Time, once again, for Wise Things Said By People Smarter Than Me. Fortunately, as always, there’s no shortage of candidates.

Today’s topic: “How to prepare for the future when you have no clue what it is.”

Next week’s column will be my last for Metro. As I contemplate what comes next for me, I find it can be summed up by these few words, “I have no idea.” This shouldn’t be a surprise. We never have any idea what’s coming next. We think we know, of course, which is why we have things like RRSPs and summer clothing that goes on sale in March.

But, really, trying to plan wisely for the future is a little like trying to pack sensibly for a trip without the least idea of where you’re headed. So here’s a few words of wisdom to help us prepare for any event.

“Sometimes not getting what you want is an extraordinary stroke of good luck.”
– The Dalai Lama.

The first thing that strikes us about this is that, obviously, esteemed Tibetan Buddhist leaders don’t know about shoe sales or income tax refunds. Otherwise, it’s perfectly true that we have no idea what’s good for us. Given my way, I would have married Bart Smith back in Grade 3, which might not have turned out well at all. The trick is remembering that whatever happens there’s only one guarantee: It will have good parts and bad parts. We may as well look for the good.

“You can’t be brave if you only have wonderful things happen to you.”
– Mary Tyler Moore

So true. If you never have a difficult challenging life experience, you can’t be brave. You can, mind you, be wildly, insanely happy and content. Hmmm…

“It is those who have a deep and real inner life who are best able to deal with the irritating details of outer life.”
– Evelyn Underhill

These people, plus chartered accountants. But the point is, peace happens from the inside out. Which brings us to these wise words from the poet Osho:

Sitting silently,
doing nothing,
Spring comes,
and the grass grows,
by itself.

Sometimes the only way to prepare for the future is to simply sit back and let it come.

Next week: For my final column, I’ll be answering your questions, so send ‘em to annemhines@gmail.com. Any topic you like. So long as it’s writing, job loss or squirrel-hating. I’m sticking with what I know.

Anne Hines is an author and humour writer. She has written three novels and one
collection of nonfiction humour.