I’d been planning the trip for a while, yet the date snuck up on me. I had ordered some miscellaneous items I wanted to take. I’d picked up several small odds and ends. I had everything I needed, but everything I needed wasn’t packed. I had other things to do and people to see.

Prepping to travel isn’t just about the trip. I always email an itinerary to a few others, so someone knows my flights, locations, and general plans. I want to tie up as many loose ends at work as possibly, especially anything that needs to be communicated to those around me. I try to anticipate some potential situations. I arrange for someone to check my mail and house. I spend time with a few people close to me. I fill the gas tank, get cash as a back up, and gather essential travel docs. I make a small note of the few items I’ll need to pack at the last minute—phone charger, brush, makeup.

I planned, but I also had to prioritize the last evening. Time was limited. I appreciate the organization I’ve developed over the years, but I’ve also grown to appreciate some flexibility. I refuse to procrastinate, because challenges always pop up. If I leave too much for the last minute, there’s no room for the emergencies and distractions. But if I try to control too many details, I miss moments of the experience. I don’t just have tasks to accomplish; I have a journey to enjoy.

I felt a little pressure at the last moment, making sure I got everything done. As it turned out, I forgot a couple things. It was nothing essential or irreplaceable. It was fine.

It was more than fine. It was a great trip—not without challenges, but great.

Preparation isn’t limited to big trips and projects. It’s not limited to huge events and celebrations. It’s always. Preparation happens in the moments. It’s constant. It’s in the challenges and the chaos. It’s in the routine and the stable. It’s in our solitude and connections. It’s collaborative and reflective. We miss some of it, because we simply don’t have the capacity to take it all in or comprehend the context. We can’t “list” our lives. We can’t control it. We can flow with it. We can lean into it. We can engage and savor. The preparation doesn’t culminate in the trip; the trip is part of the broader preparation.

Appreciate the preparation today.