Plan B

Approximately 22,000 people merged together for The Route 91 Country Music Festival on the grounds across from the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas on Sunday, October 1st. Most in attendance gathered for the mere enjoyment of friends, family, music and entertainment. Yet, what happened later in the evening rocked the entire nation.

At approximately 10:08 pm and while country music star Jason Aldean was playing his last set of the night a barrage of gunfire was unleashed into the crowd. 59 people were killed and more than 500 injured. Other than Eric Paddock (the assassin) and his accomplices, no one could have anticipated their evening concluding in such horrific fashion.

Pause for a moment and imagine the thousands of people whose lives have been completely altered overnight e.g. those who actually lost loved ones. Or, imagine the impact on those who survived, their families and their friends. Also, take into account the policemen, firemen, hotel staff, casino staff, co-workers of survivors, neighbors, church members, tourists…the list goes on. Lots of people all of a sudden are having to embrace an entirely new agenda for days…even weeks. In fact, many others will be forced to embrace a new normal for their rest of their lives.

So, how does all this relate to you? Reflect on the following questions:

1) How do you respond when life throws you a curve ball, alters your plans and forces you to go with “Plan B?”

2) How do you respond when you leave your home in the morning convinced your day is going to turn out a specific way only to have your plans shattered and be forced to live the day according to someone else’s plans or a major turn of events?

3) Would you suggest your natural response to an unanticipated turn of events is usually great, good, bad or indifferent? Why?

4) Think of a few people you admire because of their ability to wade through obstacles they face in life. What about them do you admire? What elements of how they handle opposition can you adapt in your personal life?

5) Although you cannot control every situation or circumstance around you, you can definitely control your response. What 3 to 5 things can you do immediately to change how you respond when life presents you with a plan different from what you anticipated?

*Prayers and thoughts go out to every victim, their families, their friends and everyone else affected by Sunday’s events as people from all walks of life across the U.S. rebound from this unfortunate turn of events.