How An Inconvenience Can Be A Source of Inspiration And Growth
An Inconvenience Can Benefit You In Four Surprising Ways
Three days ago, I experienced the worst inconvenience. Before I get into this bizarre story, I want to mention that the worst inconveniences, I believe, teach us lessons about life and ourselves.
This past Saturday, I was supposed to take the train from Chicago to Milwaukee for a much-needed break. The train was scheduled to depart from Chicago that Saturday morning at 8:25.
An announcement said the train was delayed due to maintenance issues, so I produced an art piece while I waited.
Then, another announcement said the train was cancelled, and we were directed to the departure gate to take a bus instead.
There was no bus.
The last announcement over the intercom shocked everyone: the train was cancelled with no alternative transportation available.
I had never heard so many people, over 100 individuals, drop the f-bomb simultaneously, but I felt bad for those who were angry and upset. I was very angry and upset too, but I didn’t react.
Meanwhile, I was helping a woman translate all the announcements from Spanish to English, texting my friend about the cancelled train, and trying to come up with another plan on the spot.
The woman (I was helping) and I trekked to the front desk, and I asked the cashier not to refund my train ride home.
Without knowing it, the mindless cashier refunded my return trip home.
I agreed to keep helping the woman translate, but we parted ways when we thought we had found an alternative way to get to Milwaukee.
I walked ten minutes to the Greyhound station, which was mobbed. More than half of the people on that train were already there waiting for a bus.
I was still S-O-L for a way to Milwaukee, with plans I had made months ago hanging in the balance. The last thing I wanted was for everything to go to waste.
Eventually, I found a way to Milwaukee. My friend sent me a text and told me something I never knew about myself. I pivot well, and I think that’s a life skill everyone should master.
What I learned was that plans can change in a flash. Throwing a fit, like a toddler, won’t fix or change anything. Overreacting solves nothing.
Inconveniences happen all the time, but I think they serve a bigger purpose.
These are the four ways that an inconvenience can be a source of inspiration and growth:
You Become Skilled In Pivoting
There was a time when I couldn’t pivot with ease. In my twenties, I was everyone’s worst nightmare when plans abruptly changed, or something inconvenienced me. But I was young and always impatient.
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Now that I’m in my forties, life has thrown enough curveballs for me to know that if you plan for sun, you’ll get rain. If you plan for everything to go perfectly, something might go awry.
Stuff happens.
I’ve been training myself to go with the flow, even when something happens that infuriates me.
An Inconvenience Can Teach Us To Get Creative
If you’re in a situation that forces you to wait, get creative. While I was waiting for the train situation to resolve, I pulled out a pad of paper, colored pencils, and finished an art piece.
People noticed I was drawing a portrait of a dog and asked for my business card. I’m not sure if those interactions will result in commissions, but the thought is fun.
It helps to have something to do when everything goes awry. Drawing made me feel calm and productive.
You May Find Humor And Adventure
When things get flipped upside down, consider finding the humor and adventure in situations that may otherwise cause stress.
Being in the position to change plans quickly can feel disastrous and utterly stressful.
After that train debacle, I laughed and viewed it as an adventure. I met some cool people that I might never see or speak to again, but everything worked out in the end.
An Inconvenience Can Become An Entertaining Story
Our best stories come from the surprises life throws at us. I’ve never been in a situation where a train was cancelled, but I’ve experienced all kinds of disasters while traveling.
An inconvenience can reshape the way we think and make life more humorous and adventurous. You might meet great, like-minded individuals, which can make life more interesting.
Concluding Thoughts
When an inconvenience arises, remember that the best stories and adventures can come from it.
While I was sitting at the train station, I chatted with perfect strangers in the same situation and realized how connected we are, even to people we don’t know.
The last thing I wanted was to stress out about finding another way to get to Milwaukee on a time crunch.
What I didn’t realize was how positive and adventurous an inconvenience can be, like a Catch-22.
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