Fortune Cookie Friday: Are You Prepared for Uncertainty?

I love today’s fortune. Of course, if you’re someone that needs structure, then you probably won’t care for it. The idea of certainty, or uncertainty, has plagued man for centuries. Prophets prophesy, doctors prognose, meteorologists forecast, and gamblers bet. They can give you a general prediction, but none can be absolutely certain. Even the Lysol commercials say that their products kill 99.9% of bacteria, because those little bacterial buggers can throw you a curve ball.

Statistics aside, the reason I like this fortune is that uncertainty can be a good thing. Just when you think something bad might happen, there is always a chance it could turn out well. Yeah, I know it might seem a little lame, but I always appreciate a silver lining. In fact, this uncertainty in life is part of what makes one an optimist or a pessimist. Optimists and pessimists approach uncertainty differently, although there have been findings that show optimism is a healthier way to live.

Another reason I like this fortune is that it is perfect for the beginning of the New Year. You might be starting out 2017 biting your nails. You made it through 2016, but you don’t know what is in store for the next 365 days. Don’t worry. You have a fresh start and anything is possible and it’s one less day than last year—see, a silver lining already. If you decided to make resolutions for the New Year, that’s great. Will you keep them? You might, or might not, but the best you can do is try. You won’t know for certain.

OK, so you’re ready to take on the 2017 or some other challenge. Are you prepared? Don’t worry, I don’t have any secret information of some impending doom. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have some water, a couple of cans of beans, and a box of Twinkies on hand. Being prepared isn’t just the Boy Scout motto, it’s good practice. It’s the reason you pack that extra pair of underwear in your luggage; poop happens. If you plan for every outcome, you should be fine. Your carry-on might be a little heavier, but you will be thankful when you are stuck at the airport for eight hours waiting for the next available connecting flight. It’s easier getting through the year, or an event, if you are prepared.

Your preparation can come in many forms. For example: keep a first aid kit in your car, shove a compact umbrella in your backpack or briefcase, or drink some beers and grab a towel for when the planet is destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass. No, that isn’t going to happen, but, then again, I can’t be certain. If you are like me, you might place a granola bar in your bag. I always have some sort of food in my purse. I also have a pocketknife, a hair band, and a pen on me almost all of the time. Why? Because they are lightweight, you never know when you’re going to need one, and I don’t have a Ford Prefect—or MacGyver—to get me out of a jam.

Bigger preparations may be in order if you are heading off to college, looking for a job, or thinking about buying a big-ticket item, like a car or house. You’ll want to make sure you have your applications, resume, or finances ready. These preparations will take considerably more time than packing a pair of socks, but it’s worth it. If you put in the effort, you can work those uncertain statistics in your favor.

You know, I was uncertain if I was going to get this week’s post done in time. Yeah, I worried a bit, and procrastinated a lot, but here we are. Luckily, I did a little research before I started writing and plotted out my thoughts. That little bit of preparation did the trick; I’m certain of it.