It’s Always Somethin’
One of the funniest sketches on the program Saturday Night Live has always been the Weekend Update segment. Even from its very beginning, Dan Ackroyd and Jane Curtin did a marvelous job at the anchor desk. The sketch always featured guest correspondents. Gilda Radner’s “Roseanne Rosanadanna” was always sure to draw huge laughs. Gilda’s bit with Roseanne would take place on the premise that viewers would write into her with problems in their life. Roseanne would then go off into long confusing commentary that would be so far from the point of the viewer’s letter. However, she would close the segment by saying that her Daddy was right, that “It’s Always Somethin’” happening that is going to impact your life.
I recalled the Roseanne sketches recently when I myself was facing frustrations in my life, as were many in my life that are close to me. We were not necessarily frustrated about the same things. And, if I was to look at things further, I likely minimized their frustrations, just as they would not see why mine were such a big deal. However, the moral in recalling the Saturday Night Live sketches to me was that no matter what the best laid planning and scheduling one might do, there will be unexpected things that occur which will call for my time and attention.
So, what can one do about that when it happens? Often the mindset is I must address the unexpected item immediately, as I HAVE NO CHOICE. And, while as a coach I have been taught and truly believe we always have a choice, there are times when those choices can be limited. For example, I have multiple immediate family members who are primary caretakers for elderly relatives. Yes, they do have choices. They can look to hire paid caretakers. They can ignore the elderly relative and let their condition worsen. However, when you get through the core of their frustration, the choice they have made to be there as often as possible for that elderly relative is filling a need in them to give back to that person who likely had a major influence on their life growing up into becoming the caring person they have become.
I work off an online calendar for my business, (and subsequently the events that are part of my life). Yet, it is rare as I enter one week, and come out of the week on the other side, that the events on the calendar take place the way they were scheduled. Appointments get changed. Others call to get on the calendar because an issue has come up in their job search on which they need advice and someone to talk things through. Yes, I have options. I could charge for missed appointments. Or the people that call, I could take the attitude that you expect me to drop everything to talk to you. However, I made a commitment to myself to be there for my clients when they need me, and at the same time to know to stay away and be understanding toward when they may need time to focus on the things in their life, on which we are not working.
If you have a life where interruptions never take place, where you always do what is best for you and do not alter a thing for anybody, more power to you. However, if you are like the 99% or so of people I know who get troubled when your plans get knocked off stride, realize you are not alone. Prioritize the interruption into your schedule. Determine if it truly needs to be addressed now, or can a wait a few days, a week, or perhaps be scheduled sometime onto your calendar where you will work to address it in the future. And realize Roseanne Roseanadanna’s father was right. Somethin’ is always going to occur that is going to impact your best laid plans.
