When I first moved to Florida, I imagined weekends filled with sunshine, beach days, and exploring everything this state has to offer. But between adjusting to a new home, long work weeks, and caring for my mother in her last months, I hadn’t really seen much of Florida beyond my little corner.
So when I finally planned a trip to Daytona Beach, I was ready. I had never been there before and was super excited to see more of Florida. I packed sunscreen, books, and the mindset to fully recharge. I pictured long walks along the ocean, quiet time with my thoughts, and maybe even a little sunburn as a souvenir.
Instead… it stormed.
All weekend.
The kind of rain that soaks through clothes and plans alike. The kind that keeps you inside watching the waves crash under a gray sky instead of walking along the sand.
Adjusting Expectations
At first, I was disappointed. I caught myself thinking, “This isn’t how it was supposed to go.” I had built this weekend up in my mind, the trip that would finally help me feel like I was settling into my new life here.
But after the initial frustration, I realized something: the only thing the weather ruined was my expectation of how things “should” be.
The reality, gray skies, umbrellas, museum tours. wasn’t what I’d pictured, but it was still an experience worth having.
Finding Calm in the Unexpected
There were still small moments of sunshine, literally and figuratively.
Between bursts of rain, I got to sit on the beach for a bit, toes in the sand, the air heavy but peaceful. The storm clouds hovering over the water reminded me that beauty doesn’t disappear just because things look different.
I ended up visiting a few local museums and a huge flea market, things I wouldn’t have done if the weather had been perfect. I learned about the area’s history, took photos, and had conversations with locals I might never have met otherwise.
By the end of the trip, I realized that the weekend hadn’t been ruined, it had just taken a different shape.
Life Lesson: Flexibility is a Form of Self-Care
As a therapist, I often talk with clients about control, how we crave it, how we lose it, and how peace often comes from loosening our grip.
That weekend in Daytona was a reminder that flexibility is a form of self-care. It’s about meeting life where it is, not where you wish it would be.
It’s allowing space for both: the disappointment that things didn’t go your way and the openness to find new joy in what did happen.
What Helps When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned
Here are a few simple reminders that helped me. and might help you, when things take an unexpected turn:
- Acknowledge your disappointment.
You’re allowed to feel let down. Pretending not to doesn’t make it go away. - Look for the small gifts.
Maybe it’s a quiet moment, a new discovery, or simply rest. There’s usually something worth noticing. - Stay curious.
Ask yourself, “What can I learn or experience instead?” That shift turns frustration into opportunity. - Let go of “should.”
Life rarely matches the picture we paint. Releasing “should” opens space for peace. - Find beauty in imperfection.
Sometimes the rain gives you a different kind of clarity. one that only comes from slowing down.
Final Thoughts
My trip to Daytona Beach wasn’t what I had imagined, but maybe that was the point.
It reminded me that life won’t always align neatly with our plans. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it storms, sometimes the museum ends up being more memorable than the beach.
And that’s okay.
Because the real growth, and the real self-care, often happens not when everything goes right, but when we learn to make the most of what is.
So if your plans this week don’t unfold the way you hoped, take a breath. Look around. The sun might just be waiting to peek out between the clouds.
If you’re ready to take your own gentle first step, I’d love to invite you to subscribe to my newsletter. You will receive a free download of my 5-Day Self-Care Reset Plan. It’s a simple way to start making space for yourself again, in just five minutes a day.
Feel free to visit my Etsy shop for resources to help you on your journey. I also have a free private self-care interactive Facebook group for women that you can join here.
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