The Detours that Shape Us

I am a planner. I love checklists and calendars, and I try to plan for every event, every project, every holiday – you name it. You would think by now, at my age, I would know that life very rarely works out the way I plan. Yet I still try to stick to my schedule.

Although they can be frustrating, some of the detours in my life have brought pleasant surprises with them. One such surprise came last July 3rd. As I was walking across my work parking garage, I heard the smallest little meow. It seemed to be coming from a Toyota Camry. I looked all around, hoping the kitten I heard was not locked in the trunk. I couldn’t find exactly where the little cry was coming from, but I knew it was in the Camry.

Because I like to arrive early at work, the office was pretty empty. There was one other employee, Rhys, there that morning, and I asked her to come help me locate where the little cry was coming from. Determined to find the kitten, she lay on the ground to look at the undercarriage. Sure enough, the little kitten was resting by the engine.

Once rescued, the terrified kitten was brought in for a visit to the office. With the help of others, we made sure she had food, water, and a blanket to curl up in. We knew that because of the holiday weekend, it would be difficult to find an animal shelter willing to take her. So, you guessed it – the kitten went home with me.

We estimated the scrawny, malnourished kitten was around four weeks old. She had minor burn marks on a paw and the tip of an ear from the car engine. She would not drink out of a bowl, so my husband and daughter had to make an emergency run to the pet store to bottle-feed her milk that night. That meal was the first time she began purring with us.

Of course, the plan was to take her to the shelter at the beginning of the week. Famous last words, right? We decided to keep her for another week, to make sure she was eating. She wouldn’t get as much focused care and attention if we dropped her off somewhere, we told ourselves.

Needless to say – and I’m sure you saw this coming – we never did take her to a shelter. I think we all knew after nursing her back to health that she belonged with us. Just one look at those cute little eyes and she stole our hearts.

Fast forward to today, and Camy (short for Camry), who was once terrified of everyone and everything, loves to be with our family and cries incessantly the moment she is left alone. Snowball, our other cat, isn’t so sure about her yet. She is as rambunctious a kitten as you will ever meet, and must get into everything in sight.

Obviously, my original plan did not go as I expected. Taking on a kitten is no small feat. However, the joy and laughter Camy brings to the family are worth the detour.

This detour was a pleasant change of direction. Unfortunately, not all plan changes are. When life doesn’t go as planned and circumstances change, we can lose our focus and feel overwhelmed. Even positive surprises can leave us feeling unbalanced at times.

Just like Camy found her way to safety and a new beginning, you too can find your way through life’s unexpected moments. If your path feels unclear or overwhelming, coaching can help you rediscover balance and direction.

When you’re ready, I’m here to help you take that next step. Camy might even say hello, too!

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