Everything's 'Up in the Air'

I like to have a plan in life. Not necessarily a highly-structured, detail-oriented plan, because that only sets you up for failure. But I learned early on that even the best laid plans can fall in the crapper. Circumstances beyond our control are more than likely to strike if you have no wiggle room.

My husband and I recently saw the movie, 'Up in the Air' (yummy George Clooney) and I was reminded of a motto my father constantly shared. It was more of a running motif in my family's life. Whenever we tried to plan anything - 'It's up in the air' was our answer. Getting details on a family vacation? 'It's up in the air, right now'. Wanted to know if you could go out with your friends on the weekend? The answer would always be 'up in the air' until Sunday came along and then you got your answer.

In the movie, 'Up in the Air' takes on dual meanings. Sure, it's about a man who spends more time in an airplane than at home...but, there was a secondary plot that many may have overlooked.

Set in his ways, Clooney thought his life was perfectly planned. He scheduled his every move...right down to how he should pack his underwear to best utilize his carry-on luggage. But, all of his planning overlooked one important detail - happiness.

While he was hired to fire people for a living, his own future was quite literally 'up in the air'. His professional future was threatened by computer technology. His personal future was threatened by his lack of experience in the relationship department.

Living in the air with his future up in the air, forced me to look at my own life. One's professional career is always up in the air, especially with so many companies downsizing and everyone vying for an entry-level position. The future of my family is up in the air. Am I destined to go through life without a child? The future of my well-being is up in the air - it all depends on what the doctors say and whether or not my bones can heal without surgery.

Having a plan is a good thing. Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst. When I was growing up, my father's nonchalant 'Everything's up in the air' would irk me to no end. I wanted an answer. I wanted details.

But as I've matured, I've come to realize that somethings are better 'up in the air'. When you plan every detail, you develop expectations. When things don't go according to your plan, you set yourself up for failure, depression, anger and scrutiny.

'Up in the Air', the saying, is an excuse. For George it was an excuse to avoid commitment. A commitment to his personal life and a plan for the future.

But, 'Up in the Air', the movie, was also an excuse...to drool over GC!