Snickerdoodle Says: Welcome the Unexpected

Unexpected sunshine on a cold February morning

Hi hoomans!

It’s me, Snickerdoodle, your Chief Wellness Officer, professional biscuit inspector, and accidental teacher of life lessons.

Let me tell you a little secret: some of my 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 days start with a plan… and then I promptly ignore it.

I head outside expecting the usual route. Sniff here, sniff there, supervise the squirrels, and suddenly there’s a new smell, a surprise visitor, or (be still my fluffy heart) a box that clearly does 𝘯𝘰𝘵 belong there. And just like that, the day gets more interesting.

That’s the thing about the unexpected. It has a reputation for being inconvenient, disruptive, or uncomfortable. But from my four-paw perspective? It’s often where the good stuff lives.

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱.

In life and in leadership, we like our routines. We like clarity, predictability, and nicely labeled agendas (trust me, I respect a good routine.) But growth doesn’t usually knock politely and ask to be penciled in. It shows up unannounced, wagging its tail, asking you to respond, not react.

When leaders resist the unexpected, they tighten. When they 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 it, they learn.

Unexpected feedback can sharpen self-awareness. Unexpected change can reveal strengths you didn’t know you had. Unexpected conversations can deepen trust, if you’re willing to listen instead of defend.

I’ve noticed something else, too. The hoomans who handle surprises best aren’t the ones with all the answers. They’re the ones who stay curious. They pause. They sniff first. They ask, “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘦?” before deciding whether to bark.

So today, if something doesn’t go as planned… if a meeting shifts, a project pivots, or life tosses you a surprise you didn’t order, take a breath. Loosen the leash a little. You don’t have to love the unexpected to learn from it.

Sometimes it’s not a detour. Sometimes it’s an invitation.

And if all else fails, remember this timeless wisdom from a very fluffy source; new paths often lead to the best smells.

Wishing you curiosity, courage, and just enough unpredictability to keep things interesting,

𝗦𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗹𝗲

Chief Wellness Officer | SRJ Collaborative

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