Sometimes, you just have to put your best plans to bed.

This past holiday season felt like life was running the show, and I was just along for the ride. Nothing—absolutely nothing—went the way I had mapped out.

And you know what? It turned out to be one of the most meaningful, unexpected Christmases I’ve ever had.

Let me give you a quick rundown.

• It started last August when I was made redundant after the startup I helped build went through its second iteration of being acquired.

• Then, our 14-year-old cat was diagnosed with diabetes.

• At the end of August, my youngest son packed his bags and moved in with his girlfriend, so we became empty-nesters after 30 years.

• My 88-year-old mom continued her bi-weekly immunotherapy sessions, which have been going on for the better part of 2 years.

• To keep things interesting, my mom had a nasty fall right before the holidays, resulting in several pelvic fractures.

• Oh, and my wife? She had her appendix out on Christmas Eve.

It was like the universe decided to see how many curveballs it could throw in one season.

Here’s the kicker—I thought this chaos would wreck my progress.

I had big plans for job hunting and starting up and scaling my newsletter, Mindset Rebuild.

Instead, I became a part-time driver, part-time nurse, and full-time family caretaker. And yet, somewhere in the middle of all this, life happened in the best possible way.

Here’s what did work out:

• We had an early Christmas dinner with my mom, her 98-year-old sister, and family I hadn’t seen in ages (and in a few cases, ever). That’s my aunt and my mom in the photo.

• Christmas Day was quiet—just my son and his girlfriend. Simple. Peaceful.

• I spent more one-on-one time with my wife than I have in years.

• Writing became my therapy. I cranked out 74 pieces of content since November—and posted something every day.

• I picked up my first 28 subscribers. It’s not massive, but that’s 28 more than I started with.

This season forced me to pause, reflect, and breathe.

Sometimes, you can’t control the storm—you just have to weather it. And when you do, there’s often something beautiful waiting on the other side.

If life’s been tossing you around lately, let this be your reminder. The plan doesn’t always matter. Showing up does.

My takeaway:

If you’re feeling stuck, don’t wait for perfect conditions. Write, create, or just be present. Trust me, even the smallest wins count.

So, what’s one unexpected “win” you’ve had lately? I’d love to hear about it.