Jennifer Silverman
Is it just me or do you also occasionally (and regrettably) catch yourself operating as though the world revolves around you? Of course, very few of us truly believe we are the sun in an astronomical orbit. And entitlement is not a quality many of us admire nor wish to exude.
So, when this egotistical mindset fitfully rears its big head, isn’t it always surprising? It’s kind of like the episode of “Gilligan’s Island” when a mad scientist gains control of the castaways, reducing them to zombies tasked with doing his whacky bidding.
OK, perhaps my example is a tad dramatic, but you get the idea. One minute we are self-aware humans capable of generosity and clear thinking, and a mere instant later, we forget ourselves and become overtaken by self-centered characters we no longer recognize.
When we find ourselves reacting to circumstances based solely on our individual situations, we inevitably overlook everyone else. We somehow forget that events rarely just impact us, and that the powers that be are not out to thwart our plans.
Recently, I experienced a medical scare that is hopefully nothing. However, when our bodies seem to be asking for help, imploring us to pay attention, we don’t focus on the probable all-is-well outcome. We instead opt to fixate on the remote, scary possibilities.
When I realized I would not be able to undergo testing for my symptoms until mid-January, I made like Gilligan and stopped being myself. I thought that surely I could secure a speedier appointment. After all, what if it actually is serious?
It wasn’t until I took a step back that I remembered I am not the only person with a condition that requires further investigation. I am also not the only person on the lineup who is worried about their test results. Furthermore, other patients made earlier appointments, and they rightly get to call dibs.
When the events in our lives don’t play out as we believe they should, we often jump to unrealistic conclusions. Panic and anxiety set in, and we react accordingly. Thankfully, most of us weather this process internally, coming to our senses before we attempt to establish dominance over a solar system we will never control.
While attempting to reassure myself that I am not on my death bed, I turned to Amazon Prime Video and settled on its first movie suggestion, “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.” As soon as I spotted the lovely mugs of Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith in this 2011 classic, I was in.
Per usual, while screening the delightful dramady, I was reminded that inspiration is abundant, as long as we’re open to receiving it. At the close of the film, Dench’s character reiterated a phrase that served as a theme throughout the movie. “Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, then it’s not the end.”
This poignant line emphasizes the folly of desperately attempting to control our timelines. We assume our desires will never come to fruition unless they emerge according to our chosen schedules.
Do we really believe the world will abide by our appointed timetables just because we want it that way? Who’s to say our aspirations are not still coming, but later, at the right time? If a goal has not materialized, why believe it’s off the table based on an arbitrary declaration of our own creation? If our perfect plan doesn’t unfold in short order, isn’t it shortsighted to assume it’s never going to take shape?
Despite our best efforts, life usually does not transpire according to the schedules we attempt to impose. That’s probably a good thing. Maybe the powers that be know something we don’t. And maybe, in the end, there is a plan far greater than our own. (Hey, it all worked out for Gilligan.)
Jennifer Silverman has served as a celebrity wardrobe stylist for hundreds of TV personalities and professional athletes. A few of her favorite projects include the Olympic Games and the Oscars. Silverman and her Westie, Petunia, relocated from Manhattan to Amelia Island in 2019. Additional quirky commentary penned by Silverman is available by visiting www.CuriousColumnist.com. Email her at Jennifer@CuriousColumnist.com.