Planning for an Uncertain Future
One of my closest friends (and business partner) recently shared her 5-year plan with me. It wasn’t anything wildly specific, but she did note her desire to move back to the East Coast, to spend a year living abroad, to support her husband as he grows his business.
She inspired me to create my own list. But when I sat down to write, I was stuck: how do I create any sort of plan when the future is so uncertain?
An example: One of the big items on my list is to own a home, which ideally would not be in New Jersey. Not that I don’t love where I grew up in many ways; it’s simply too expensive to own a home here, especially when I want acres of land. I have my sights set on Pennsylvania or North Carolina (or whatever other possibilities pop up). But in many ways, I’m currently tied to New Jersey at the moment: my mother’s health has been poor over the last year and she’s been in the hospital multiple times, and my brother just had a baby (they live in Hoboken).
In many ways, while I can create a rough vision for my future, I can’t be as specific or detailed as I would like to be. I can’t plan the exact timing or location.
All I can do is be clear on what I want and how I want to feel. I can know what’s on my checklist to help me ensure all my needs are met, and I can take little steps towards the vision I create.
Map one feel, one vision at a time and toss it to the sky…
