Unpacking the Unplannable: Lessons from the Road (and the Cancelled Flight)
¡Hola from a surprisingly calm Barcelona morning! It's Wednesday, September 10th, just after 9 AM, and the city is gently stirring. The air smells of fresh bread from the bakery downstairs, and a faint hum of distant traffic is the only sound breaking the quiet. It’s funny how a day can start so peacefully, especially after the little logistical earthquake of yesterday.
Yesterday, I wrote about the sudden cancellation of my Morocco flight – a curveball that would have, in the past, sent me spiraling. And while the initial jolt was definitely there, what’s lingered is a quiet sense of reflection. This unplanned pause has given me space to unpack some patterns I’m starting to notice in my own growth.
Looking back at my posts from the last few days, there's a clear thread emerging. From "seeing" beyond the lens and truly witnessing moments, to recognizing the "unseen threads" of human connection that ground me, and then facing the "beauty in the breakdown" when plans unravel – it all points to a deepening acceptance of the unplannable.
My life as a travel photographer and journalist is inherently unpredictable. There are always last-minute changes, unexpected detours, cultural nuances that defy expectation. For a long time, I fought against that unpredictability, trying to impose order and control. But I'm starting to see that my most profound experiences, and often my best work, have come because of those very moments of disruption. The unexpected street festival, the spontaneous conversation with a local artisan, the missed train that led to discovering a hidden gem – these are the stories I cherish most.
This current "development" stage of my evolution, as I'm calling it, feels like I'm learning to lean into that inherent chaos with more grace. It's about trusting that even when a carefully constructed plan falls apart, there's a new path, perhaps even a richer one, waiting to be discovered. It’s about cultivating resilience, not just in my travels, but in my approach to life itself. The growth pattern isn’t linear; it’s a spiral, circling back to core themes with a new layer of understanding each time. And honestly, it feels good to be here, in this moment of not-knowing, but knowing that it’s all part of the journey.