog post. Etc., etc.
But today, the universe had other plans. It wanted me to slow down.
When I got to the bicycle shop, they weren't open. Wait — I'd checked online, and it said they opened at 10 a.m. But the door said 11 a.m. That's an entire hour! I had things to do.
The young man in the shop came to the door, apologetic, and explained there was too much to do to open early. He appreciated my patience, but Google had the hours wrong — they'd tried to get it fixed, but Google kept resetting it back to 10 a.m.
Hmmm. An hour.
I could walk home — that would take over an hour — and drive back. Or I could just be patient and sit there for an hour. I'm retired. I don't have to do anything. It was a beautiful day.
Listen to the universe. Slow down.
So that's what I did. And it was wonderful. I took a few extra breaths and enjoyed the day.
Our world feels full of turmoil right now. Is the stock market going to crash? Will I have enough saved to actually enjoy retirement? Those questions creep in more than I'd like to admit. But sitting outside that bike shop, I realized peace doesn't come from having every answer. Sometimes it just comes from slowing down long enough to trust that things, in our own little universe, will be okay.
Do you sometimes feel like your days are just too full? Has the universe ever told you to slow down? Maybe it's time to listen to that little voice. Learn to enjoy the little moments. Put the phone down, and just breathe.
Hit reply and tell me about a time the universe made you slow down — I'd love to hear it.
Until next week, Wendy
Quote of the Week
"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." — Ralph Waldo Emerson.
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Have a wonderful week.
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