Disruptions

I used to have a friend who never wrote on the first page of a notebook. I don't remember her explanation for why she did this - we were 17, so it has been a few years - but to this day, whenever I open up a new notebook I skip the first page.  

It's interesting how certain things can leave a mark on our life; a small mark, but a mark none the less. When I opened my new notebook today, I did it because I'm sitting in the Jury Duty Waiting Room. I put the notebook in my bag in case I had some extra time and was inspired. Unfortunately, the waiting room is pretty boring and lacking inspiration, so I looked to see if I already had a post started that I could maybe add to. As I scrolled through my OneNote on my phone - a digital notebook where I keep all my writing and unfinished blog posts - I saw a page with the title "Disruptions." 

I started thinking about how Jury Duty has been a big disruption to my plans. I planned to use my extra time with unemployment to finish my book and look for my next move; I did not plan on driving to court every day. After I wrote some of these initial thoughts down on the second page of my new notebook, I clicked on the digital page to see what I had already written about Disruptions - maybe I can combine my thoughts from today to finish? Maybe the post is already almost done? After I clicked, I discovered there was nothing on the page, just the title "Disruptions." Maybe there was a disruption and I never got to finish the thought? I guess I'll never know. 

What I do know now though, as I type this up over a month later, that even when our plans get disrupted, we still have an opportunity to experience something that will leave a mark. Just like the forever blank first page of all my notebooks, there may be something I end up doing, saying, or believing all because I had Jury Duty in August 2022. At the very least, I now know that it was an incredible experience that I am grateful to have had; experiencing the judicial system up close is something every American should get to do. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad I was chosen to serve, even if it messed with my plans. 

The next time your life gets disrupted, try not to let it frustrate you too much. Take a deep breath and think about what mark it may be making on your little world. You never know what good experience might come from your plans falling through.