What to Do When Your Plans Are Suddenly Cancelled

I had pretty big plans for tonight; I won’t get into the juicy details, but I will just say they suddenly got cancelled (through the fault of no one).

Now, if this was high school or university, I would have sat at home sulking into a pint of ice cream or even worse, told my cat many spiteful things even though she clearly wouldn’t have cared. However, this isn’t high school and I would like to think that I have matured emotionally enough to cope with situations like this and far worse.

So here is my plan. For all those people who don’t have plans for a Friday night, I will make some for you. Here is a list of fun things you could be doing tonight, or any day of the week, if your plans get cancelled:

1. Go Shopping! Every girl needs some retail therapy when something bad happens to her. Hit up the mall and don’t be afraid to spend a little money on yourself because you deserve it. Find some cute shoes, some awesome accessories, and who knows, by the end of the night, you may come home with a great outfit that you can wear when the plans are rescheduled.
2. Go to the Movies. Yes, go, and go by yourself too! I love going to the movies by myself because I like analyzing the films just like I did in university. The average person may not understand the Mise en scène or why that montage is essential to the plot, but I sure can.
3. Hang Out with Old Friends. Call up some friends you haven’t seen in a really long time. Go out for dinner, go for coffee, or just sit and talk. Catching up on old times can be awesome and who knows what you may find out about that person you haven’t seen in a few months (this could also be a great networking experience, PR people).
4. Hang Out with Your Family. I don’t think that this is done as often as it should be. Bust out those old boardgames you played as a kid, or play some cards (Crazy 8s anyone? Go Fish perhaps?). Tell stories or look at old photographs; I bet your mom will be blown away that you want to hang out with her.
5. Have Some “Me” Time. Take a hot bath, take a nap, go get your nails done, read a book or go for a walk. It will help clear your head if you are upset about the cancellation, but more importantly, you are taking time for yourself.
6. Catch Up on Your Homework. I know, I know; but realistically, if you do it now, you won’t have to worry about it later. Clear up your schedule for when your plans get back on track, that way you will have nothing to worry about and no conflicts to overcome.
7. Play with Your Pets. Not only are they getting exercise, you will be too. Play fetch or throw some extra catnip into the equation and watch your little furry friend show some love at you. There is nothing cuter than a happy pet.
8. Update Your Blog. Let people know what’s going on in your life or what you think the latest and hippest things are. And who knows, maybe someone will randomly come across your blog and a new friendship will blossom because they dig the same things as you.
9. Clean Your Room. Everyone has a little bit of clutter, so why not straighten it out? Don’t clean up just because company is coming over, clean up because a clean and clutter free environment will help you concentrate and enjoy your space a little bit more.
10. Research an Interesting Topic. Wikipedia is an awesome tool. Want to know what Mise en scène is? Perhaps you want to read the entire LOLCat Bible (my personal favourite), well, you can do that too. Find something you are interested in, or anything at all. The Internet is pretty awesome, why not use it to your advantage?

I hope some of these ideas will help in the future, and if not, I hope at least a few made you laugh. Things happen, often times for good reason, so don’t be bumed out that your plans got cancelled because everything can be rescheduled.